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.
Examples of vertical seawalls, with stairs and horizontal public access pathways to increase public access, blend in with the environment and shore up eroding cliffs and beach bluffs. The estimated cost is between $800,000 – $1,200,000 per parcel depending on the size of the lot and vertical slope. According to the County’s approved LCP, the coastal bluffs from Soquel Point to the Capitola City border will be designated as a “Shoreline Protection Exception Area”, with the goal of constructing a uniform vertical seawall with horizontal public pathway and increased public access from 41st Ave to the Capitola City border. If approved by the Coastal Commission, the property owners would be able to form a Geologic Hazards Assessment District (GHAD) to help finance the costs of this uniform seawall along Opal Cliffs.
We will be discussing the latest approved version of the Local Coast Plan documents. Please plan to participate. We have invited County Supervisors John Leopold, Zach Friend, Kathy Molloy and David Carlson from the Planning Department to participate.
The Board of Supervisors approved the proposed LCP, which will be sent to the CCC for review and comment. It is expected that the CCC will request significant changes and send it back to the County to accept or reject the CCC requested changes. At that time, there should be another opportunity for public comment, before the Board of Supervisors finalizes the LCP. This process is expected to take 90 days to one year to complete.
The CCC has submitted a letter to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors regarding agenda item #7 (9507) requesting the County make substantial changes in the proposed LCP. Further limit any new development, redevelopment or replacement structures along the coastline. All structures substantially modified or replace since the Coast Act of 1977, should be considered “new”. Any further major redevelopment or replacement structures should not rely on existing coastal shoreline protection or armoring devices. The County must guarantee continued or increased public access to the beaches and shorelines, and force property owners to accept the obligation to modify or remove their shoreline armorment to allow for continued public access with sea level rise.
CPOA urges the Board of Supervisors to delay the vote on 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. These documents are not ready to be submitted to the California coastal Commission for review and certification. There are still many flaws and inconsistencies in the documents which could lead to misunderstandings and potential law suites against the County. If the Board of Supervisors chooses not to delay the vote on 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, CPOA has asked for certain amendments. See CPOA Comment letter for more details
Download attachments, and plan to attend the BOS meeting on 9/15/20 in person or virtually.
j. Public Safety Element Section 6.4 changes since 3-10-20 (strikeout-underline copy)
k. Chapter 16.10 changes since 3-10-20 (strikeout-underline)
Chapter 6.10 Geohazards Code Amendments – LCP for Coastal Bluffs & Beaches. Red-lined changes since the Board of Supervisor’s meeting on 3/10/20
Red-lined proposed changes to Public safety Elements 6.4, Local Coastal Program (LCP) for Coastal Bluffs and Beaches. Changes made since 3/10/20 Board of Supervisor’s meeting
The County has proposed alternative language to address greater flexibility in the “one time only” limitation on major redevelopment/replacement structures pursuant to the Board of supervisor’s motion on 3/10/20. A copy of the red-lined document with changes made since 3/10/20 draft, should be available by 8/28/20 for public review. Go to the County website: https://santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx?