San Luis Obispo County LCP Review

Adopted Report
San Luis Obispo County’s Local Coastal Program
 PERIODIC REVIEW
 July 12, 2001,
as revised August 24, 2001
 to incorporate changes from the addendum and hearing of July 12, 2001

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
       Executive Summary E-1 –
E-28
       Introduction 1
       Motions and Resolutions 3
       A. Staff Recommendation 3
           Motion 3
           Resolution 3
           B. Recommendations for Corrective Action 4
       C. Findings 55
    1. Maps 55
    2. New Development 55
        A. Concentration of Urban Development: Stable Urban-Rural Boundaries 55
        B. Concentration of Development: Preventing Cumulative Impacts to Rural Lands 61
        C. Environmentally Sustainable Urban Development 78
    3. Water Quality 97
        Overview 97
        A. Water Quality Impacts from Agriculture 108
        B. Water Quality Impacts from Urban Development 118
        C. Water Quality and Marinas/Boating Areas 125
    4. Environmentally Sensitive Habitat And Wetlands 131
        Overview 131
        A. Identifying ESHAs 133
        B. Avoiding and Minimizing Impacts to ESHAs 139
        C. Pursuing Alternatives That Avoid Impacts to ESHAs 141
        D. Analyzing the Takings Issue 147
        E. Minimizing Unavoidable Impacts 150
        F. Streams and Riparian Habitats 153
        G. Wetlands 162
        H. Terrestrial Habitats 167
        I. Errata 173
    5. Agricultural Resources 175
        A. Direct Conversion of Agricultural Lands 175
        B. Incremental Impacts to Agricultural Lands through Land Divisions, Lot- line
            Adjustments, and Development on Nonconforming Parcels		 181
        C. Effect of Non-Agricultural Uses on Agricultural Land 193
        D. Addressing Impacts from Intensification of Agriculture 200
     6. Public Access and Recreation 207
        A. Maximizing Public Access Through New Development 207
        B. Protecting Existing Public Access 217
        C. Providing Low-Cost Visitor-Serving Access and Recreation 220
        D. Balancing Access and Recreation with Protection of Sensitive Habitats 226
     7. Coastal Hazards 229
        A. Implementing Setback Standards 229
        B. Seawall Development in Existing Developed Areas 232
        C. Mitigation of Access Impacts from Shoreline Armoring 234
        D. Emergency Armoring of the Shoreline 236
        E. Mitigating the Impacts of Armoring Pacific Coast Highway 237
        F. Flooding Hazards 238
        G. Fire Hazards 240
     8. Scenic and Visual Resources 243
        A. Protection of Scenic Viewsheds and Rural Landscapes 243
        B. Preserving Community Character 250
     9. Archaeological Resources 255
   10. Energy and Industrial Development 261
        A. Fiber Optic Cable Projects 261
        B. New or Expanded Power Plants 263
        C. Managing the Phase-out of Energy and Oil Facilities 264
   11. Commercial Fishing and Recreational Boating 267
   12. Implementation Procedures 271
        A. Defining Development 272
        B. Coastal Zone Boundary and Permit Jurisdiction 273
        C. Permit Exemptions and Temporary Events 274
        D. Noticing Procedures 276
        E. Allowable and Principally Permitted Uses 278
        F. Application Requirements 279
        G. Condition Compliance 281
        H. Variances 281
        I. Non-Conforming Uses, Structures, and Parcels 283
        J. Efficient Resolution of Appeals 285
        K. Funding 287
        L. Interagency Coordination 288
        M. LCP Simplification 289

Preliminary Report
Periodic Review of the San Luis Obispo County
Certified Local Coastal Program
EXHIBIT A in Report of July 12, 2001
February 2, 2001
(As Revised to Incorporate Errata/Clarifications of the July 12, 2001 Action)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
   

Page
 

Executive Summary

EX1

CH. 1

Introduction

1

CH. 2

New Development and Public Services

11
 

C.1. Concentration of Development: Stable Urban-Rural Boundaries

17
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

28
 

C.2. Concentration of Urban Development: Preventing Cumulative Impacts to Rural Lands

29

 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

38
 

C.3. Availability of Services: Environmentally-Sustainable New Development

40
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

70

CH. 3

Water Quality /Marine Resources

73
 

C.1. Water Quality Impacts from Agricultural Operations

77
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

82
 

C.2. Water Quality Impacts from Urban and Rural Development

84
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

92
 

C.3. Water Quality Impacts from Recreational Boating

96
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

100

CH. 4

Environmentally Sensitive Habitats and Wetlands

101
 

C.1. Identifying ESHA

106
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

114
 

C.2. Avoiding and Minimizing Impacts to ESHA

125
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

132
 

C.3. Streams and Riparian Habitats

138
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

155
 

C.4. Wetlands

159
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

168
 

C.5. Terrestrial Habitats

170
 

Monterey Pine Forest

170
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

179
 

Coastal Dunes, Coastal Scrub, Maritime Chaparral Habitats

182
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

182

CH. 5

Agricultural Resources

185
 

C.1. Direct Conversion of Agricultural Lands

192
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

200
 

C.2. Incremental Impacts to Agricultural Lands through Land Divisions, Lot-line Adjustments and development on nonconforming parcels

