Local Coastal Plan Update Elizabeth Bar-El, AICP Senior Planner, Project Manager Cary Fukui Assistant Planner Planning Commission Meeting January 6, 2016
The California Coastal Act of 1976: What is it and What does it do? California Coastal Commission (CCC) was established in 1972 by voter initiative (Prop 20). Its mission: "To protect, conserve, restore, and enhance the environment of the California coastline." 1976 Coastal Act: extended CCC indefinitely, tasked with protecting coastal resources, including: shoreline public access and recreation, lower cost visitor accommodations, terrestrial and marine habitat visual resources, landform alteration, agricultural lands, commercial fisheries, industrial uses, water quality, offshore oil and gas development, transportation, development design, power plants, ports, and public works.
The California Coastal Act of 1976: What is it and What does it do? The CCC exercises its purview through the Coastal Development Permit process. The Coastal Act provides for local jurisdictions to develop a Local Coastal Plan for their coastal zones and submit to the CCC to certify that the LCP complies with the State Coastal Act. Once certified, coastal development permits are processed locally as part of the City permit process. Santa Monica last prepared a plan in 1992. The full LCP was not certified.
Local Coastal Plan 1. Land Use Plan (LUP) Santa Monica has a Issues, Goals, Policies certified LUP that guides coastal approvals. 2. Implementation Plan (IP) Santa Monica does not Coastal Zoning Ordinance have an Implementation Plan.
Why Update the LCP Now? The LUP does not reflect the current conditions of Santa Monica; The LUP needs to be updated to reflect City primary policy objectives; The City received a $225,000 grant from the Coastal Commission for the project A certified Implementation Plan is needed for the CCC to transfer coastal permitting authority to the City rather than a two-step sequence
With a certified LCP: A New City Process Planning will review for: CCC retains authority over: consistency with certified Submerged lands, tidelands. LCP Appealable to CCC: Zoning compliance review • Area within 300 feet of bluffs will be conducted or to first public road. simultaneously with the All other: Council has final decision. coastal IP review.
With a certified LCP: An ordinance that fosters coastal stewardship Evaluate projects based on current conditions and data Coastal Zoning Ordinance requirements that are consistent with the City’s planning direction Land use policies that comply with State Coastal Act and regulate coastal activity based on best management practices for stewarding coastal resources through changing climate conditions.
The LCP Team Structure City Interdepartmental Team City Staff PCD Liz Bar-El, Project Manager OSE Cary Fukui, Project Assistant CCS HED Public Works Consultants City Manager Dudek (Alison Evans, PM) City Attorney Lisa Wise, Alan Seltzer David Revell, Ph.D. Coordination with CCC Staff
Where we are at in the process: November 12, 2014: CCC Grant Awarded to Santa Monica August 27, 2015: RFP Released September 1, 2015: Hired LCP Assistant Planner October 27, 2015: Dudek Contract complete; NTP Identified issues; 1 st meeting with CCC staff November 2015: December 2015: Outreach planning; web page created January 2016: Planning Commission presentation
Key Issues for the LCP Update • Focus on Mobility and Access; Broaden from Focus on Beach Parking • Consistency with Specific Plans • Anticipate Sea Level Rise and Climate Change Impacts; Plan for Adaptation • Address Low-Cost Visitor Accommodations
Mobility & Access Current LCP is auto-oriented: The previous LCP was written in 1992 and does not reflect transportation conditions in Santa Monica Shift to multi-modal mobility Policies to reflect goals and values
City’s Active Transportation Policy Planning LUCE Downtown Specific Plan Civic Center Specific Plan Pedestrian Action Plan Bike Action Plan New LCP will reflect and support these policies to develop Coastal Area regulations.
An Integrated Approach to Parking Parking for the beach need not be at the beach: The 1992 LCP views beach parking as that which is west of PCH. Most parking lots in Downtown Santa Monica are no more than a ¼ mile walk from the beach
Sea Level Rise & Climate Adaptation New Design Guidelines and Potential Regulations: Work with the USC Sea Grant Team (OSE project) to assess the risk of Sea Level Rise and impact from storm events in Santa Monica Develop Appropriate Regulations for Affected Land Uses Protect Important Infrastructure and Plan.
Sea Level Rise & Climate Adaptation
North Beach 100 YR storm in 2016 (0cm SLR) 100 YR storm in 2030 (50cm SLR) 100 YR storm in 2050 (100cm SLR) 100 YR storm in 2100 (200cm SLR) South Beach
Low-Cost Accommodation The Coastal Commission is interested in maintaining and encouraging low-cost accommodations through tools such as: Evaluating in-lieu fee for removing low-cost accommodations Planning for future use of collected fees Identifying affordable options within close proximity to access the beach, even if not directly in the coastal zone.
Project Highlights & Timeline January to April 2016: Community Outreach Phase I April to June 2016: Prepare LUP Framework and IP Outline June to July 2016: Release Framework; Commission/Council presentations July to October 2016: Prepare and Release Draft LCP Nov. to December 2016: Community Outreach Phase II January 2017: Release Final Draft February 2017: PC Recommendation Hearing April/May 2017: City Council Adoption Hearing May 2017: Submit to CCC for Certification
OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY Three Topics for Outreach Phase I: 1: Introduction to the Local Coastal Plan 2: Coordinated outreach with the Downtown Specific Plan: Approach to visitor services and accommodations; mobility and parking 3: Presentation in coordination with USC Sea Grant and OSE to model future coastal scenarios based on changing climate conditions
Thank You Elizabeth Bar-El, AICP Senior Planner Cary Fukui Assistant Planner Planning Commission Meeting Local Coastal Plan Update January 6, 2016
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