California Coastal Commission

This document outlines amendments to the Ventura County Coastal Area Plan, primarily focusing on coastal hazards, sea level rise, and climate change adaptation. Key areas addressed include minimizing risks to life and property from various hazards such as erosion, flooding, and seismic events, and enhancing community, infrastructure, and ecosystem resilience. The plan integrates new policies and programs for natural adaptation, protection of coastal resources like beaches and habitats, and includes updates to the Coastal Trail to account for sea level rise impacts. Targeted outcomes include safeguarding development, ensuring structural integrity, minimizing adverse impacts on coastal resources, and promoting equitable civic engagement in planning.

This document details a proposed amendment to the City of Malibu's certified Local Coastal Program (LCP), specifically concerning changes to the Land Use Plan (LUP) and Local Implementation Plan (LIP). The amendment seeks to redesignate two beachfront parcels from Community Commercial (CC) to Commercial Visitor Serving (CV-1). The core purpose is to prioritize and reinforce visitor-serving commercial uses, such as motels and bed and breakfast inns, aligning with the policies of Chapter 3 of the Coastal Act and the certified LUP, which advocate for enhanced public opportunities for coastal recreation.

The session included roll call confirmation of attendance and a review of virtual meeting procedures. The Chief Counsel reported on closed session actions concerning litigation advice and actions in cases involving Friends of Oceaniano Dunes, Inc., Bair Bay Club, City of Fort Bragg, and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation. Agenda changes were announced, moving several items to consent, including LCP amendments for the City of San Buenaventura, County of Santa Barbara, and City of Long Beach, as well as the Lipman CDP application. Public comments focused heavily on two primary issues: the need for increased ranger presence and protection protocols for sea lions, particularly pups, at La Hoya Cove ahead of pupping season, and concerns regarding the Port of San Diego's management of public access, specifically citing the restricted access to a rooftop terrace at the Intercontinental hotel. A speaker also raised concerns about proposed and existing artificial turf installations within the Coastal Commission permit zone, urging the Commission to establish a strong policy against them.

The meeting commenced with the introduction of two new alternate participants, Commissioners Kelnik and Moreno. A significant portion of the meeting involved updates on agenda changes, including moving multiple Local Coastal Program (LCP) amendments from the City of Fort Bragg and Delnor County to the consent calendar, and postponing agenda item 15A concerning the City of Pacifica's LCP amendment regarding short-term rentals. Additionally, item 16A regarding ecological and fire resilience work in the Santa Cruz Mountains was postponed, and item 18A for the St. Louis Abyspo County LCP amendment for mineral resources was moved to consent. Public comments focused heavily on the postponed City of Pacifica short-term rental ordinance, with speakers detailing negative impacts on housing and neighborhood character, and urging the Commission to re-agendize it for April. Other public testimony addressed concerns regarding a draft protected tree ordinance for San Mateo County, emphasizing the need for restrictions during bird nesting/monarch overwintering seasons, and advocacy against development on a verified monarch overwintering site in El Granada. Furthermore, a representative requested the Commission issue a notice of violation regarding heavy metal deposition in an area following a fire, citing scientific reports of high contamination levels.

The meeting commenced with roll call and a review of virtual hearing procedures. Agenda changes included postponements for items related to Newport Beach LCP amendment, Raina appeal, and applications from San Clemente and Dana Point, while several items for Oceanside, Carlsbad, and San Diego were moved to consent. Public comments addressed opposition to a proposed development at 501 Sandpoint Road due to concerns about coastal flooding and erosion, urging the commission to consider recent King Tide effects. Other testimony raised serious concerns about a federal maritime surveillance tower installation in San Clemente, arguing it could create a climate of monitoring that deters equitable beach access. Additionally, speakers highlighted issues in Newport Harbor concerning the conversion of mooring permits to city-owned licenses without Coastal Development Permits (CDP), citing potential exclusion of working-class boaters through rate increases and permit confiscation. There was also an urgent request for enforcement action regarding the protection of the critically endangered Pacific pocket mouse on the Dana Point headlands.