Sonoma County Supervisors approve Local Coastal Plan

Sonoma County’s Local Coastal Plan, a foundational planning document that regulates land use and protects resources along the 55-mile shoreline, now heads to the California Coastal Commission after the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an updated version of the plan Monday.

“With the approval of the Local Coastal Plan, we have enhanced environmental protections for the Sonoma County coast, ensuring public access and promoting sustainable practices,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who represents west Sonoma County and the coast. “The Sonoma County coast is not just a scenic treasure but a series of irreplaceable ecosystems that we’ve committed to safeguarding.”

Permit Sonoma began work to update the plan in 2013. The project has involved extensive public outreach, research and publication of multiple drafts.

The 963-page update to the Local Coastal Plan addresses changing conditions on the coast that have developed over the past several decades, including the need for:

• Adapting to climate change, including sea-level rise
• Safeguarding public access
• Protecting water resources
• Conserving coastal ecosystems
• Preserving agriculture
• Mitigating hazards and wildfire resiliency

The Local Coastal Plan update addresses these areas while making the plan more modern and easier to understand and use. The Planning Commission recommended the draft plan after an 11-month process that involved nine public meetings and 35 hours of deliberation and public input. The Board of Supervisors also held a workshop last summer that provided the public with an additional opportunity to review and provide feedback.

In their deliberations on Monday, the supervisors made the following policy decisions:

• Allowed for replacement and installation of fencing for existing and proposed agricultural operations.
• Prohibited pesticides in cases where the application of such substances would have the potential to significantly degrade environmentally sensitive habitat or coastal water quality or harm wildlife
• Added the following statement to the Public Access Element: “Wherever possible, the County will achieve acquisition and pursue public access goals through working with willing sellers.”
• Strengthened site-specific policies to ensure any future development meets strict environmental guidelines and is consistent with the historic character of the communities.
• Prohibited desalination utility projects except where necessary for preservation of health and safety of existing development.
• Prohibited facilities that support the development of off-shore energy production or shortage. The supervisors added the language in response to a proposal from an Alabama developer who has raised the idea of building a hydropower storage facility near Fort Ross.

The update to the Local Coastal Plan will now be reviewed by the California Coastal Commission and certified for consistency with the California Coastal Act. After certification, Permit Sonoma will begin implementation of the Local Coastal Plan by amending the Coastal Zoning Ordinance and Coastal Administrative Manual to carry out the new Local Coastal Plan policies. The implementation process will provide additional opportunities for public input.

To read the updated Local Coastal Plan, click here.

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