Margarita Road Slated for Beautification

A stretch of Margarita Road called an eyesore by some residents was slated for beautification.

The project will affect the east side of Margarita Road from Ramsey Court to Avenida Cima del Sol, according to Greg Butler, the director of public works.

The area was bemoaned by some residents who went to the City Council last Tuesday to urge them to approve the project. “When you’re driving down Margarita Road, you suddenly see this blight,” said Kathy Vining, a resident of the area.

The changes would be welcome in the area, said her husband, Tom Vining. “The beautiful environment’s something you can hang your hat on,” he said. “It’s about time they were fixed.”

The improvements include landscaping, irrigation, curb upgrades and the addition of retaining walls, Butler wrote in a report describing the project.

“These improvements will aesthetically enhance the project area,” Butler wrote.

The plan falls short of fixing all of the problems because some of the badly maintained areas are on private property, said Assistant City Manager Bob Johnson.

The city issued more than 50 citations, but the problem persists, he said.

The area within 6 feet of the sidewalks is in the city’s right of way, so the project will affect that area, he said. “It’s going to make Margarita Road one of the most beautiful streets in Temecula,” he said.

The City Council previously approved $150,000 in the city’s 2011-2015 Capital Improvement Program budget for this project, but the scope and cost grew since then.

Now, it is expected to cost $308,000, so the City Council approved an additional $158,000 for fiscal years 2012-2016.

The city hopes to come in under budget at around $245,000, according to a city staff report.