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.
Under Review by CPOA, scheduled for presentation and approval by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on 12/10/19
Under review by CPOA, scheduled for presentation and approval by Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on 12/10/19
Under review by CPOA, schedule for presentation and approval to Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on 12/10/19
Pacific Legal Foundation comes to the aid of the Wall Family, who own 14,500 acre lot along the coastline in Santa Barbara, when the Coastal Commission withholds a Coastal building permit to force the property owners to provide a public access easement across their property to the beach, which is more that 1,500 yards from their planned structure.
Professor Gary Griggs gave a presentation at the CPOA-SC Annual Meeting on 9/15/19. According to Professor Griggs the local sea level (San Francisco & Monterey tide gauge) has only risen about 1.6 inches in the last 20 years, and is expected to rise 0.6 to 1.4 feet by 2050, and 3.5 – 4.4 feet by 2100, based on moderately conservative forecasting models. However, the Coastal Commission is requesting coastal communities plan for a 10 foot rise in the sea level, which exceeds most forecasting models.