Thanks to everyone who took the time to email the California Coastal Commission regarding the approval of Pacifica’s Local Coastal Land Use Plan (LCLUP) update. Unfortunately, on May 9th, the Coastal Commissioners voted 8-1 to approve Pacifica’s LCLUP that includes the new, controversial “Special Shoreline Resiliency Areas.” These areas allow for neighborhood-scale seawalls in Rockaway Beach and West Sharp Park. While this was not the outcome we had hoped for, Green Foothills will continue advocating for the preservation of our shoreline and beaches, and we will keep you informed about how you can help.

California Coastal Commission Approves Pacifica LCLUP

On May 9th, at their meeting at Half Moon Bay’s Oceano Hotel, the California Coastal Commission considered approval of an update of Pacifica’s LCLUP. The update includes a controversial new Land Use Plan designation titled: “Special Shoreline Resiliency Areas” (SSRAs). The SSRAs would allow existing seawalls to be further fortified along the shoreline along Pacifica’s Rockaway Beach and West Sharp Park areas, despite well-documented evidence that seawalls and other coastal armoring actually accelerate the rate of erosion and increase the loss of sandy beaches and bluffs.

Green Foothills, coastal advocates, and dozens of concerned citizens asked the Coastal Commission to remove SSRA’s from Pacifica’s LCLUP, expressing deep concerns over the precedent it would set for other cities and counties along California’s coast. Unfortunately, despite overwhelming opposition, the commissioners voted 8-1 to approve the LCLUP draft without removing the SSRA’s.

In what we believe is a precedent-setting decision, the Commissioners used a rather obscure provision in the California Coastal Act that allows them to “balance” conflicts between Coastal Act hazard policies that prohibit armoring with the need to protect existing roads, utilities. and the Coastal Trail along these shoreline areas.

While this was not the outcome we had hoped for, we will continue advocating for the preservation of our shoreline and beaches. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit an email to the commissioners and share our action alert among the community. To receive future updates, make sure you’re on our email list. Sign up at greenfoothills.org/subscribe.