HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-02; Beach Preservation Commission; ; Receive an informational report on the status of the city’s draft Local Coastal Program Land Use
Meeting Date: Feb. 2, 2021
To: Beach Preservation Commission
From: Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director
Staff Contact: Jennifer Jesser, Senior Planner
Subject: Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan Update
Recommended Action
Receive an informational report on the status of the city’s draft Local Coastal Program Land Use
Plan update.
Discussion
Status of the Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan Update
In December 2019, city staff presented to the Beach Preservation Commission an overview of
the city’s draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan update, which was released for public
review in October 2019.
On Jan. 13, 2021, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the draft
plan. Staff anticipates presenting the draft plan to the City Council for approval in
spring/summer 2021.
The draft plan and Planning Commission staff report is available for review at
www.carlsbadca.gov/coastalupdate.
Summary Description of Draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan
The California Coastal Act requires cities along the California coast (within the Coastal Zone) to
prepare a Local Coastal Program that implements the act. Carlsbad’s existing Local Coastal
Program was adopted in the 1980’s and has been periodically amended to address specific
topics.
The draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan is a comprehensive update to the existing Local
Coastal Program. The objectives of the update are to be consistent with the California Coastal
Act, recent guidance from the California Coastal Commission, and the city’s General Plan
(adopted in 2015).
The draft plan is organized by chapters that topically follow the sections of the Coastal Act.
Table 1 provides a summary description of the proposed draft Local Coastal Program chapters:
BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Staff Report
Table 1: Draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan Chapters
Chapter Description
1 Introduction Introduces and describes the purpose and organization of the
Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan.
2 Land Use
Describes how land and development are regulated in Carlsbad’s
Coastal Zone consistent with the California Coastal Act. It
includes a Land Use Map, land use designations, standards for
density, and land use related policies.
3 Recreation and
Visitor-Serving Uses
Provides policies to ensure that community members and
visitors have continued access to coastal recreational
opportunities and accommodations.
4 Coastal Access Provides policies that ensure coastal access is protected and
enhanced, consistent with the Coastal Act.
5 Agricultural, Cultural
and Scenic Resources
Provides policies that guide the city in the protection of
agricultural, cultural, and scenic resources.
6
Environmentally
Sensitive Habitat
Areas and Water
Quality
Provides policies that guide the city in the protection of
Carlsbad’s natural coastal resources, which include
environmentally sensitive habitat areas and marine and coastal
water quality.
7 Coastal Hazards
Identifies coastal hazards (sea level rise, flood, geologic, and fire)
and provides policies that guide new development to reduce
risks to life, and property and to avoid substantial changes to
natural land forms.
8 Glossary
Defines terms used in the Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan
that are technical or specialized, or that may not reflect common
usage.
Appendix A
North Coast Corridor
Public Works Plan Overlay
Carlsbad’s portion of the North Coast Corridor Public Works
Plan/Transportation and Resource Enhancement Program, which
is a plan prepared by Caltrans and SANDAG to authorize
transportation, community and resource enhancement along I-5
and the railroad corridor from La Jolla to Oceanside.
Appendix B
City of Carlsbad Sea Level
Rise Vulnerability
Assessment
A Carlsbad-specific sea level rise vulnerability analysis that
identifies areas vulnerable to projected sea level rise hazards
(bluff erosion, flood, inundation).
What’s New?
• Format
The city’s existing Local Coastal Program consists of six land use plans that apply to six
specific geographic segments of the city’s Coastal Zone:
- Agua Hedionda Lagoon segment
- Mello I segment
- Mello II segment
- East Batiquitos Lagoon/Hunt Properties segment
- West Batiquitos Lagoon/Sammis Properties segment
- Village Area segment
Draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan Figure 1-3 shows the boundaries of the
existing Local Coastal Program segments. The draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan
proposes to merge all six segments and create one unified plan for all of Carlsbad’s
Coastal Zone.
• Reflect Current Conditions
The existing Local Coastal Program has not been comprehensively updated since its
original adoption in the 1980s and does not adequately address all current
topics/requirements. The existing Local Coastal Program also contains obsolete and
repetitive policies that have been implemented or are no longer relevant. The draft
Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan proposes to update policies consistent with
current conditions and requirements and to replace most of the obsolete/repetitive
site-specific policies with policies that protect coastal resources and access to the coast
on a Coastal Zone-wide basis.
• New Policy Topics
The draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan includes policies that address two topics
not currently addressed in the existing Local Coastal Program – sea level rise hazards
and protection of scenic and visual resources.
Next Steps
As mentioned above, on Jan. 13, 2021, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the
draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan. Staff anticipates presenting the plan to City Council
for approval in spring/summer 2021. Following City Council approval, the plan will be
submitted to the California Coastal Commission for certification. The plan will not become
effective until certified by the Coastal Commission.
Exhibits
None