Memorandum Planning Thursday, January 8, 2015 7.A. To: Coastal Advisory Committee From John Ciampa, Associate Planner Subject: Review Draft Local Coastal Program Copies: James Pechous, City Planner Purpose of Tonight s Meeting Staff is requesting the Coastal Advisory Committee (CAC) review and provide comments on the draft LUP. The CAC meeting will also serve as the first of five public meetings (see schedule below) where the public will have the opportunity to provided comments and feed back on the LUP. The LUP is posted on the City webpage and there is also a designated email address (lcp@san-clemente.com) for public to send comments. The CAC acts as an advisory committee to provided input to staff, Planning Commission, and the City Council on coastal related issues. Because the Local Coastal Program (LCP) is the planning document used by the City to protect coastal resources and guide development in the Coastal Zone, the CAC function is to review and make recommendations on the draft LUP. These comments and recommendations will be forwarded to Planning Commission and City Council. Background The City Council identified certification of the LCP as a high priority implementation measure of the General Plan. In April, 2014, the City Council approved a contract with DUDEK and McCabe and Associates to assist staff in preparation of the LCP. The City s LCP is a planning document similar to the General Plan but specific to the City s Coastal Zone. The LCP, prepared in partnership with the California Coastal Commission. The LCP is divided into two parts, the Coastal LUP, that establishes the City s coastal policies and land uses and the Coastal Implementation Plan (IP) which includes development standards and requirements that implement our City s LUP. The first phase is to obtain approval of the LUP. The second phase is to obtain approval of the IP and then receive Coastal Commission certification of a LCP. Currently the California Coastal Commission (CCC) has permit authority over all development within the City s Coastal Zone. The adoption of a new Local Coastal Planning Memorandum
City of San Clemente Page 2 Program will give the City more control over approving projects within the City s Coastal Zone and will streamline the Coastal Development Permit review process. The purpose of completing the San Clemente LCP would be to transfer the majority of the permit authority within Coastal Zone over to the City. The Coastal Commission will retain permanent coastal permit jurisdiction over development proposed on tidelands, submerged lands, and public trust lands, and the Commission also acts on appeals from certain local government coastal permit decisions. The City s Goals for the LCP Include: Balance competing interests and needs to ensure long-term protection of coastal resources Address issues of statewide significance, including maintaining and providing public access, preserving coastal habitats, protecting coastalrelated and visitor-serving land uses, promoting recreational opportunities for all income groups, and supporting Smart Growth and transit oriented development Update LCP to include current data regarding biological resources through an updated biological inventory and evaluation of coastal canyons, bluffs, ESHAs, and potential ESHAs to identify habitat and species changes, factors affecting biological resources Address effects of climate change by including policies and measures to mitigate potential threats form geologic hazards, habitat changes, seismic and coastal flooding, and sea level rise through appropriate land uses and development standards, public improvements, bluff monitoring and protection, and information sharing. Receive public input and update policies to reflect local needs, conditions, and concerns Develop clear standards and procedures for Coastal Development Permit processing /streamline permit process The LUP is comprised of six chapters that cover much of the same information as the current LUP. The current LCP was never certified by the Coastal Commission, which limited the City s permit authority over projects in the Coastal Zone. The new document provides more policies addressing a range of topics that have become a focal point over the years. The new LUP addresses issues including: sea level rise, community events, water quality, updated biological inventory, sand replenishment, coastal erosion and protective structures, and a number of other issues. The primary chapters of the report include the following topics: Land Use The LUP provides parameters for new development in the City s Coastal Zone. Land use types include residential, commercial, mixed use, public and institutional, and open space. The Land Use Plan and New Development section describes
