Oppose AB 1991
Help protect coastal wetlands
and our environmental laws

Posted April 24 / Updated April 27, 2008

• What’s happening
• Why this is important
• What you can do

Assembly Bill 1991 by Assemblymember Gene Mullin would create sweeping exemptions from all environmental laws and reviews to facilitate a 129-unit development on coastal wetlands in Half Moon Bay in order to bail out the City of Half Moon Bay from an unfortunate settlement. Please fax a letter to Anna M. Caballero, Chair of the Assembly Local Government Committee opposing AB 1991 in the strongest possible terms.

What’s happening
Faced with a controversial trail court decision that arguably would have cost Half Moon Bay over $40 million, the City did not pursue an appeal but instead agreed to a settlement that would require the Legislature to exempt not just the property at issue in the litigation (Beachwood) but also the adjacent property that the developer holds an option on. (Glencree). If the legislation does not pass, the City will gain title to the Beachwood property at a cost of $18 million.

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Why this is important
AB 1991 would allow specific parcels of land to be exempted from the Coastal Act, CEQA, State wetland and endangered species laws, stormwater pollution prevention laws, as well as other local requirements, such as school impact fees, in-lieu park fees, traffic mitigations, and affordable housing requirements. Through amending the State Subdivision Map Act, the bill would also revive expired Vesting Tentative Maps for two properties. If the Legislature enacts these sweeping exemptions for one developer, it will establish an extremely bad precedent that developer-friendly cities could use in the future on the basis of equal treatment. The City has other alternatives to the $18 million settlement costs, including partial development of the property in compliance with the Coastal Commission’s approval, using the wetlands as a mitigation bank, stormwater retention area, groundwater recharge to replenish groundwater wells at nearby Pilarcitos Creek, or any combination of these. It would be far better for the Legislature to assist with funding for these wetland enhancements.

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What you can do
Please FAX a short letter to:

 Assemblymember Anna M. Caballero
 Chair of the Assembly Local Government Committee
 Fax: (831) 759-2961

by Friday, April 25 at 5:00 pm. We recommend faxing, as faxes have more impact than emails. Please let us know that you have written — info@greenfoothills.org or fax us a copy (650) 968-8431.

For more information, see the statewide envirionmental groups’ letter, Committee for Green Foothills letter, the Coastal Commission’s letter, AB 1991, the City’s Settlement Agreement and a Fact Sheet.

If you have time, please also send a letter to:

 Loni Hancock
 Chair, Assembly Natural Resources Committee
 Fax: (916) 319-2114

Tell her you are upset that AB 1991 has not been referred to her Committee and ask her to do whatever she can to get it referred.

As always, please send a copy to us so we can track the efficiency of our work: fax 650-968-8431 or email: action@GreenFoothills.org.

SAMPLE LETTER

Assemblymember Anna Caballero
Chair Assembly Local Government Committee
FAX: (916) 319-3959

Attn: Stacey Sullivan

Dear Chairwoman Caballero:

AB 1991 (Mullin) OPPOSE

I am writing to express my strong opposition to AB 1991. This ill conceived bill would allow two properties to be exempt from all environmental laws. It would set an extremely bad precedent for the exemption of properties from these laws. A separate property not part of the litigation but under option to the developer was included in these sweeping exemptions from our laws.

The City of Half Moon Bay has asserted that it has no other alternatives but to hold a gun to the legislature on the basis that it faces an $18 million payment that they negotiated with the developer. This is not correct. If the legislation fails, the City could sell part of the property for immediate development of 19 lots allowed by the Coastal Commission, and could seek funding for a variety of wetland enhancement projects on the wetlands portion.

The removal of ALL environmental regulations on development and other constraints cannot be justified. I urge you not to set these precedents and oppose AB 1991.

[Signature]

Thanks for speaking up for our coastal wetlands and environmental protections! Your voice does make a difference!

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