Shote Hotel ATF Permit
From ActCoastal
| Month | December |
|---|---|
| Year | 2019 |
| Summary | After settling an enforcement violation in May 2019 for operating out of conformance with the Coastal Act for nearly a decade, the Santa Monica-based Shore Hotel requested an after-the-fact approval permit for their continued operations. The Shore Hotel proposed to continue operating as a high-cost hotel despite the original permit requiring them to construct and operate a low-to-moderate-cost hotel to replace the 95-room lower-cost hotel that was demolished. Commissioners found the proposed mitigation package extremely inadequate and, instead of denial, opted to negotiate with the applicant from the dais. As a result, the Shore Hotel agreed to supply 72 low-to-moderate-cost hotels on site and to pay a mitigation fee for the remaining rooms. They also proposed to construct and operate a 14-room “micro hotel” in a vacant portion of the building and to offer a youth lodging program within the micro hotel to nonprofit coastal recreation programs aimed at underserved youth. |
| Outcome | 
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| Outcome Description | This permit passed in a 7-5 vote with the agreed-upon changes after negotiation with the applicant from the dias. While the final conditions agreed upon were a vast improvement from what the Shore Hotel had proposed, Commissioners could have sent a stronger message to current and future Coastal Act violators by denying the Shore Hotel’s proposal and requiring them to cease operating or to provide 100 percent of the lost low-cost hotel rooms on site. Commissioner Sara Aminzadeh pointed out that assuming a hostel was equivalent to lower-cost hotel rooms for mitigation purposes was “robbing families of the dignity of autonomy of ways in which they can enjoy the coast.” In essence, taking away low-cost hotel rooms and replacing them with a hostel was not sufficient or equitable for low-income families looking for hotel-type accommodations on the coast. Commissioner Aminzadeh also pointed out that it was not clear how the 72 lower-cost rooms agreed upon would be available or marketed to communities and lower income families. |
| Why You Should Care | The Shore Hotel exemplifies an attitude among certain developers that as long as they have enough money they can circumvent the law. As a matter of preserving public access, the Coastal Commission requires replacement of any low-cost overnight accommodations to be made on site or for mitigation fees to go toward constructing low-cost rooms in the vicinity. Unfortunately, the mitigation fee program has not resulted in construction of rooms as intended; similarly, decades long lags for use of the funds is common. |
| Image | 
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| Decision Type | ATF CDP |
| Staff Recommendation | Approval with Conditions |
| Staff Report | https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2019/12/Th10a/Th10a-12-2019-report.pdf |
| Lobbyist/Agent | Susan McCabe, Sherman Stacy |
| Opposition to Project | Unite Here Local 11, Surfrider Foundation, California Coastal Protection Network |
| Coastal Act Policies | Chapter 3 |
Voting Detail for Shote Hotel ATF Permit
| Commissioner | Vote |
|---|---|
| Sara Aminzadeh |  |
| Dayna Bochco | |
| Katie Rice | |
| Roberto Uranga | |
| Steve Padilla | |
| Donne Brownsey | |
| Effie Turnbull-Sanders | |
| Mike Wilson | |
| Linda Escalante |  |
| Carole Groom | |
| Erik Howell | |
| Caryl Hart | |
Meeting Page
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