To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Tennis Wick (707) 565-1925, Cecily Condon (707) 565-1958
Vote Requirement: Informational Only
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Informational Update on the Local Coastal Plan Certification Process (Permit Sonoma File No. PLP13-0014)
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Accept an update on the status of California Coastal Commission certification for the July 2023 Board Adopted Local Coastal Plan.
end
Executive Summary:
The Board of Supervisors adopted a comprehensive update to the Local Coastal Plan for Sonoma County on July 17, 2023. On November 14, 2024, the California Coastal Commission approved and certified Sonoma County’s Local Coastal Plan update as modified. The Coastal Commission’s modifications are related to coastal hazards, sensitive habitat, environmental justice, cultural and tribal cultural resources, agricultural operations, and lower-cost overnight accommodations. Staff will bring the Local Coastal Plan back to the Board, and if it is adopted as amended, it will become effective.
Discussion:
Background
The California Coastal Act requires local governments in the Coastal Zone to either prepare a Local Coastal Program or to formally ask the California Coastal Commission to do so. To preserve local control, Sonoma County has prepared a Local Coastal Program. The Local Coastal Program must regulate land use and protect coastal resources consistent with the Coastal Act and must include both a Land Use Plan and an Implementation Plan. In Sonoma County, the Local Coastal Program consists of three components: Local Coastal Plan (Land Use Plan), Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Implementation Plan), and Coastal Administrative Manual (Implementation Plan). The California Coastal Commission approved the Local Coastal Plan (Land Use Plan) Update on November 14, 2024. After certification, updates to the Coastal Zoning Ordinance and Administrative Manual will follow and must be presented to the Board of Supervisors for adoption and, ultimately, to the California Coastal Commission for certification.
Coastal Commission Approval
On November 14, 2024, the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to approve Sonoma County’s Local Coastal Plan (LCP) Update with modifications. The approved LCP includes refinements in specific areas, particularly related to coastal hazards, sensitive habitats, environmental justice, cultural and tribal cultural resources, agricultural operations, and lower-cost overnight accommodations, as presented by Coastal Commission staff. The Coastal Commission’s proposed modifications to the LCP included an addendum, dated November 13, 2024, which addresses and responds to comments and suggestions based on Permit Sonoma staff’s recommendation. The modifications do not automatically go into effect. Modifications resulting from the Coastal Commission approval process will return to the Board of Supervisors in February 2025 for adoption. The LCP will go into effect (and become “certified” by operation of law, per section 30512 of the Coastal Act) if the Board adopts it exactly as amended by the Coastal Commission. If the Board makes changes to the LCP, however, these will have to be approved by the Coastal Commission.
The amended LCP extends the goals and objectives of Sonoma County’s General Plan 2020 into the Coastal Zone. This update addresses all relevant coastal issues, with a focus on new and updated provisions related to climate change and coastal hazards resiliency/adaptation; conservation/protection of coastal ecosystems, water supplies, and agricultural resources; fire hazards and wildfire resiliency; and the significant public recreational access opportunities and public views. The Coastal Commission found the LCP, as amended, to be consistent with the Coastal Act.
Project History
The Local Coastal Plan update process has included various public engagement opportunities over the last 10 years including workshops since 2013 and public review drafts dating back to 2015. In 2019, with the publication of the 2019 Public Review Draft, a series of 12 public workshops informed the creation of the Revised Public Review Draft 2021. The Sonoma County Planning Commission held eight public hearings on the Revised Public Review Draft 2021 and recommended the resulting Planning Commission Recommended Local Coastal Plan to the Board of Supervisors on June 29, 2022. In 2022 and 2023 additional subject-specific engagement activities were held and the Board of Supervisors held a general workshop and three public hearings on the Planning Commission Recommended Draft, adopting the 2023 Adopted Local Coastal Plan on July 17, 2023. The Board of Supervisors Resolution for Adoption further directed staff to pursue certification and return, if needed, with Coastal Commission modifications for adoption.
On November 14, 2024, the Coastal Commission approved the Local Coastal Plan with modifications. Updates to the Coastal Zoning Code and Administrative Manual will follow local adoption of the certified LCP for modifications.
Strategic Plan:
This item is not identified as directly supporting one of the County’s five-year strategic plan pillars.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
On July 17, 2023 the Board of Supervisors <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1053819&GUID=44016D1E-ADA3-4A31-879E-3E0ABCAB1C22&Search=> adopted a comprehensive update to the Sonoma County Local Coastal Plan pending certification by the California Coastal Commission.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
None.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
None.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.