Coastal Commission Releases Caltrans’ Multi-Asset Rehab Project “Surfers Beach Parking Plan” on Harbor Property; Design, Engineering, and Permitting has Started with Traffic Study to Follow

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DOCUMENTS. From the California Coastal Commission and Caltrans on May 15th, 2026

1. California Coastal Commission letter to the Caltrans Brand Chief, Office of Environmental Analysis, Larry Bonner. Subject: Approval of Draft Parking Plan with Conditional Acceptance (CDP A-2-SMC-24-0010/A-2-HMB-24-0025), Multi-Asset Roadway Rehabilitation Project, San Mateo County

2. Caltrans State Route 1 Multi-Asset Roadway Rehabilitation Project: “Surfers Beach Parking Plan” and El Granada Transportation Safety and Bike Lane Study (page 20)

Executive Summary
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is planning to construct the State Route (SR) 1 Multi-Asset Roadway Rehabilitation Project (SR 1 Project) to rehabilitate existing pavement, improve existing traffic facilities, rehabilitate existing drainage systems, install Complete Streets elements (including a Class II bike lane on SR 1), and install traffic operations system elements along SR 1 in San Mateo County, California. This project is in the Coastal Zone, and Caltrans was issued a Coastal Development Permit from the California Coastal Commission that includes a condition to provide public parking for coastal access. To address this condition, Caltrans is proposing to partially fund a new public parking lot and enhance the construction staging dirt lot in the vicinity of coastal access. Caltrans has partnered with the San Mateo County Harbor District to partially fund the cost of constructing a new parking lot that would provide free public parking directly west of Sam’s Chowder House, within walking distance of Surfers Beach amenities. Caltrans is also proposing to grade and place gravel in the existing construction staging dirt lot in state right-of-way on the Burnam Strip, which is within walking distance of Surfers Beach. The proposed improvements to the existing construction staging dirt lot would occur upon completion of the Project. In addition, Caltrans is proposing wayfinding signage on SR 1 to direct the public to parking lots for coastal access.

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More on the California Coastal Commission Appeal for Caltrans’ Removal of Hwy 1 Parking

More on Harbor District Parking on Coastside Buzz

Harbor GM Meets with Coastal on New C4 Parking, Caltrans Appeal Parking, Better Enhanced Public Parking at Pillar Point RV Park and the Rerouting of Deer Creek to Comply with Water Board; April 30, 2026

Great Turnout for Harbor District’s “Pillar Point Surfers Beach Safe Parking Project” Community Feedback Meeting; Public Discusses View Corridors, Asphalt Alternatives and Name of Project; March 19, 2026

Pillar Point Surfers Beach Safe Parking Project Community Feedback Meeting ~ In Person and Virtual; March 4, 2026

Proposed Parking on Burnham Strip No Longer Meets Needs of San Mateo County Harbor District as They Turn to Hwy 1 Westside Launch Ramp Property for Pillar Point Surfers Beach Safe Parking; December 5, 2025

Supervisor Mueller Holds Public Comment Meeting on Harbor District’s Burnham Strip Parking Project with Caltrans and Senator Becker ~ Public Prefers West Side Parking Alternative; November 6, 2025

San Mateo County Harbor District Renames Burnham Strip Parking to Pillar Point Surfers Beach Safe Parking Project as Consultant Explores West Side of Hwy 1 Alternative Between SAM’s and Parking Lot C3; October 16, 2025

San Mateo County Harbor District Approves $500k Design Contract for Burnham Strip Parking as Public Asks Why They Are Trying to Solve a Caltrans Parking Mandate by the Coastal Commission; September 4, 2025

Harbor District GM Gives MCC Update and Gets Resistance from EG Neighbors on New Burnham Strip Parking Project, Need for Strategic Plan and Better Meeting Time with Remote Comments; March 13, 2025

San Mateo County Harbor District’s Request for Proposal (RFP) for Burnham Strip Overflow Parking Lot Project; March 12, 2025

Public Worried as San Mateo County Harbor District Approves RFP for Design, Engineering and Permitting of Burnham Parking Lot for Pillar Point Harbor Overflow; Process to Answer Worries; February 21, 2025

CCC Mandates Caltrans to Fund Surfer’s Beach Replacement Parking; Harbor District Property at Burnham Strip Considered while Public Expresses Traffic Concerns; January 1, 2025

San Mateo County Harbor District Talking with Caltrans to Integrate Parking for Recreational Boater Overflow and Public Parking/Crosswalk at their New Burnham Parking Areas; November 11, 2024

Coastal Commission Appeals for Caltrans Hwy 1 Multi-Asset Project Find “Substantial Issue” but are Approved with Conditions Mandating Replacement for 75 Surfers’ Beach Parking Spaces within 2 Years; November 14, 2024

Coastal Commission Appeals for Caltrans Hwy 1 Multi-Asset Project at Surfers Beach Parking and Half Moon Bay Crosswalks; October 30, 2024

Caltrans Multi-Asset Project’s Hwy 1 Surfers Beach Parking Removal Appeal ~ Coastal Commission Finds “Significant Issue” Leads to Staff Report and Hearing at CCC in November 2024; August 29, 2024

Appeal of SMCo Planning’s Coastal Development Permit to the California Coastal Commission for Caltrans Reduction of Surfer’s Beach Parking, Filed by Kathryn Slater-Carter; April 10, 2024

San Mateo Harbor District Buys 6 Lots Above Pillar Point Harbor Boat Ramp for $8.5M with General Funds to Expand Parking; November 15, 2023

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More on the San Mateo County Harbor District on Coastside Buzz

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San Mateo County Harbor District Board Meetings ~ 3rd Wednesday @ 10:00am

District Office: 504 Avenue Alhambra, Ste. 200,  El Granada, CA 94018    Mailing Address: PO Box 1449, El Granada, CA 94018    Phone: (650) 583-4400 Fax: (650) 583-4614

Watch remotely. Comments and questions by email.

Please note that email correspondence sent to or from members of the Harbor Commission via the District’s website are considered public records and may be subject to disclosure and additional distribution pursuant to the Public Records Act and the Brown Act.

Harbor District Agendas and Remote Meeting Links

Harbor District Pacifica Coast TV Videos

2026 Board of Harbor Commissioners 

Contact Information: To email the entire Harbor Commission, click here. 

George Domurat ~ District 2, Position: President, Term: 2022-2026 Email: gdomurat@smharbor.com

Virginia Chang Kiraly ~ District 5, Position: Vice Chair, Term: 2024-2028 Email: vchang-kiraly@smharbor.com

William Zemke ~ District 1, Position: Secretary. Term: 2024-2028 mail: wzemke@smharbor.com

Kathryn Slater-Carter ~ District 3, Position: Secretary, Term: 2022-2026 Email: kslater-carter@smharbor.com

Tom Mattusch ~ District 4, Position: Treasurer, Term: 2024-2028 Email: tmattusch@smharbor.com

Please note that email correspondence sent to or from Members of the Harbor Commission via the District’s website are considered public records and may be subject to disclosure and additional distribution pursuant to the Public Records Act and the Brown Act.

District Office: 504 Avenue Alhambra, Ste. 200,  El Granada, CA 94018   

Mailing Address: PO Box 1449, El Granada, CA 94018   
Phone: (650) 583-4400 Fax: (650) 583-4614

Pillar Point Harbor without the breakwater.

Shoaling was dredged in 2025!