SHORELINE AND COASTAL BLUFF MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
SAND COMPATIBILITY AND OPPORTUNISTIC USE PROGRAM (SCOOP)
The City of Solana Beach and other cities are working with SANDAG to promote the placement of opportunistically available beach quality sand on our local beaches. The City of Solana Beach was the first City to obtain all of the federal, state and regional regulatory permits necessary to begin implementing this beach restoration program. Permits were obtained from the California State Lands Commission, California Coastal Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. The City has identified several approved development projects in the City that will be generating beach quality sands in the next few years and is actively working with the property owners to encourage and promote the use of the opportunistically available material for placement on the City's beaches. Please click the link below for additional information:
http://www.sandag.org/index.asp?projectid=299&fuseaction=projects.detail
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS 50-YEAR BEACH RESTORATION PROJECT
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working with the City of Solana Beach and the City of Encinitas to implement a long term sand replenishment and beach restoration program to reduce the effects of storm damage on the City's shoreline and coastal bluffs. The project team has developed and won approval for developing the first methodology and approach to incorporate federal and state sea level rise projections into the project design in compliance with new regulations established by the USACE in July 2009. A draft EIR/EIS is currently being prepared and will be circulated for public review in 2012. Additional federal funding in the amount of $596,000 has been approved for the next fiscal year and State funding in the amount of $307,000 has been allocated to the project for the current fiscal year. Solana Beach and Encinitas Staff continue to directly manage the consultant team including the coastal engineering contractor and environmental contractor. For further details please visit the USACE website at:
http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=73&Itemid=71
REGIONAL BEACH SAND PROJECT #2
The second Regional Beach Sand Project (RBSP) is moving forward and will begin placing sand on local beaches between April and August 2012. Additional detail on the timing of the placement of sand on the City's beaches is expected to be available in January 2012 following contractor selection. Solana Beach is expecting to receive approximately 140,000 cubic yards of sand from the RBSP #2. SANDAG is currently in the process of securing the necessary regulatory permits needed to implement the project. The Final EIR/EA was adopted by the SANDAG Board of Directors on May 27, 2011 following a 45-day public review and comment period. A copy of the document is available for public review at the Planning Counter at City Hall and can be viewed electronically athttp://www.sandag.org/index.asp?projectid=358&fuseaction=projects.detail
In 2001 SANDAG initiated the first RBSP and placed 140,000 cubic yards of sand on the City's beaches. Coastal cities that are participating in the second RBSP include Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside and Imperial BeachSolana Beach and other coastal cities are working together with SANDAG to advance a repeat of the successful 2001 project which brought more than 2 million cubic yards of sand to beaches in the region. The Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified by the SANDAG Board of Directors on May 27, 2011 and can be viewed at the link below. SANDAG has initiated the process of obtaining the required regulatory permits from the California Coastal Commission, Regional Water Quality Control Board, California State Lands Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. SANDAG has received funding from the State Department of Boating and Waterways to fund 85% of the project cost for the RBSP 2. These funds come from the Public Beach Restoration Act Fund and require a 15% match from the local cities participating in the RBSP 2 (which include Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, and Imperial Beach). For further details please visit the SANDAG website at:http://www.sandag.org/index.asp?projectid=358&fuseaction=projects.detail
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REEF TECHNOLOGY STUDY AT FLETCHER COVE
The City hosted a public roundtable discussion at City Hall on December 7, 2011 from 2-5pm to discuss the status and future of this project study and to identify and discuss both challenges and opportunities associated with building a sand retention reef. More than 30 people participated in this meeting including residents, surfers, biologists, engineers, and scientists and joined City Staff and Councilmembers in the productive discussion. In addition federal, state and regional regulatory agency staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Game, Regional Water Quality Control Board and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration also participated in this roundtable discussion.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Solana Beach have been working together since 2007 to develop the conceptual engineering design for an artificial reef located offshore from Fletcher Cove. The primary goal of the reef would be to retain sand to create a wider beach and reduce direct wave attack on the City's coastal bluffs. Secondary but important goals of the project are to provide recreational enhancement and biological resource value immediately offshore. The conceptual project is based on the multi-purpose conceptual reef planned for Ventura County (Oil Piers Reef). In April 2010, the USACE and the City completed the conceptual engineering design study for a submerged reef at Fletcher Cove. In January 2011, the City retained the firm of ASR to conduct a peer review of the techniques, methodologies and conclusions contained in the April 2010 report. In June 2011, the City retained Dr. Richard Seymour of Scripps Institution of Oceanography to independently evaluate both of the earlier technical reports. Copies of all three reports are available below.
