Coastal erosion: installation of shoreline protective devices: application process.
Impact
The bill introduces specific procedures for local authorities when addressing shoreline protective device applications. If an application is denied, local governments must submit a detailed report to the California Coastal Commission, effectively increasing government accountability and transparency in decisions relating to coastal development. This law imposes additional duties on local governments, which could be viewed as a state-mandated local program, prompting discussions about further centralization of coastal management away from local control.
Summary
Senate Bill 627 pertains to the installation and regulation of shoreline protective devices in response to coastal erosion. It mandates that local governments and the California Coastal Commission must generally approve the construction and maintenance of such devices—like seawalls and revetments—designed to mitigate coastal erosion for residential properties in designated coastal hazard mitigation zones. The bill outlines a structured application process for such constructions to ensure that they meet specified criteria aimed at protecting both existing properties and the environment.
Contention
One notable point of contention arises from the bill’s provisions that exempt it from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), potentially raising concerns about environmental oversight. Critics may argue that this could lead to unchecked development that neglects wider ecological implications, as CEQA is designed to evaluate environmental impacts rigorously. Furthermore, the requirement for local agencies to impose fees for application processing could generate disparities in resource availability among different local governments, with wealthier areas potentially able to expedite this process more effectively than those with fewer resources.