City of San Clemente Page 3 each land use within the City, including the type, maximum density, and intensity for each use that may be permitted which are consistent with all applicable LUP policies. Public Access and Recreation Maximum public coastal access is a fundamental goal of the Coastal Act and a key part of San Clemente s charm. But the Coastal Act goes beyond just ensuring physical access. It also emphasizes the importance of recreation and visitorserving land uses that meet a wide range of incomes and interests. Marine and Land Resources The Coastal Act sets high standards for the protection of Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHA), including various types of wetlands, riparian areas, coastal prairies, woodlands and forests, and other natural resources in the coastal zone. The Commission has gained significant experience in applying the Coastal Act and LCPs to the protection of such resources. Also, there have been some important changes regarding the protection of ESHAs that stem from new scientific research, such as the identification of new sensitive species, or from court decisions interpreting the requirements of the Coastal Act. Hazards & Shoreline/Bluff Development Potential hazards in the City include, but are not limited to, coastal bluffs, slopes with low stability and high landslide potential, surface slope failures, seismic ground shaking, liquefaction, flooding, wave action, tsunami, and fire hazards. In addition, storm generated tidal surges and rising sea-levels present potential hazards that must also be considered. These events may result in loss of beach sand and other sedimentary deposits which are critical to the protection of coastal lands and bluffs and for public safety, recreation and wildlife habitat. A key component of the LCP is managing development in conformance with Coastal Act policies in order to respond to coastal hazards, reduce risks to life and property, avoid substantial changes to natural landforms and minimize the need for protective structures. Visual, Historic, and Cultural Resources The Coastal Act policies require the protection of scenic coastal areas and the preservation of cultural resources. Scenic resources include coastal bluffs, coastal canyons, natural landforms and designated scenic view corridors from publiclyowned properties along or through public rights-of-way, as defined in the Coastal Act and/or designated by the City.
City of San Clemente Page 4 Review Process Staff has been meeting with Coastal Commission staff monthly, most recently on November 6, 2014, to discuss the project scope, provide preliminary comments on the draft LUP, and identify key topics Coastal Commission will require be included in the Program. With the assistance of the consultants and direction from the Coastal Commission staff, a LUP has been drafted. On August 21, 2014, the City held a public workshop to gain input from the public on their interests and values to ensure that they are included in the LUP. The City noticed all property owners that live along coastal canyons, bluffs, and individuals that requested to be on the interested parties list. Public comments received at the meeting were related to improving public access, bluff preservation, Capistrano Shores Mobile Home Park land use designation, increasing parking for beach areas, and acquiring public access through Cypress Shores/Cove. On November 2014, the Executive Management Team (ExDMT) reviewed the draft LUP and provided comments. The ExDMT s comments have been incorporated into the document and now it is ready for public review. On December 24, 2014, the California Coastal Commission received the current draft for review. The draft LUP has also been sent to interested parties and posted on the City s LCP webpage http://san-clemente.org/departmentsservices/planning-services/long-range-planning/local-coastal-program. See the project schedule below for the future milestones and meetings on the LCP. Recommendation Staff requests that the CAC review and make recommendations on the draft LUP. These comments and recommendations will be forwarded to Planning Commission for their review, tentatively scheduled for February 18, 2015, and City Council. LCP SCHEDULE Task Date Task 4.2: Revise/Update Draft LUP July-December 2014 Task 4.3: Committee/Planning Commission/City Council/CCC/Public Review January 2015 (committees), February-March 2015 (Planning Commission w/ 2 meetings) April 2015 (City Council) Task 4.4: Revise Draft LUP April 2015 Task 4.5: CCC Review and LUP Revisions August 2014, Dec-Jan 2014-15 (prelim) May, 2015 (formal)
City of San Clemente Page 5 Task 5: Update LCP/IP June 2015 February 2016 Task 5.1: Prepare Initial Draft and Peer Review of Draft IP June-July 2015 Task 5.2: Revise/Update Draft IP August 2015 Task 5.3: Planning Commission/City Council/CCC/Public Review November-December 2015 Task 5.4: Revise Draft IP January 2016 Task 5.5: CCC Review and IP revisions September 2015 (prelim) February 2016 (formal) Task 6: CCC Certification February 2016 October, 2016 Task 6.1: Revise LUP/IP City Council Approve February March 2016 Task 6.2: Submit Final Draft LCP to CCC March 2016 Task 6.3: CCC Certifies LCP By July 2016 Task 6.4 City posts certified LCP on web; distribute training materials; public/staff training workshops August-September, 2016 Task 6.5 Close out LCP grant, provide final documentation October, 2016 Task 6.6 Begin Implementation of Certified LCP October, 2016