Coastal Access Program

Offer to Dedicate (OTD)
Public Access Easement Program

An OTD is an offer by a landowner to grant a public access easement across their property for future public recreational use. The OTD simply offers the area; several steps must then be taken to turn the easement into a useable public accessway. Go to the Public Access Action Plan, page 17, for a discussion of the OTD Program. See the current annual Report on the Status of Public Access Offers to Dedicate Easements.

 

On May 31, 2005, the nonprofit group Access For All opened a new public accessway in Malibu. It is located on Carbon Beach, just about a mile east (downcoast) of the Malibu Pier. Carbon Beach is generally a wide sandy beach, about 1 1/2 miles in length. Private residences line the beach and now two public accessways provide the public an opportunity to walk from PCH, between the houses, to the beach. The new accessway is located at 22132 PCH; the other existing accessway is about a mile to the west (near the Pier) and is known as the Zonker Harris Accessway, at 22670 PCH. (Los Angeles County has operated the Zonker Harris Accessway since 1981.)   Access For All is responsible for operating the accessway, by opening and closing the gates along PCH everyday. Initial hours are 10-6 and will be expanded to sunrise to sunset in the near term. Parking is limited to the PCH shoulder, there are no restrooms or any other public facilities available nearby.

 

On October 23, 2004 the Mendocino Land Trust opened the Belinda Point Trail, just south of Ft. Bragg, in Mendocino County. This one-half mile long trail was required by a Coastal Commission permit for subdivision of the 56 acre property into five new residential parcels. The trailhead is located on Ocean Drive, .8 miles south of the intersection of Ocean Drive and Highway One. The public access trail begins with a walk through a cypress and eucalyptus forest which opens up to a spectacular ocean vista. The trail continues along the blufftop, overlooks two rocky coves, and winds along above the jagged cliffs until it terminates at Belinda Point.   The Mendocino Land Trust pioneered the way for nonprofits to accept and open OTD easements by their opening the Mendocino Bay Viewpoint in 1996. Since then they also opened the Cantus Cove trail in the Caspar area in 1999. With the opening of Belinda Point, the Mendocino Land Trust now leads the state in operating public accessways.

 

Coastal Viewpoint opened in Pescadero, San Mateo County on January 2, 2003. It is located at 10257 Cabrillo Highway, .8 miles south of Bean Hollow State Beach. Path begins at the Highway right of way, is 10 ft. wide, and follows the property line for about 400 ft. out to the bluff edge. You can see beautiful ocean vistas from this spot. Please respect adjacent private property.

On March 20, 2001, in San Diego County, the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation opened to the public a new section of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon north shore trail. The 261-foot segment connects to an existing public easement to the south and will connect to a future trail to the north. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the natural resources of Agua Hedionda Lagoon.