Planning Commission approves RTC fence along Park Avenue bluff after split vote

The Capitola Planning Commission on July 17 approved a coastal development and fence permit for a roughly 1,200-foot, 4-foot-high fence along the Park Avenue bluff, in a 2–1 vote that split commissioners and drew extended public comment. The commission approved the permit for property owned by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). The commission and staff said the RTC applied for the Coastal Development Permit because the proposed fence lies near an eroding coastal bluff and no exemption applied. Staff described public safety and bluff instability as the primary reasons for the fence, and said the RTC provided three design concepts; the RTC will choose materials later. The approval followed oral comments from RTC staff clarifying construction and safety goals and multiple public speakers who urged the commission to preserve informal access and views. Resident Bob Hickman said RTC should maintain the property and keep the bench, asking, “Why do they want to remove that? That’s a beautiful bench to sit on and enjoy the beautiful views.” Longtime Park Avenue resident Terry Thomas said he opposed the fence and warned construction could worsen bluff erosion. RTC staff on Zoom said fence placement responds to areas of steep bluff and undermining and that pump‑track bike jumps on the volunteer trail would be removed in order to place the fence in the proposed alignment. The RTC indicated signage currently out on the corridor would be replaced and said the fence is intended as a visible deterrent, not an impenetrable barrier. During deliberations commissioners voiced the tradeoff between public safety and traditional access. One commissioner said multiple fatalities on Santa Cruz County bluffs in recent years — including at least one at Park Avenue — informed the safety rationale; staff said specific Park Avenue numbers were not available in the presentation. Commissioners discussed whether staggered openings could preserve viewpoints, with staff and RTC representatives responding that intermittent openings would defeat the safety purpose. The motion to approve the RTC application was moved, seconded and carried on a roll call vote: Yes — Commissioner Que and Chair Esty; No — Commissioner Howard. The motion approved the project based on the staff-recommended conditions and findings. The commission and RTC staff noted the fence alignment follows an existing volunteer clearing and places the barrier inland of the most unstable bluff edge to increase the structure’s expected service life. RTC said the design would be selected later based on cost and longevity, and that construction would remove some existing informal trail features and necessitate replacement or removal of vegetation where staging occurs. The commission’s approval is limited to the permit and attached conditions; staff noted later coordination with the Coastal Commission and follow-up landscape and construction method details will be required to minimize erosion and vegetation loss. The RTC representative said longer-term, coordinated bluff solutions would be more complex and would require additional permits and property coordination downcoast. The commission’s discussion and the public comments made clear the decision balances public safety concerns and irreversible changes to informal coastal access and viewpoints.