Regional: Bill attacks coastal commission

By DENNIS HUCKABAY | Tuesday, April 1, 2008 10:06 PM PDT ∞

The Coastal Act was made law so that the state, through the California Coastal Commission, could oversee development along the coast. Politicians are now trying to undermine the ability of the Coastal Commission to protect our coastline.

State Senate Bill 1295 would tear out one of the fundamental pillars of the Coastal Act. The law allows the professional staff of the commission, which receives notice of all locally approved projects, to review these projects for their possible adverse impacts on public access to the coast, wetlands, water quality and habitat.

Commission staff can bring a potentially harmful coastal development to the attention of the commissioners, who can then appeal the project, allowing the public time to address issues of concern to them.

One of the most critical oversight aspects of the Coastal Act is the ability of commissioners to appeal local permits. SB1295 would take away commissioners' ability to appeal projects approved by local governments.

Citizens and nonprofit groups simply do not have the resources or the ability to monitor and be aware of every proposed local project. The public does not receive notification of these projects, and given the short 10-day time limit for filing an appeal, the public is unable to prepare a considered response.

If the appeal ability of commissioners is removed, as this proposal intends, then adverse coastal developments approved locally will go forward unnoticed, until the development itself presents itself and its impacts locally. By then, it will be too late to remedy the situation.

At its meeting tonight, Oceanside Councilman Jerry Kern wants the city council to send a letter of support for SB1295. This bill directly attacks the intent of Proposition 20 (the California Coastal Conservation Initiative), approved by the voters, and the Coastal Act, which is intended to provide state oversight of development along the coast.

Contact the Oceanside mayor and council members at (760) 435-3045 or e-mail them at council@ci.oceanside.ca.us. Call state Sen. Mark Wyland at (760) 931-2455.

Tell them we want to protect our coastline rather than have compliant local politicians pushing through harmful coastal development projects unrestrained by state oversight.

Dennis Huckabay is president of the Buena Vista Audubon Society

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4 comment(s)[-]Go to Top

Thank you wrote on Apr 1, 2008 10:58 PM:thank you Dennis- your editorial says it all. We need to continue this level of protection for our coast and to ensure beach access and constant review the accountability of developers. Sometimes it seems as though some of them have no soul and no regard for the precious coastal assets that are there for all to enjoy.

Accountability Required, wrote on Apr 2, 2008 6:57 AM:It does not appear that Kern's proposal is an attack on the Coastal Commission but it is an attempt to hold the Commission accountable to the public they serve. The Commission staff holds pre-signed commissioner forms for the purpose of "staff initiated appeals" of Coastal Commission decisions. Kern's proposal would require more than one Coastal Commissioner to initiate an appeal "directly by the commissioners" rather than allowing staff to initiate the appeal process. Today, it is refreshing to find someone who wants to hold one of our government agencies accountable. However, it is a hoot that Kern is doing this in the face of asking the Commission for approval of the the City's Beach Hotel project.

Olaf wrote on Apr 2, 2008 2:05 PM:How about stopping the obstructionist views of the Coastal Commision. They take foreever to review a project and hold cities hostage when trying to update regulations. This in turn hurts the development of the city and citizens. They do serve a purpose (ie keeping trails open to the beach, no skyscrapers on the beach) but seem to not answer to anyone.

Vote of the people to amend wrote on Apr 5, 2008 8:20 AM:The people of California approved formation of the Coastal Commission. Shouldn't the people of California e the ones to decide if and/or when it needs to have its structure changed. And what is this about the removal of the authority of the Coastal Commission to over-rule a City Council's approval of a project. City Councils often pass negative projects and there are very few laws and/or rights that we have to protect us from those bad projects. Do NOT alow our Senators and Assembly to pass this bill. It must go before a vote of the people. Lobbyists are hard at work on this one, you can bet ! What chance do we have against them ?

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