By Jane Northrop
Pacifica Tribune Staff Writer
The
city's planning director heard back from the California Coastal
Commission on the city's proposed development on Beach Boulevard, most
recently on Nov. 26 in a lengthy letter.
The city is taking the
lead on securing all necessary permits and environmental evaluations for
a city-proposed development that would include a boutique hotel,
restaurants, retail shops, residential units, parking and the new city
library on the site of the former wastewater treatment plant and City
Council chambers in Sharp Park.
The city presented the project to
the Coastal Commission in an application filed in March. Since then,
there have been several letters and meetings between city staff and
commission staff.
In official planning terms presented in the
application, the city proposes a land use plan amendment by changing the
designation of the 3.5 acre parcel from public facilities to mixed use.
It also proposes the demolition of existing businesses, grading and the
construction of new buildings, streets and landscaping. Coastal
Commission staff, through several letters sent to the city, expressed
concern about the amount of public benefit provided by the proposed
development, its visual impacts, a lack of analysis of project
alternatives, the potential coastal and geotechnical hazards and
potential water quality impacts.
The latest letter dated Nov. 26
also serves as a working draft of suggested modifications, meant to be a
starting point in discussions with the city about the proposal, wrote
Stephanie Rexing, Coastal Program Analyst, the author of the letter.
Read more...
Posted by Steve Sinai
(Letter submitted by Jim Wagner)
