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Planning commission initiates Ocean Beach coastal‑hazard amendments to local coastal program
Summary
Commission voted to initiate changes to the Western Shoreline Area Plan (the city’s local coastal program) adding six coastal‑hazard policies — including sand nourishment, managed retreat and limits on shoreline armoring — and a multi‑step review that will include the Coastal Commission.
City planning staff asked the commission to initiate amendments to the Western Shoreline Area Plan to add a coastal hazards section and policy package for Ocean Beach. Maggie Winger (Citywide Planning) described six high‑level policies: managed retreat and adaptation measures, beach nourishment to sustain the sandy system, responsible development that avoids new shoreline armoring, limiting armoring where possible, dune stabilization and designing any necessary shoreline protection to minimize ecological impacts.
Winger said the amendments respond to erosion and sea‑level‑rise projections; the Great Highway and critical infrastructure such as the Lake Merced tunnel are drivers for action. The amendments were developed with Coastal Commission and Ocean Protection Council grants, inter‑agency committees and community advisory input; Winger said implementation details will be developed in subsequent steps and the package will move to the Board of Supervisors before submittal to the Coastal Commission.
Public comment came from Recreation and Park (support), SPUR (support), Bicycle Coalition (support for multi‑use paths and managed retreat south of Sloat Boulevard), the Coastal Commission’s district manager (support) and Sierra Club (requested dark‑sky and lighting language). Commissioners voted to initiate the amendment and schedule a public hearing; staff will bring the draft forward for public hearings and transmittal to the Coastal Commission.