204
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

222
 

C.3. Effect of Non-agricultural Uses on agricultural lands

228
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

236
 

C.4. Addressing Impacts from Intensification of Agricultural Uses

238
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

243

CH. 6

Public Access and Recreation

245
 

C.1. Maximizing Public Access Through New Development

247
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

258
 

C.2. Protecting Existing Public Access

259
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

263
 

C.3. Providing Low-Cost Visitor-serving Access and Recreation

264
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

266
 

C.4. Balancing Access and Recreation with Protection of Sensitive Habitats.

266
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

269

CH. 7

Coastal Hazards

271
 

C.1 Implementing Setback Standards.

278
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

284
 

C.2. Avoiding or mitigating the cumulative effects of seawall development in existing developed areas.

285
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

288
 

C.3. Mitigation of Access Impacts from Shoreline Armoring

289
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

290
 

C.4. Emergency Armoring of the Shoreline

290
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

292
 

C.5. Mitigating the Impacts of Armoring Pacific Coast Highway

292
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

294
 

C.6. Improved Geotechnical Analysis

294
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

297
 

C.7. Mitigating Scenic and Visual Resources

297
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

298
 

C.8 Seismic and Landslide Hazards

298
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

299
 

Flooding Hazards

299
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

300
 

Fire Hazards

300
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

301

CH. 8

Scenic and Visual Resources

303
 

C.1. Protection of Scenic Viewsheds and Rural Landscapes

307
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

318
 

C.1. Preserving Community Character

321
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

328

CH. 9

Archaeological Resources

329
 

C.1. Adequate Identification of Archaeological and Historic Resources

331
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

335
 

C. 2 Adequate Protection & Mitigation Standards for Archaeological Resources

335
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

339

CH. 10

Energy and Industrial Development

341
 

C.1. Fiber Optic Cable Projects

343
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

347
 

C.2. New and Expanded Power Plants

347
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

349
 

C.3. Managing the Phaseout of Energy and Oil Facilities

349
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

350

CH. 11

Commercial Fishing and Recreational Boating

351
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

353

CH. 12

Implementation Procedures

355
 

Preliminary Policy Alternatives

363
     
Appendix A: Permit Cases Cited in Report  
Appendix B: Maps [See below.]  

Appendix C: Watershed Summary

 

Appendix D: NPS Management Measures-Preliminary Assessment

 

Appendix E: Recent Area Plan Update and Project Comments (not available in digital format)

 

List of Maps in Appendix B
You may use the zoom tool in Adobe Acrobat without losing map resolution for all maps except Map 7-A.

Map 1-A: San Luis Obispo County Communities and Coastal Planning Areas
Map 2-A: North Coast Development Nodes
Map 2-B: Development Trends: Cambria, 1988-2001 (revised July 2001)
Map 2-C: Development Trends: Los Osos, 1988-1998
Map 3-A: Coastal Watersheds
Map 3-B: Pesticide Use
Map 4-A: County’s ESHA Combining Designation and Areas Containing Federally Listed Species
Map 4-B: County’s ESHA Combining Designation and Areas Containing State Listed Species
Map 4-C: Development in LCP Mapped ESHA: North Coast Planning Area
Map 4-D: Development in LCP Mapped ESHA: Cambria
Map 4-E: Development in LCP Mapped ESHA: Los Osos
Map 4-F: Development in LCP Mapped ESHA: Oceano
Map 5-A: Agricultural Lands Under Williamson Act Contract, 2000
Map 5-B: Lot Line Adjustments and New Residential Development in Agricultural Lands: North Coast and Estero Planning Areas
Map 6-A: Coastal Access and Public Parklands: North Coast Planning Area
Map 6-B: Coastal Access and Public Parklands: Estero Planning Area
Map 6-C: Coastal Access and Public Parklands: Los Osos and Cayucos
Map 6-D: Coastal Access and Public Parklands: San Luis Bay and South County Planning Areas
Map 7-A: Littoral Cells
Map 7-B: Approved Shoreline Armoring: Cambria, 1988-1998
Map 7-C: Approved Shoreline Armoring: Cayucos, 1988-1998

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