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.
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..
The California Coastal Commission has submitted a letter to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors regarding the proposed final LCP. CCC wants the definition of > 50% change to major structural components to be calculated singularly (> 50% change to foundation, or > 50% to framing/exterior walls, or > 50% change to roof framing) instead of collectively. Second, they want the County to be aggressive in forcing the removal of all rip rap (revetment) rocks for new or redevelopment in favor of modern vertical seawalls, which meet CCC standards. Third, they want the concept of manged retreat to be addressed more clearly.
Given the magnitude of the changes in the latest draft of the LCP, the inadequate timeframe provided for review, the adverse consequences to coastal property owners and the increasing possibility that Santa Cruz County will be open to undesirable litigation, we can no longer support the proposed LCP and ask that the Board of Supervisors postpone adoption of this proposed LCP such that a proper review can be conducted and a better resolution developed among the interested parties.
Steve Forer
President, CPOA-SC
We have not had sufficient time to complete a thorough review of the 6.4 Public Safety Element Amendments and Chapter 16.10 Ordinance Code Amendments Regarding Geologic Hazards. 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. Therefore CPOA-SC can no longer support the LCP until we have completed our review of these documents and obtained an outside legal opinion on how these changes may affect the rights of property owners. We urge you to attend this important Board of Supervisor’s meeting on December 10, 2019 @ 10:45 a.m..
Under Review by CPOA, scheduled for presentation and approval by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on 12/10/19