This KAZU Radio News article provides a summary of some of the concerns in addressing sea level rise. Professor Gary Griggs, David Carlson from the Planning Department, Cove Britton of Pacific Coast Protection Association, and several coastal property owners were interviewed. CPOA declined to be interviewed for this article.
Steve Forer, Reed Geistreiter, Derric Oliver, with Fenton & Keller representing CPOA, and Bret Sisney, also a CPOA Board Member, met with Kathy Molly on Thursday 2/27/20. Notes from meeting taken by S. Forer are intended for internal use by CPOA members. These notes do not necessarily represent the County’s final position on these issues.
While most CA coastal cities refuse to retreat from rising sea level, the City of Marina, north of Monterey, with a population of about 23,000 is preparing to address “Managed Retreat” from its eroding shoreline, considering relocating sewage treatment and power plant facilities, and prohibiting further development along the fragile coastline. Since Ft. Ord was closed in 1994, most of the development has taken place across highway one, blocks away from the coastline.
The County Planning Department will host a Public Informational Meeting on the latest proposed LCP and Code Amendments to address Sea Level Rise on Monday, March 2nd at 7 p.m. at Live Oak Elementary School. (see official meeting announcement)
County Planning Department will hold a Public Informational Meeting on Monday March 2, 2020 at 7 p.m. at Live Oak Elementary School – Multipurpose Auditorium to discuss the latest proposed 6.4 Safety Element Amendments – Local Coastal Plan (LCP) for Coastal Bluffs and Beaches, and 16.10 Safety Hazard Code Amendments to the building codes for Santa Cruz County. CPOA-SC wants to urge you to attend this meeting on March 2nd to reiterate your concerns as Coastal Property Owners.
This letter clarifies that CPOA-SC does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of all CPOA members nor all Coastal Property Owners, but does provide a process for member input through it’s Board of Directors, continues to advocate for rights of property owners, keeping CPOA members informed on important issues impacting coastal property owners.
We have submitted a letter from our attorneys to Kathy Molloy, Planning Director, with copies to each of the Board of Supervisors and the County Clerk for the Board. We have requested another meeting with Kathy Molloy and David Carlson to review our letter and concerns, and have requested the Board of Supervisors consider delaying any action on the proposed LCP & Code Amendments until we have had time to negotiate these final changes into these documents.
The sea level rise is accelerating at a rate that is alarming according to the US’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) Report. In 2019, rates of sea level rise accelerated at all 21 of the stations studied along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts and at seven of the eight monitored stations along the U.S. West Coast.
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Planning Department has requested the Board of Supervisors defer the Public Hearing on 6.4 Safety Element Amendments and the LCP for Coastal Bluffs and Beaches until March 10, 2020 to allow time to coordinate with Coastal Commission staff and other stakeholders.