Urgent Alert!
Updated: Oppose AB 1991
Help protect coast

Posted May 17, 2008

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

This is an updated appeal for you to write urgently needed letters regarding AB1991. Thank you to all who responded to the first Alert; this is an additional opportunity for everyone to get involved. This Alert targets the legislature’s Appropriation Committee, the next step in the process. The Committee will hear the item on May 21st. Please fax your letters by Monday May 19th. (We recommend faxing as faxes have more impact than emails.)

What’s happening
Faced with a controversial trial 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.

back to top

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 and 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, use of 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.

back to top

What you can do
Please FAX your letter to:

 Chair, Assembly Appropriations Committee
 Assemblymember Mark Leno
 Fax: (916) 319-2113
 Attn: Steve Archibald

Please tell the Committee that AB1991 is the wrong approach and a dangerous precedent for the destruction of our environmental laws statewide. Please urge the Committee to oppose AB 1991.

In addition, please e-mail other members of the Appropriations Committee:
 Anna Caballero
 Mike Davis
 Mark DeSalnier
 Jared Huffman
 Betty Karnette
 Ted Lieu
 Fiona Ma (Co-sponsor of AB 1991)
 Pedro Nava
 Jose Solorio

Please let us know that you have written by emailing info@greenfoothills.org or fax us a copy (650) 968-8431.

To see our previous alert please go to this CGF webpage.

And thank you for speaking up — your voice does make a difference!

back to top