LLocal governments play an essential role in coastal management, as partner agencies with a shared stewardship responsibility to protect and enhance coastal resources. The Coastal Act requires that local governments develop Local Coastal Programs (LCPs) (consisting of Land Use Plans and Implementing ordinances) to carry out policies of the California Coastal Act at the local level. Once certified by the Coastal Commission as consistent with and adequate to carry out the Coastal Act, responsibility for issuance of most Coastal Development Permits under the certified LCP is delegated to the local government. The Commission retains some continuing permit and appeal jurisdiction following LCP certification, and responsibility to certify any amendments to the LCP.
With a federal grant, the Commission created a guidance resource that describes smart growth principles and how they intersect with Coastal Act policies. The document focuses on the concentration of development, minimization of vehicle miles traveled, and environmental justice impacts and benefits of smart growth strategies. It includes examples of LCP and CDP decisions that embody smart growth strategies and are consistent with the Coastal Act, and provides recommendations for local governments to consider when implementing smart growth strategies into LCPs.
With a federal grant, the Commission created Resources for Addressing Environmental Justice through LCPs, reaffirming its commitment to environmental justice and prompting local governments to adjust plans and develop strategies to mitigate the impact of new development on affected communities. These resources offer insights and examples for integrating environmental justice into planning processes and ensuring fair coastal access, with the overarching goal of fostering meaningful engagement and minimizing development impacts on coastal environmental justice communities.
The Commission released a memo on AB 1217 regarding the extension of parking closures for outdoor dining programs.
Commission staff hosted an “Introduction to LCPs” webinar for local government staff and other interested parties on June 26, 2023. This webinar gives a basic overview of what LCPs are, why they are important, how they are processed, and where important resources for local governments working on LCP amendments can be found.
The Commission adopted the Public Trust Guiding Principles & Action Plan at their May 10, 2023 hearing. This document is intended to assist the Commission and local governments in determining how to carry out the Coastal Act and address sea level rise in a manner that is consistent with the public trust doctrine.
Coastal Commission staff and State Lands Commission staff co-hosted a webinar on the public trust doctrine on June 14, 2023. The webinar introduces the basics of the public trust doctrine, discusses both agencies' roles in applying the doctrine particularly as sea levels rise, and highlights the recently adopted Public Trust Guiding Principles & Action Plan.
Commission staff hosted a webinar about Senate Bill 9 (SB 9, Atkins, 2021) on June 19 and July 10, 2023. This webinar provides an overview of how local governments should apply SB 9 in the coastal zone.
