COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

 
 

Date:

May 23, 2003

   

Set Time:

10:30 a.m.

   

Hearing Date:

June 10, 2003

 
 

To:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

 

From:

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

 

Subject:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Consideration of an appeal of the Planning Commission's decision to approve a Coastal Development Permit, Planned Agricultural Development Permit, Architectural Review and Grading Permit to construct an 8-car parking lot and 5,253 foot long trail on a 2,022 acre parcel located east of Cabrillo Highway, approximately 1/2 mile east of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. This project is appealable to the California Coastal Commission.

 
 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Deny the appeal and uphold the decision of the Planning Commission to approve the Coastal Development Permit, Planned Agricultural Development Permit, Architectural Review and Grading Permit, County File No. PLN 2000-00225, by adopting the required findings and conditions of approval.

 

PROPOSAL

 

The applicant, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), is proposing to construct an 8-car parking lot with an asphalt entry road and gravel parking area. A 5,253 linear foot trail will connect the parking lot to a small overlook area at the southern end of the project parcel. The trail will be approximately five feet wide and less than or equal to 5% grade along its entire length. The trail has been designed to be wheelchair accessible and not intrusive on the surrounding habitat. Construction of the trail and parking lot will require approximately 983 cubic yards of cut and 924 cubic yards of fill. Construction of the trail will require the repair of two incipient gullies. The applicant has proposed a landscape plan which calls for extensive planting of shrubs and hydroseeding of disturbed areas for erosion and sediment control.

 

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION

 

The Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approve this project. In doing so, the Commission adopted the proposed findings and conditions as presented by the Planning Division in Attachment A of the staff report.

 

SUMMARY

 
This project was originally approved by the Planning Commission in November 2000. Two separate appeals were subsequently filed on that original project design. Those appeals raised concerns over potential impacts to endangered species and compatibility of this recreational use with agriculture. After discussions involving all of the parties involved, including the Coastal Commission, the applicant redesigned the project and moved the location of the parking lot to a point near the south end of Pigeon Point Road. Because of the substantial change in location and design of the parking lot and trail, staff referred the project back to the Planning Commission for reconsideration. The appellants were informed that they could still continue with their appeals if they felt that their concerns had not been addressed by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission believes that the relocation of the parking lot and trail to the currently proposed location has reduced potential impacts to biotic resources to a less than significant level. The Planning Commission believes the revised project, as conditioned, will comply with the County's General Plan, Local Coastal Program, Zoning, and Grading Regulations.