Federal, State and local funding commitments for future phases of the project are being pursued to support the initiation of necessary environmental review, design and permitting activities. Please check back to this web page for future updates.
- USACE Regional Sediment Management Demonstration Program
- Fletcher Cove Reef Roundtable - Meeting Summary
- Report prepared by Everest Consultants, April 2010
- Report prepared by ASR, January 2011
- Report by Dr. Richard Seymour, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD, June 2011
LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM - LAND USE PLAN
Draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan – On June 29th, the City adopted a draft Local Coastal Program (LCP) Land Use Plan (LUP) following a duly noticed public hearing. On September 23rd, City Staff obtained a copy of the CCC Staff Report on the LUP which contained 143 staff suggested modifications and scheduled the LUP for a public hearing for October 6th. To allow additional time for City Staff and CCC staff to resolve policy disagreements, City Staff requested a postponement of the hearing and met with CCC staff and CCC Executive Director Dr. Charles Lester on October 12th. As the final date that the CCC had to act on the LUP was approaching, the City formally withdrew and resubmitted the LUP on October 25, 2011. In the resubmittal, City Staff and identified the key CCC staff recommendations in conflict with the City's LUP policies. City Staff continue to coordinate with CCC Staff and the next meeting with CCC staff is scheduled for November 2011. CCC staff have committed to take the Solana Beach LUP forward to the full Commission no later than March 2012 and to provide the City with their staff report at least 30 days prior to the hearing date. The LCP LUP contains key strategies and policies to provide comprehensive citywide land use planning and sustainable shoreline policies focused on local conditions, goals and interests. A copy of the June 29, 2011 Staff Report, Resolution and public comments received by the City on the draft LUP can be viewed online.
The LCP is a planning document prepared by cities and counties for areas within the coastal zone as required by the California Coastal Act of 1976. The Coastal Act is intended to ensure that coastal areas of California are utilized and/or developed in a manner responsive to State wide public objectives. The City has been actively engaged in the preparation of a Local Coastal Program (LCP) Land Use Plan (LUP) since 2000. The City's LCP will consist of a Land Use Plan (LUP) and a Local Implementation Plan (LIP) (i.e., the implementing zoning ordinances and maps) which together meet the Coastal Act requirements and implement its provisions and policies within the City. California Coastal Commission (CCC) certification of an LCP, followed by the City's adoption, is required to fully implement an LCP. This process once completed, would provide for the state's delegation of all development and building permit approval authority to the City.
The City worked with a citizens group from 2004-2009 to develop a draft LCP LUP. The citizens group was comprised of knowledgeable citizens, including attorneys, beach front home owners and representatives of a major environmental organization, all with extensive expertise and knowledge of coastal issues.
Prior to the development of the current draft LUP, the City submitted a LUP to the CCC in September 2009. The comments, edits and suggestions of CCC staff on the 2009 LUP were received by the City over a ten month period beginning in March 2010 and ending in January 2011. City staff revised the 2009 LUP as directed by CCC staff and in accordance with City goals and objectives. At the April 13, 2011 City Council meeting, the City Council authorized the release of the current revised draft LUP for a formal six week public review and comment period pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 30500 et seq.
The draft LCP LUP is available for public review in the Community Development Department at the City of Solana Beach City Hall, 635 South Highway 101, Solana Beach, California, 92075. Hard copies of the document are available for purchase. An electronic version of the LUP is provided below.
IMPACT MITIGATION FEE STUDY FOR SHORELINE PROTECTIVE DEVICES
In anticipation of the implementation of the LCP described above, in 2008 the City of Solana Beach initiated the process to establish a reliable methodology to accurately, and fairly determine net Mitigation Fees associated with shoreline protective devices to mitigate for the potential impacts on sand supply and public recreation. The City also evaluated the potential for offsetting factors relating to potential public benefits associated with shoreline protective devices. The City conducted a public information workshop on these fees on September 18, 2008. In the interim, the City is assessing new shoreline protective devices a $1,000 per linear foot fee deposit that will be applied to the actual fees once adopted by the City. At the urging of the CCC, in 2009 the City agreed to rely on the CCC methodology for assessing sand supply impacts associated with seawalls and revised its draft LUP accordingly. As a result, the City redirected the efforts of the mitigation fee study to focus on identifying the public recreation effects of seawalls including identifying the value of the sandy beach. Data collection efforts were completed in July 2009. At the April 14th, 2010 meeting of the Solana Beach City Council, the City Council directed the City Manager to release this draft report to the public for a 60-day review and comment period beginning on April 16th, 2010.
