Jun 11, 2021 | Coastal Access / Public Right-Of-Way, Santa Cruz County: Coastal Access / Public Right-Of-Way
The board unanimously approved ordinance amendments related to parkland dedication, or in lieu, fees, park impact fees and trail and coastal access dedication. The fees, lower than that of neighboring jurisdictions, have failed to meet the rising cost of acquiring parkland and construction for more than 20 years. The fees are used to develop new or existing parkland facilities to accommodate the county’s growth, Gaffney explained in his report. Because the fees have not been increasing with the costs, the county’s Capital Improvement Program in this fiscal year identified more than $94 million in unfunded projects that could aid mitigation of increased population and, therefore, increased park demand. In terms of trail and coastal access dedications, the word “beach” will now be changed to “coastal access” throughout and the minimum public shoreline access easement width is increased from 5 feet to 10 feet. It appears that easements for current beach access paths for Public Parks will be widened from 5 to 10 feet, to access costal beaches. This would impact beaches such as Twin Lakes, Blacks Beach, and Moran Lake.
Jun 2, 2021 | California Coastal Commision News
Apparently the Coastal Commission had some additional questions regarding the County’s proposed LCP Land Use and Implementation Plan for Coastal Bluffs and Beaches. According to Kevin Kahn they are now reviewing the County’s proposed LCP, and hope to schedule it for a CCC hearing in late summer or early fall. That would mean a 9 month delay in the CCC’s review, when they are required to review the LCP within 90 days.
Apr 21, 2021 | California Coastal Commision News, Meetings, Public Hearings & Meetings
On April 13, 2021 the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to dissolve the Live Oak Parking Program, effective May 1, 2021 due to strong opposition from the Coastal Commission and residents regarding the proposed changes. Without a parking program and restrictions, we may see RVs and long term parking along East Cliff Dr from the Harbor to 41st Ave. The County plans to continue to work on a parking program that will be acceptable to the CCC and residents.
Mar 26, 2021 | Articles - Misc, California Coastal News
This year, the California Legislature is doubling-down, having introduced more than a dozen bills intended to address sea level rise in some form or fashion. From a “takings” perspective, it appears the proposed legislation has been crafted broadly and in such a way as to avoid inverse condemnation or regulatory takings liability, but the real question will be how local jurisdictions implement the various programs (assuming the legislation is adopted).
Mar 18, 2021 | California Coastal Commision News, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County: Coastal Access / Public Right-Of-Way, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
CPOA requested an update from the California Coastal Commission’s on their review of the proposed amendments to Santa Cruz County’s Local Coastal Program relating to coastal bluffs and beaches (land use plan section 6.4) and geologic hazards (implementation plan chapter 16.10). No date has been set for CCC hearing as of yet on the proposed amendments.
Feb 24, 2021 | California Coastal News, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive
The County has held two Zoom meetings on 2/3 & 2/17, to review proposed changes to the Live Oak Parking Program. 1) Expand the area covered to include all streets within two blocks of the ocean between the Harbor and Capitola City border (includes Opal Cliffs), 2) Extend seasonal permit from March to October (previously May to September), 3) Eliminate stickers and use Digital Parking App to obtain permits (seasonal and day use), 4) Seasonal permit fee $75 for residents and non-residents, 5) Temporary permit $2/hr for day use on Weekends and Holidays, 6) Residents will be allowed to register up to 5 vehicles but may only park one on the street at a time during restricted hours 11 a.m – 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays March – October, and 7) increased parking enforcement. The Live Oak Parking Program Application is expected to be submitted for Coastal Permit on March 1st, and to the board of Supervisors for approval on April 13th. New parking season begins on May 1st.
Dec 22, 2020 | California Coastal Commision News
The Coastal Commission is scheduled to vote on Santa Cruz County’s proposed LCP Amendments for Temporary Use/structure permit, and revised Vacation Rental policy on 1/13/21. The rest of the LCP Amendments dealing with Shoreline Protection, and Sea Level Rise are expected to be reviewed by March 8, 2021, unless the deadline is extended by the CCC (up to one year).
Dec 9, 2020 | Articles - Misc, California Coastal Commision News
According to a recent Blog by attorney Nossaman, the California Coastal Commission has changed their terminology and strategy from “Managed Retreat” to Coastal Resiliency”, and will not approve any new coastal armoring devices and wants the coastal cliffs and bluffs to erode naturally. For any new development, major redevelopment/replacement structures along the coastline in CA, property owners must agree as a condition of approval to waive the right to protect the new development from future sea level rise. For example, no sea wall to protect against bluff erosion. Another condition that is becoming more common, is the obligation to vacate the property when some amount of bluff erosion has occurred, or high-tide is within a certain distance from a structure.
Nov 13, 2020 | Meetings, Pajaro Dunes, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
At the CPOA Annual Zoom Meeting 11/12/20, David Carlson from the Santa Cruz County Planning Dept responded to questions raised by CPOA members regarding the recently approved Local Coastal Plan documents. A recording of this Zoom meeting with discussion from the 11/12/20 meeting will be posted on the CPOA website shortly.
Nov 5, 2020 | Meetings
We will be discussing the latest approved version of the Local Coast Plan documents. Please plan to participate. We have invited County Supervisor John Leopold and David Carlson from the Planning Department to participate in the discussion.
