SANTA CRUZ COUNTY TO WITHDRAW ALL OF THE PROPOSED LCP AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION FOR CERTIFICATION.

Without a formal written review, Coastal Commission staff has informed County staff they intend to recommend denial of the amendments related to coastal hazards, including LCP Safety Element 6.4 (Land Use Plan) for Coastal Beaches and Bluffs, and the Geological Hazards sections (Implementation Plan chapter 16.10), which were deferred for review by CCC until this summer. Therefore the County Planning Department Staff has recommended to the Board of Supervisors that the entire LCP proposed amendments be withdrawn. CPOA has requested the County share all feedback received from the CCC regarding the LCP Safety Element 6.4 (Land Use Plan) for Coastal Beaches and Bluffs, and the Geological Hazards sections (Implementation Plan chapter 16.10).

Santa Cruz County to finalize Coastal Sustainability Project, requests public input

Santa Cruz County Planning Department has held a number of Public Hearings to solicit public input on their Coastal Sustainability Project. This project includes a review of the impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Beaches and Bluffs, housing, public infrastructure and public beach access, as well as erosion of inland properties due to climate change, more severe and frequent storms and fires.

Casa Del Mira HOA, San Mateo vs CCC regarding denial of Seawall Protection

The Casa Mira Homeowner’s Association is suing the California Coastal Commission over the denial of coastal development permit to construct a 257- foot seawall to protect a collapsing bluff that fronts Casa Mira townhomes built in 1984. Casa Mira worked tirelessly with CCC staff for three years and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop a proposal that met every one of staff’s seemingly endless objections. Coastal staff had recommended approval, but the Commission over ruled and denied the permit. The Trial is set for October in San Mateo Superior Court.

CA Coastal Bluff Erosion Study

Study on the stability and erosion of California Coastal Bluffs was recently conducted by researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography indicated cliffs along California’s northernmost coast have been eroding faster than the more populated bluffs of Southern California. See article recently published in the LA Times.

Smart Coastal virtual form on the Local Coastal Plan for Sea Level Rise in Santa Cruz County

Smart Coast California invites you to learn more about sea-level rise and ways Santa
Cruz County can adapt to it in the years to come at an interactive virtual forum!
The virtual forum was held on Tuesday, August 16, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The link to the Video conference is attached. Passcode: cL?8ZJB^

CCC to rule on extension for County to respond to requested changes to the LCP until 8/11/23

Santa Cruz County has requested to Extend the Time Limit for Acceptance of
the Commission’s Certification (with Suggested Modifications) of Santa
Cruz County Local Coastal Program (LCP) Amendment Number LCP-3-
SCO-20-0067-2 (Safety Element). If approved by the CCC, this would extend the deadline for the County to respond and accept the CCC recommended changes until 8/11/23. The LCP under consideration does NOT include the sections of the Safety Element Section 6.4 (Land Use Plan) for Coastal Beaches and Bluffs, which will not be reviewed until August of 2022 according to Kevin Kahn, District Manager, Central Coast Division, California Coastal Commission. For more information, please refer to https://www.coastal.ca.gov/meetings/agenda/#/2022/7, Thursday, agenda item 13b.

Rio Del Mar, Beach Dr. Property Owners win lawsuit against the County

Property owners of 200 – 300 Beach Dr., (29 properties) won law suite against County of Santa Cruz for unlawful seizure of walkway in front of the homes. The judge ruled that the County did not hold title to this walkway, had previously declined claim of public right of way, and did not provide any maintenance or improvements to protect the public right of way. Therefore, the County could not claim any rights to the walkway.