Council approves realignment of Ocean View shoreline trail after appeal; opponents seek broader plan

The Pacific Grove City Council voted to deny an appeal and approve a coastal development permit to realign an approximately 100-foot segment of the Shoreline Recreation Trail at Ocean View Boulevard, near Esplanade Park, moving the trail inward from an eroded edge to improve public safety and maintain coastal access.

City staff told the council the project "would restore a small section of the recreation trail to address the safety and shoreline erosion issue" and that the work would occur within the existing right of way, use best management practices and follow the city's black oystercatcher protection protocol (staff). The staff report recommended denying the appeals and approving the permit subject to standard conditions and categorical exemptions.

Appellants Lisa Ciani and Tony Chiani told the council the project should not proceed as proposed without more study and clearer safety plans. "The proposed trail realignment into Ocean View Boulevard is an important step... but... the coastal commission wants to know coastal resources are being protected in this highly sensitive appealable area," Ciani said, and she argued the city should follow its Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) and coordinate planning across nearby failing segments rather than take a piecemeal approach.

Tony Chiani added that the submitted plans lack defined safety measures and dimensions and warned the plan delegates too much of the specification work to an unselected contractor. "Can the council delegate its decision making responsibilities to a contractor? I believe the proposed process is inadequate and does not comply with the municipal code," he said.

Public comment included support and qualified support for the realignment. Anthony Turcel of the Surfrider Foundation commended the city for pursuing managed retreat instead of shoreline armoring: "I think Surfrider would be in support of this project," he said. Other residents, including nearby property owners, said they want a larger-picture plan and clearer protections for pedestrians, bicyclists and parking.

Public Works Director Goh and staff told council engineers and traffic staff were involved in the design and that proposed conditions require road markings, signage, delineators and other traffic and pedestrian safety measures. Goh said temporary barrels and delineators were placed earlier to address immediate conflicts and that the proposed continuous five-foot trail would eliminate the present need for pedestrians to step down into the roadway.

The Planning Commission had approved the permit 6–0; at council the motion to deny the appeal and approve the coastal development permit (identified in the record as "CDP 20 5 Dash 003" and the accompanying draft resolution) passed on a roll call with six yesses and one abstention. Conditions adopted include protection measures for nesting black oystercatchers, traffic and pedestrian safety implementations during construction and requirements that the contractor follow specified environmental and safety protocols.

Council members who spoke in favor cited immediate pedestrian safety at the specific site; several acknowledged appellants' concerns about a comprehensive shoreline planning process and said larger-scale planning (a city climate adaptation or shoreline plan) should proceed in parallel. Staff and council noted that the site’s solution differs from other nearby failing segments and that separate analyses may be needed for each segment.

The council’s action authorizes Public Works to proceed with implementation under the conditions adopted by the Planning Commission and council, including contractor oversight and required traffic/pedestrian protections, and to pursue additional planning work as funding and priorities allow. The city will implement the permit conditions before and during construction and monitor compliance.

Ending: The council approved the permit to realign the trail segment to improve user safety and to respond to ongoing erosion, while appellants pressed for a larger, coordinated shoreline strategy and more detailed, contractor-independent safety specifications. Public works said it will oversee contractor performance and implement the council’s conditions prior to construction.