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.
Steve Forer, Reed Geistreiter, and Derric Oliver, representing CPOA and Bret Sisney, also a CPOA Board Member, met with Kathy Molly and David Carlson on Friday afternoon on 1/10/20, to discuss our concerns, present issues still needing clarification, and propose alternative language in the one time redevelopment/replacement allowance in the latest draft of the Safety Element Amendments 6.4, Local Coastal Program for Beaches and Cliff Bluffs. Although Kathy did address most of our concerns, we were disappointed in her response and justification for limiting the number of major redevelopment/replacement structures to only one project. Kathy Molly did indicate they plan to clean-up the language in this section, and to make it clear that the one time limitation applies to the next 20 year planning period, but would not commit to language indicating any future potential major redevelopments/replacement structures after 2040. Please see Kathy’s response to to our questions and areas needing further clarification.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on adopting the final Safety Element Amendments Section 6.4 – Local Coastal Program for Beaches and Bluffs on Wednesday, January 28th, @ 9:30 a.m. in the Board of Supervisor Chamber on the 5th floor of the County Building, located at 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. There have been substantial changes from prior draft approved by the Planning Commissioners, there are apparent discrepancies between the LCP and Code Amendments, and a number of issues still require further clarification. CPOA will be meeting with Kathy Molloy and David Carlson on Friday 1/10/20 to present alternative language regarding the only one time redevelopment/replacement structure > 50% of major structural components, and to address other outstanding issues and concerns requiring further clarification in the final LCP. We will keep you updated. We urge you to attend this important Board of Supervisor’s meeting on January 28, 2020 @ 9:30 a.m..
CNN & LA Times have published an article about Silicon Valley billionaire Vinod Khosla, who purchased a large parcel of coastal property south of Half Moon Bay, two large pieces of land next to the popular Martin’s beach, which happened to contain the only viable public path to the shore. He has blocked the only public access path to the beach, and refuses to give access because the public leave their trash on the beach. He has been fighting these legal battles over access for over 20 years, and now the California Coastal Commission, and California State Lands Commission are suing him in the CA Supreme Court over public right of way.
Corocoran Lagoon Condominiums consisting of 12 condos, which are built on piers over Corcoran Lagoon may be “at risk” of damage with rising sea level and storm surges without reinforcement and shoreline protection devices. Since the condo structure is built on a natural lagoon and estuary, the CCC and Santa Cruz County may not permit the property owners to further protect the structure. This is a dilemma for these property owners, since the structure was permitted before the Coastal Act was passed and built shortly there after. In some years the lagoon migrates to drain to the east side of the lagoon, and in other years it flows directly below the condo building.
State of CA may need 100,000 new homes to mitigate the effects of lost Property Tax Revenue from coastal homes lost due to coastal erosion, to continue to fund local coastal governments and schools. However, the local coastal communities are not responding fast enough to prepare for the sea level rise and potential destruction to coastal properties (public & private).
With sea level rise of 3 feet to 6 feet, “up to two-thirds of Southern California beaches may become completely eroded by the year 2100,” says the state report, citing research by the United States Geological Survey. The same research says that by 2100, 6 feet of sea level rise combined with storms “could impact over 480,000 California residents and $119 billion in property value in 2010 dollars,”the report says.
According to CA LAO Report, local coastal communities must start now to plan for the effects of potential sea level rise and address Residential Adaptation – Managed Retreat. The report sites a USGA study indicating sea level is expected to rise by 6-7 inches in 10 years by 2030, 2 feet by 2050, and as much as 7 feet by 2100. Read this 48 page report for more information.
We believe Santa Cruz County
has more leverage with the CCC than you might appreciate right now. Much of the foundation for this LCP has never
been tested either practically or legally, thus putting Santa Cruz County in a position to be subject to historic, ongoing
litigation. As the Coastal Commission says in its letter of Monday, December 9, the county’s first‐to‐go status will provide
a template “that can also serve as a model statewide for other cities and counties to emulate in addressing complicated
sea level rise adaption issues.” In other words, both the county and its coastal citizens/property owners would be the
legal guinea pigs for testing how far many of the terms of the Coastal Act can be stretched. In that regard, the
commission needs you to be a successful example as much as you are dependent upon them to approve your LCP. That
provides the opening for you to continue to push for common sense, practical, workable and environmentally
considerate solutions for guiding future response to sea level rise. We know the planning staff has been trying to thread
that needle and believe strongly that you should continue to press your opportunity.