Rejecting pleas from angry homeowners, commissioners approvedthe plan to encroachments built over the years within a12-foot-wide public right of way east of the boardwalk. The cityhas threatened legal action on about 200 homeowners unless theyremove the structures by Dec. 17.

The city wants to add concrete and landscaping to separatepedestrians from cyclists, skaters and skateboarders.

The 72-year-old boardwalk runs for 2.36 miles from the SouthMission Beach jetty to Thomas Avenue in Pacific Beach. Homeownersargue that their property values will suffer and the plan wouldencourage cyclists and skaters to travel at faster speeds, whichactually would make the Boardwalk less safe. They have filed suitin Superior Court challenging the city's right to reclaim thepublic right of way. The lawsuit has been scheduled for trial inFebruary 2001.