COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

 

DATE:

February 7, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 12, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

10 Day Publication, Public Hearing

9:00 a.m. Set Time

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Executive Summary - Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Master Plan and Environmental Impact Report

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution:

1.

Certifying that the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Master Plan, which consists of the Draft EIR dated November 10, 2003 and the Final EIR dated June 2004, is complete, correct and adequate and prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, by adopting Findings, and adopting a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan; and

2.

Adopting the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Master Plan dated May 2002 based on the clarifications identified in the Final EIR dated June 2004.

   

DISCUSSION:

In 1997, the County acquired the Pillar Point Marsh. The County then determined that a Master Plan was needed to integrate the Pillar Point Marsh into the Reserve, balance the educational and resource protection mission of the Reserve, and address problems with high levels of visitation on the Reserve’s intertidal reefs. A Master Plan was developed over a three and a half year period through four Technical Advisory Committee meetings and 12 public meetings. It is the first Master Plan for the Reserve to be prepared and pertains only to County owned property. The fundamental concept underlying the Master Plan is that protection of the natural resources of the Reserve will require a new approach in the management of ecological systems and visitors in future years.

 

The Board of Supervisors conceptually approved the Draft Master Plan at its June 19, 2001 meeting and recommended changes following comments received from the Mid-Coast Community Council, Resource Conservation District, and County Public Works Department. Staff then compiled a Final Draft Master Plan dated May 2002 from the Draft Master Plan dated August 1999; its Addendum, dated January 2001; and the changes recommended by the Board of Supervisors.

 

In the spring of 2003, staff initiated the environmental review process and an EIR was prepared through a public scoping session, public distribution, a public meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission to receive comments and a final hearing before the Parks Commission on October 7, 2004 regarding the Draft EIR and Final EIR. At that October meeting, there were two speakers. Both Mr. David Beaumont, a representative of the Coastside Planning Coalition, and Mr. Leonard Woren, El Granada, raised concerns regarding the possibility of permitted parking in the neighborhoods surrounding the Reserve.

Also, at the October 7, 2004 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, two letters were received from the Ocean Conservancy and the California Department of Fish and Game. The comments of the two speakers and the content of the two letters received were addressed by staff verbally and required no change to the Master Plan and EIR. Subsequently, at the October meeting, the Commission recommended that the Board adopt the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Master Plan and certify the EIR with no further changes.