COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

DATE:

September 21, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 18, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None prescribed

VOTE REQUIRED:

None

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

SUBJECT:

POST Trail Project, at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Status Report

County File Number: PLN 2002-00675 (Peninsula Open Space Trust)

RECOMMENDATION

Adopt a resolution authorizing and directing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

VISION ALIGNMENT

Commitment No. 6: The proposed project keeps the commitment to preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

Goal No. 13: To ensure that the original intent of the project approval is maintained, the Negative Declaration was certified and all required planning approvals were obtained. The project is designed to preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

BACKGROUND

On June 21, 2005, the Board of Supervisors approved the Planned Agricultural District Permit, Coastal Development Permit, and Grading Exemption 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 was appealed to the California Coastal Commission. On August 10, 2005, the California Coastal Commission found no substantial issue, denied the appeal (9-0), and upheld the Board of Supervisors’ approval.

At the June 21, 2005 meeting, the Board requested that Planning staff report back within 90-days regarding Condition No. 15 that clarifies the issues among Agriculture, POST and California State Parks. In the Member’s Memo dated September 13, 2005, staff reported that the MOU was currently being circulated among other participating parties for signature, resulting in the report being delayed past 90 days.

DISCUSSION

The following discussion addresses the Board’s request for a project status.

In compliance with Condition of Approval No. 15, POST invited the following organizations and interested parties to a meeting on June 7, 2005: San Mateo County (SMCo) Planning and Building Division, SMCo County Counsel, SMCo Parks and Recreation, SMCo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures, SMCo Agricultural Advisory Committee, SMCo Farm Bureau, Committee for Green Foothills, State of California, and other interested parties.

After the meeting, affected parties continued to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding to address trail closure requirements when necessary to comply with regulations for the use of agricultural chemicals on fields adjacent to the trail. Since the County owns an agricultural parcel immediately south of the trail site, the parties have asked the County to join the MOU along with POST, State Parks and the San Mateo County Farm Bureau. Staff recommends the Board of Supervisors review and approve the attached resolution of the Board of Supervisors authorizing and directing the President of the Board to execute the Memorandum of Understanding.

FISCAL IMPACT

No fiscal impact.

ATTACHMENTS

A.

Resolution authorizing and directing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute a memorandum of understanding.