Commission approves Wavecrest Trail sign program with cap on interpretive panels

The Half Moon Bay Planning Commission on Sept. 9 approved a sign program and sign permit for the Coastside Land Trust’s Wavecrest Phase 2 trail, allowing wayfinding, interpretive and coastal‑access signs along roughly 3 miles of new trail south of Poplar Beach. The commission approved the program with an amendment reducing the number of interpretive panels and adding two required signs at the base of new stairways to indicate public access.

Planning staff Scott Phillips told commissioners the proposed program initially included 49 signs that require a sign permit (not counting standard parking, disabled‑access and restroom signs). The package includes two vehicle directional signs on Redondo Beach Road, orientation maps at trailheads, smaller post signs at trail intersections, and 12 interpretive signs. Phillips said the local coastal land‑use plan allows an assigned sign program for a unique coastal access project and that staff considered the CEQA categorical exemption for accessory signs (CEQA Guidelines §15311(a)) appropriate for the sign program review.

Applicant Sarah Polgar of Coastside Land Trust said the design team sought to place signs where they would be most effective for navigation, habitat protection and interpretation, and that the plan is flexible. “Once the trail is open and people are starting to use it, we will discover where there’s places where that is a highly valuable restoration area … and it would be great if we could make sure…we really want to let people know that they should stay out of there,” Polgar said. She added that many of the proposed signs are small post signs and that the graphic shown in the packet exaggerates apparent density by showing all faces of small posts.

Commissioners raised concerns about the number and placement of interpretive panels so as not to detract from the coastal open‑space experience. Commissioners also discussed materials and vandalism, the timing and phasing of trail construction, and operations and maintenance responsibilities. Polgar said the trail and parking construction are underway and expected to finish in October, with stairs and restrooms to follow as agency permits allow; she said Coastside Land Trust will maintain signs and replace them as needed.

Coastal staff recommended additional signage at the base of the vertical stairways to make beach users aware of the public right to use the stairways; the commission added that requirement as a condition of approval (condition B‑2). Commissioners also asked staff to allow the Community Development Director limited authority to approve minor sign adjustments later, and the resolution adopted a cap on interpretive panels: the commission reduced the count from 12 to 8 interpretive signs (the roll‑call action described the final numbers as inclusive of the two stairhead signs). The motion passed on roll call, 4‑0.

Why it matters: The sign program governs how the public will find and use new coastal access facilities on the Wavecrest corridor. Commissioners balanced visitor wayfinding and habitat protection while ensuring coastal‑access language at stair bases required by Coastal staff.