The City of Solana Beach has prepared a revised Land Lease/Recreation Fee Study which contains corrections and changes to the original report. The corrections and changes to the report are shown in redline/strikeout to facilitate and streamline public review. The City has extended the public review and comment period on the draft report for an additional 60 days. The extended public comment period will end on October 4, 2010.
To date the City has received four comment letters totaling 43 pages. City Staff are in the process of reviewing the comments. The City will issue a revised report which addresses all public comments received during the public review period later this year.
All comments and questions on the report should be directed to:
Ms. Wendé C. Protzman, Deputy City Manager/Community Development Director City of Solana Beach
635 South Highway 101
Solana Beach, California 92075
or by email to: wprotzman@cosb.org
or by calling: 858-720-2444
Draft Land Lease / Recreation Fee Study Revised
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Appendix 4 - Surveys
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Appendix 5 - Counts
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| Appendix 6 - Data Calculations |
SAN ELIJO LAGOON RESTORATION PROJECT
The City of Solana Beach is working with the City of Encinitas as well as other regional, state and federal stakeholders to develop the San Elijo Lagoon Restoration Project (SELRP). The San Elijo Lagoon forms the boundary between Solana Beach and Encinitas and is a coastal wetland with significant biological and ecological resources. Over the past several decades, the ecological system has gradually degraded due to urban development that has altered the hydrology and increased sedimentation within the lagoon. The goal of the SELRP is to enhance and restore the biological functions and values of the San Elijo Lagoon Reserve with a balance of habitat types. A restoration plan will be developed with various project alternatives that would restore habitat functions and values of the lagoon consistent with the strategies identified in the San Elijo Lagoon Enhancement Plan (County of San Diego 1996) and the San Elijo Lagoon Action Plan (San Elijo Conservancy 1998). The Sand Elijo Lagoon Conservancy website can be viewed at:
PREPARATION OF JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
The United States Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation, is preparing a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the proposed San Elijo Lagoon Restoration Project (SELRP). San Elijo Lagoon is located in the city of Encinitas, San Diego County, California. The lagoon is the terminus of the Escondido Creek and La Orilla Creek watersheds at the Pacific Ocean. The SELRP is an effort to restore estuarine functions and services to the greatest extent practicable in light of permanent constraints.
Comment Period: November 7, 2011 through December 18, 2011
REGIONAL COASTAL SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Solana Beach is an active participant with SANDAG in developing the Regional Coastal Sediment Management Plan. The SANDAG RSMP is part of a larger statewide effort underway to more effectively manage coastal sediments which began in 2007. The Management Plan builds upon what has been developed for the California Coastal Sediment Management Master Plan, which has a goal of developing a process that facilitates the management of sand on a regional basis. The Regional Management Plan is a guidance and policy document that will discuss how management of sediment targeted at coastal erosion can be implemented in an expeditious, cost-effective, and resource-protective manner throughout the San Diego region. The sediment sources identified as part of the Regional Management Plan can be placed on regional beaches under the SCOOP and regional projects.
On April 2, 2009, the SANDAG Shoreline Working Group recommended approval of the RSMP to the Regional Planning Committee (RPC). On April 3, the RPC approved the RSMP and on April 24, 2009 the RSMP was approved by the SANDAG Board of Directors. A link to SANDAG and Statewide Coastal Sediment Management Plan is provided below:
http://www.dbw.ca.gov/csmw/crsmp.aspx
FINAL MASTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT - SOLANA BEACH SHORELINE ORDINANCE
In 1994 the City of Solana Beach adopted a Shoreline and Coastal Bluff Ordinance superseding the previously existing and inherited County standards. Since then, in response to increased rates of bluff erosion and loss of beach sand associated with El Nino, concern has also increased over balancing public safety, property rights and environmental resources. In 2002, the City prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to revisit the issue as to how, if at all, it may be appropriate to modify the existing Ordinance or seek other policy alternatives for managing the 1.7 mile City coastline. The EIR also addresses geology, soils, land use, biology, recreation, public access, population, housing, aesthetics and utilities. The EIR is also intended to be helpful to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the preparation of their much larger and more encompassing studies of the Solana Beach and Encinitas coastline. In 2007, the City recertified the Master EIR for another five years continuing to make the EIR suitable for tiering certain identified subsequent projects identified in the Master EIR including non-emergency bluff retention device projects. The recertified Final EIR can be downloaded and viewed from this website by selecting the appropriate link below.
