2021/March
From ActCoastal
| Year | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Month | March |
| Location | Virtual |
| Description | The March Coastal Commission meeting took place virtually on March 10-12 with a special meeting on March 18. On Thursday, the Commission approved a utility pole replacement project and habitat restoration near Temescal Ridge Fire Road in Palos Verdes, a follow up permit to a previous enforcement action. The Commission also approved the Long Beach Grand Prix event permit. On Friday, the Commission denied a permit for a new mixed-use development in Pacifica. The special meeting on March 18 was held to review State Parks’ coastal development permit on allowable uses and intensity of use of Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. |
Issues voted on at this Meeting
Click on an issue to read full description
| Issue | Summary | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Oceano Dunes State Park OHV Use - Amendment | California State Parks operates the nearly 5,000-acre Oceano Dunes State Park in San Luis Obispo County. It is the only State Park in California where vehicles (including off highway vehicles, or OHVs) are allowed on the beach and dunes. The Coastal Commission retains the ability to make changes to Park operations through periodic review of its CDP that temporarily authorized uses and intensities of use at the Park in the 1980s, and found most recently in 2019 that driving at the Park has degraded dune habitats, harmed native species, caused air quality and public health issues, and made it difficult for the public to walk, swim and enjoy other non-vehicular activities at the beach and dunes. The issues directly conflict with the Coastal Act’s policies on environmental and tribal justice, public access, sensitive habitat protections. The staff recommendation includes a ban on OHV use at the park, with a five-year transition and a new vehicular beach camping area between West Grand and Pier Avenues, including for ADA vehicle access as well as an allowance for low-key interpretive hike in or bike in camping in the southern portion of the park. The staff recommendation was approved unanimously. Commissioners also amended the staff recommendation during deliberations and reduced the transition period from 5 to 3 years in a 6-4 vote. | 
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| Oceano Dunes State Park OHV Use - Approval | California State Parks operates the nearly 5,000-acre Oceano Dunes State Park in San Luis Obispo County. It is the only State Park in California where vehicles (including off highway vehicles, or OHVs) are allowed on the beach and dunes. The Coastal Commission retains the ability to make changes to Park operations through periodic review of its CDP that temporarily authorized uses and intensities of use at the Park in the 1980s, and found most recently in 2019 that driving at the Park has degraded dune habitats, harmed native species, caused air quality and public health issues, and made it difficult for the public to walk, swim and enjoy other non-vehicular activities at the beach and dunes. The issues directly conflict with the Coastal Act’s policies on environmental and tribal justice, public access, sensitive habitat protections. The staff recommendation includes a ban on OHV use at the park, with a five-year transition and a new vehicular beach camping area between West Grand and Pier Avenues, including for ADA vehicle access as well as an allowance for low-key interpretive hike in or bike in camping in the southern portion of the park. The staff recommendation was approved unanimously. Commissioners also amended the staff recommendation during deliberations and reduced the transition period from 5 to 3 years in a 6-4 vote. |
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| Pacifica Mixed Use Development in ESHA | An applicant proposed new mixed-use development on an empty lot on San Pedro Avenue in Pacifica. The development would consist of several buildings including a surf shop, office, storage and residential units, as well as a skate park and parking lot. The site is partially in the Coastal Commission’s original jurisdiction and the City of Pacifica issued a CDP for the portion of development in the City’s jurisdiction. The project site contains environmentally sensitive habitat area (ESHA) and there are wetlands immediately adjacent. The proposed development would also be subject to coastal hazards including shoreline retreat, sea level rise, wave runup and inundation over the expected life of the development and would impact public coastal views. For these reasons, Commissioners reluctantly denied the proposed development within the Coastal Commission’s jurisdiction. The City issued CDP for one mixed-use building on site remains in place. |
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