Oct 6, 2022 | California Coastal Commision News
The Coastal Commission staff does not support Santa Cruz County’s proposed Local Coastal Program Amendment (LCPA) to protect the shoreline, bluffs and existing development, particularly in the area in which property is located along the coastal bluffs and will likely be recommending denial to their Commissioners on October 14. Expressing your support for the County’s proposed policies through written comment for the certification hearing will be vital to helping the County protect its residents while planning for sea level rise. Without strong public support, the Commission is unlikely to compromise with the County, which would set local adaptation action back by years. Click on the SCCAR’s link to submit your comments.
Oct 6, 2022 | Articles - Misc, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
After months of back and forth, a Santa Cruz Superior Court judge finalized his ruling this month in favor of securing Rio Del Mar private owners’ rights to a beachside walkway. Now, 27 defendants named in a civil case involving Rio Del Mar Beach Island Homeowners Association have been green-lighted to begin placing temporary 6-foot fencing at either end of the walkway abutting a row of patios on the beach side of 202-300 Beach Drive.
Oct 4, 2022 | 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’s letter to CCC outlines our position on the following topics as part of the County’s Proposed LCP Amendments, scheduled for a CCC Hearing on 10/14/22.
Major Differences between CCC’s Position vs. County Proposed LCP: CPOA’s Response to:
A. CCC’s definition of “existing structures” being those structures which were present prior to the Coastal Act (January 1, 1977).
B. No new armoring for existing structures or redevelopment in coastal hazard zones.
C. Existing Armoring (Revetment Rocks) along East Cliff Dr. between the Harbor and Soquel Point may need to be removed as the public beaches shrink due to sea level rise.
D. The requirement for all property owners with existing shoreline protection (seawalls or revetment rocks) to file a “Monitoring, Maintenance, and Repair Plan (MMRP)” and to routinely inspect, maintain, and repair the shoreline structures and prevent any seaward migration.
E. When necessary, managed retreat to move structures inland to preserve public access and beaches.
F. Shoreline Protection Exception Area (SPEA). The County had proposed a “Shoreline Protection Exception Area, extending approximately 1.4 miles from Soquel Point (APN # 028-304-72) to the Capitola City border.
Oct 4, 2022 | California Coastal Commision News, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs
If your Coastal Property is located in the County’s Proposed “Shoreline Protection Exception Area” extending approximately 1.4 miles from Soquel Point (APN # 028-304-72) to the Capitola City border, we need your help! We are asking coastal property owners in the “SPEA” to write letters of support for the proposed uniform seawall and send to the Coastal Commissioners by October 7, 2022.
Oct 3, 2022 | California Coastal Commision News, Meetings, Public Hearings & Meetings
A copy of the Final CCC Staff Report can be downloaded from: https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2022/10/F10e/F10e-10-2022-report.pdf. CCC Staff have recommended to the California Commissioners that the proposed LCP Amendments be denied. The Board of Supervisors MUST withdraw the proposed LCP Amendments, or the County and property owners may face significant consequences from the CCC as they try to maintain their shoreline protection, or redevelop the property.
Major Differences between CCC’s Position vs. County Proposed LCP:
A. CCC’s definition of “existing structures” being those structures which were present prior to the Coastal Act (January 1, 1977).
B. No new armoring for existing structures or redevelopment in coastal hazard zones.
C. Existing Armoring (Revetment Rocks) along East Cliff Dr. between the Harbor and Soquel Point may need to be removed as the public beaches shrink due to sea level rise.
D. The requirement for all property owners with existing shoreline protection (seawalls or revetment rocks) to file a “Monitoring, Maintenance, and Repair Plan (MMRP)” and to routinely inspect, maintain, and repair the shoreline structures and prevent any seaward migration.
E. When necessary, managed retreat to move structures inland to preserve public access and beaches.
F. Shoreline Protection Exception Area (SPEA). The County had proposed a “Shoreline Protection Exception Area, extending approximately 1.4 miles from Soquel Point (APN # 028-304-72) to the Capitola City border.
Sep 28, 2022 | Meetings, Santa Cruz County: Opal Cliffs, Santa Cruz County: Pleasure Point / East Cliff Drive
CPOA Members are invited to a party and reception on October 12, 2022 from 6 – 8 p.m at the home of Steve Laub, located at 2866 S. Palisades Avenue in Pleasure Point to meet with Supervisor Manu Koenig and will have the opportunity to discuss what Santa Cruz’s potential next steps are given the Coastal Commission’s recent response to Santa Cruz’s LCP.
Sep 21, 2022 | California Coastal Commision News, Meetings
On September 20, 2022 the County Board of Supervisors voted not to withdraw the proposed LCP Amendments for Coastal Beaches and Bluffs, but to allow it to go to the Coastal Commissioners for Hearing on October 13, 2022. It is anticipated that the Coastal Commissioners will reject (deny) the proposed LCP Amendments, and send it back to the County for revision and resubmittal. The Supervisors directed the Planning staff to begin setting up meetings with CCC staff, CCC Regional Officers and major stake holders beginning in early 2023, with the goal of resubmitting LCP amendments that can be certified by CCC by October 2023. This is also tied to Housing Element which is due by December 2023.
Sep 16, 2022 | California Coastal Commision News, Meetings
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).
Aug 27, 2022 | Meetings, Public Hearings & Meetings, Santa Cruz County: Rio del Mar / Aptos
Meet Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, candidate for Country Supervisor – District 3, who supports homeowner rights and is against the County proposed Empty Home Tax. Party on 9/16/22 @ 5:30 p.m., at 276 Beach Drive in Aptos, sponsored by Jim Vaudagna. Please RSVP to jvaudagna@comcast.net
Aug 24, 2022 | Articles - Misc, California Coastal News, California Ocean Protection Council, Coastal Access / Public Right-Of-Way, Public Hearings & Meetings
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.
