REGION: Panel kills Coastal Commission bill  

By DAVE DOWNEY - Staff Writer | Tuesday, April 8, 2008 6:08 PM PDT ∞

Legislation that would have scaled back the California Coastal Commission's power to appeal decisions by cities and counties to issue coastal development permits was killed in the state Senate Tuesday.

The Natural Resources and Water Committee voted 5-3 to stop the bill, introduced by Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny, D-San Diego.

Senate Bill 1295 was written to address complaints by local officials, including some sitting on North County city councils, that the commission routinely delays or kills projects they spend many months reviewing prior to approving.

The original version would have eliminated the procedure that allows the agency to appeal a coastal city or county development decision if two commissioners agree. The senator softened the language last week to preserve the appeal procedure, while adding a requirement to provide comments on projects upfront.

"The amended version was much less troubling, but still unworkable," said Peter Douglas, commission executive director, saying it would have overwhelmed an overworked staff.

In the end, Douglas said, committee members wanted to maintain a balance between local governments' right to make decisions against the commission's oversight role for coastal development. Under state law, the commission is charged with ensuring projects don't block public access to the beach or harm the ocean environment.

Steve Aceti, executive director for the Encinitas-based California Coastal Coaltion, which represents 35 cities, five counties and several regional planning agencies, said the bill, with some work, could have improved the appeals process and the sometimes acrimonious relationship between cities and the commission.

"I think by not passing SB 1295, the Legislature missed an opportunity to do something that would have benefited both the Coastal Commission and coastal cities and counties," Aceti said. "But no one was willing to compromise."

The coalition was neutral on the bill because its members were divided.

Contact staff writer Dave Downey at (760) 745-6611, Ext. 2623, or ddowney@nctimes.com.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

Hurrah! wrote on Apr 9, 2008 12:17 PM:The People have retained their right to public access of our coast!

Kern, who couldn't even get a second to his motion for a letter in support of Ducheny's bill, was wrong to attack a procedure that guarantees the public's right of access. Kern, Feller, and Chavez make it very clear that but for the Coastal Act the entire coast would be in private hands. Towering buildings blocking views, NO ACCESS to PRIVATE BEACHES. Thank you, Coastal Commission and Peter Douglas, for standing firm in protecting our rights!

Richard wrote on Apr 14, 2008 7:00 AM:1295 is not an attempt to "strip" the commission of any legally mandated functions but rather to correct a well documented procedural abuse with the commission's quasijudicial power. 1295 is a long overdue first step towards restoring the missing "fairness and balance" guaranteed to all, not just wealthy self-interest groups, no matter what side they are on, under the Coastal Act of 1976. I, like so many Californians, favor a sensible approach to environmental protecion that is fair to all and abusive to no one.

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