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PROPOSED PERMIT WAIVER. From the California Coastal Commission on February 26th, 2025.
CCC North Central Coast District Director’s Report; 2-25-0041-W, Surfer’s Beach Stairway Replacement (Half Moon Bay) for March, 12th 2025.
Date: February 26, 2025
To: All Interested Parties
From: Peter Allen, Transportation Program Manager; Melba Policicchio, Transportation Program Analyst
Subject: Coastal Development Permit (CDP) Waiver 2-25-0041-W
Applicant: California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Proposed Development
Replace and upgrade a damaged wooden public access beach stairway and associated concrete landing with a cast-in-place concrete stairway structure measuring 33 feet long and 8 feet wide, including a new concrete landing at beach level, and restack rock on a revetment protecting Highway 1, all located approximately 300 feet upcoast of the Coronado Street and Highway 1 intersection at Surfer’s Beach in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County.
Executive Director’s Waiver Determination
Pursuant to Title 14, Section 13238 of the California Code of Regulations, and based on project plans and information submitted by the Applicant regarding the proposed development, the Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission hereby waives the requirement for a CDP for the following reasons:
The public access beach stairway at Surfer’s Beach leads from the existing California Coastal Trail down to the sandy beach. The beach and trail are very popular here with high public demand for beach access and surfing. However, the stairway has beenrepeatedly compromised during storm and wave uprush events, and it has been closed to the public since the major storms of January 2023. The proposed replacement stairway has been designed to better handle the extreme ocean environment at this location, and will be made of concrete in order to better withstand ocean pressures, and thus more likely to remain open and available for public use. The project includes a series of BMPs to protect coastal resources during construction (i.e., work will be limited to low tide to the greatest extent feasible (and outside of rainy season); all equipment will be operated from the roadway (and only hand tools will be allowed on the beach); a pedestrian and bicycle detour will ensure access during all construction times; equipment will be staged inland of Highway 1 (in a parking area); and water quality protection measures will be applied. The project is an important public access project that will help to restore access to Surfer’s Beach, which is a prime coastal access destination, and would allow for that access to be better maintained for public use over time. In sum, the proposed project will advance important Coastal Act objectives and has been designed to ensure that any impacts to coastal resources are limited. Thus, the proposed project can be found consistent with the Coastal Act.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
CEQA Section 21080.5(d)(2)(a) prohibits a proposed development from being approved if there are feasible alternatives and/or feasible mitigation measures available that would substantially lessen any significant adverse effect that the development may have on the environment. Caltrans, acting as lead CEQA agency, determined that the project is categorically exempt (per Class 1(c) as repair and replacement of existing facilities). The Commission’s review, analysis, and decision-making process for CDPs and CDP amendments has been certified by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency as
being the functional equivalent of the environmental review required by CEQA (CCR Section 15251(c)). Accordingly, in fulfilling that review, relevant coastal resource issues with the proposal have been considered and the approval of the proposed CDP waiver is not expected to result in any significant environmental effects, including as those terms are understood in CEQA. Therefore, it is not necessary for the Commission to suggest modifications (including through alternatives and/or mitigation measures), as there are no significant adverse environmental effects that approval of the proposed CDP waiver would cause. Thus, the proposed CDP waiver will not result in any significant adverse environmental effects for which feasible mitigation measures have not been employed, consistent with CEQA Section 21080.5(d)(2)(A).
Coastal Commission Review Procedure
This waiver is not valid until it has been reported to the Coastal Commission. This waiver is proposed to be reported to the Commission on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Santa Cruz. If four or more Commissioners object to this waiver at that time, then the application shall be processed as a regular CDP application.
If you have questions about the proposal or wish to register an objection, please contact Melba Policicchio at [email protected] in the Coastal Commission’s North Central District Office.
Midcoast Community Council ~ History of Surfers’ Beach
How they look now (2024).
Author: mdrag
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