COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

 

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

 

DATE:

June 6, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 21, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

300 ft. within 10 days

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

 

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

 

SUBJECT:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Consideration of: (1) a Planned Agricultural District Permit, a Coastal Development Permit, and Grading Exemption pursuant to Sections 6353, 6328.4, and 8603.1, respectively, of the San Mateo County Zoning Regulations; and (2) certification of a Mitigated Negative Declaration, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, to improve a 2.79-acre parcel with four walking trails, information kiosk, a proposed seating area and an overlook deck. The project location is adjacent to the Pigeon Point lighthouse, west of Cabrillo Highway in the unincorporated Pescadero area of San Mateo County. The project is appealable to the California Coastal Commission. (Appeal from decision of the Planning Commission approving the Planned Agricultural District Permit, Coastal Development Permit, and Grading Exemption.)

   

RECOMMENDATION

That the Board of Supervisors deny the appeal and:

1.

Certify the Negative Declaration by making the required findings listed in Attachment A.

2.

Approve the Planned Agriculture Permit, Coastal Development Permit, and Grading Permit Exemption, County File No. PLN 2002-00675, by adopting the required findings and conditions of approval identified in Attachment A.

   

VISION ALIGNMENT

Commitment: Number 6, the proposed project keeps the commitment to preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

 

Goal: Number 15, which states: “Residents have nearby access to green space such as parks and recreational opportunities.”

 

The Planning Commission’s deliberations further Commitment 6 and Goal 15 as the Commission carefully considered the proposed project and found the project complied with the General Plan, Local Coastal Program and Zoning Regulations by preserving our natural environment and enabling nearby residents public enjoyment of a recreational opportunity.

 

BACKGROUND

Proposal: The applicant is proposing to improve a 2.79-acre parcel with four walking trails, an information kiosk, a proposed seating area, and an overlook deck. The project will also involve restoration of the existing coastal bluff habitat. Parking will be provided in the existing youth hostel parking lot.

 

Planning Commission Action: On February 23, 2005, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to certify the Negative Declaration and approve the Planned Agricultural District Permit, Coastal Development Permit, and Grading Exemption.

 

DISCUSSION

On March 14, 2005, an appeal was filed based on the following objections: (a) POST cannot be taken “at its word,” (b) the project’s Negative Declaration is incomplete, inadequate AND INACCURATE, (c) the Negative Declaration is silent as to the potential adverse impacts associated with increased public access to the site’s shoreline areas, and (d) the Planning Commission’s approval is inconsistent with LCP Policies: 5.8.a(3), 5.10.a(4), 7.3, 7.5(a), 7.22 and 8.4(b), and CEQA.

 

Staff is recommending that the Board of Supervisors deny this appeal and uphold the Planning Commission’s decision. Staff has reviewed the appellant’s issues and believes the proposal complies with the applicable regulations and policies. Per Condition #15, the applicant is already coordinating efforts with all interested and affected parties for notification of agriculture spraying on adjacent parcels. The true ownership of the parcel by the California State Lands Commission was undisclosed. The Commission and the public were not informed of this conveyance until the day of the public hearing. Staff believes the change in ownership has no relevance to the question of the validity of the Negative Declaration, and that recirculation is not required. Potential adverse impacts were identified in the biological report and mitigation measures were proposed and adopted as conditions of approval.

 

This trail project will provide the public with recreation and education opportunities in the immediate area. While the project is located within the Cabrillo Highway State Scenic Corridor, the Planning Commission and staff believe that the visual impacts from this project will not be significant. In addition, the Planning Commission and staff believe that the project complies with the General Plan, Local Coastal Program, Zoning Regulations, and Grading exemption criteria.

 

FISCAL IMPACT

No fiscal impact.