2014/May
From ActCoastal
| Year | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Month | May |
| Location | Inverness, CA |
| Description | The May hearing contained several interesting items and important briefings by Coastal Commission Staff. The controversial Marin County LCP Update drew several local residents in attendance. Concerned citizens testified that the LCP update would allow for more residential and commercial development in the Coastal-Agriculture Zone district almost entirely without public hearings and with no public right of appeal to the Coastal Commission. The Commission voted to approve the LCP update. The Commission heard another controversial item regarding an appeal in Santa Barbara County. The property in question is a bluff-top estate with several pre-Coastal Act non-conforming structures including a cabana located in the middle of an eroding bluff. Fortunately, the Commission unanimously found Substantial Issue and will assume jurisdiction over the permit. The Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ocean Protection Council provided a briefing on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The briefing provided an overview of the MPA network and areas where state agencies are working together to protect these special places. Finally, the Executive Director provided a comprehensive briefing about the current strategic plan and covered areas of progress during the first year of implementation. |
Issues voted on at this Meeting
Click on an issue to read full description
| Issue | Summary | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Carr Cabana Appeal | This was an appeal by Commissioners Zimmer and Bochco regarding the approval of a permit in the Hope Ranch area of Santa Barbara County. The property in question is a bluff-top estate with several pre-Coastal Act non-conforming structures including a cabana located in the middle of an eroding bluff . The prior owner had done extensive unpermitted work and was the subject of at least two open violations cases. The current owners, who were aware of the unpermitted work prior to purchase, applied to the County for a permit in 2009 for “as built’ construction. That application was withdrawn when the County recommended denial and the removal of the cabana. The owner then sought Landmark status for the cabana that was initially denied. A second attempt at Landmark status was approved in 2012. The owner then argued that the cabana’s Landmark status trumped all other policies in the LCP. The Planning Commission went against its staff’s recommendation of denial and ultimately approved the “as built” permit in March 2014. It is that local government decision that was appealed. | 
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| Marin LCP Update | The County of Marin proposed extensive changes to its existing Local Coastal Program (LCP)’s Land Use Plan (LUP). The process leading up to the Commission’s May hearing regarding the amendments was elaborate and lengthy—lasting nearly 5 years. The LCP update presented at the hearing focused on several important local issues including agriculture, biological resources, Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHA) protection, coastal hazards, water quality, public access, visual resources, community character, creating a category for “intergenerational homes,” public participation and the appeal process. | 
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