Board adopts local coastal program updates to address sea level rise; forwards amendments to Coastal Commission

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a package of county-initiated amendments to the Local Coastal Program (LCP) that would require new development in shoreline screening areas to plan for sea level rise and other coastal hazards and would add policies and programs aimed at neighborhood-scale adaptation.

Case planner Aaron Engstrom told the board the package (PL No. 20-0039) updates the coastal area plan and coastal zoning ordinance to include three goals, roughly 75 policies and 13 implementation programs focused on designing resilient development, prioritizing natural adaptation strategies, and coordinating neighborhood-scale planning. "It is the local coastal program amendments for sea level rise and coastal hazards," Engstrom said in his presentation.

Key provisions: the amendments would apply an "intermediate-high" sea level rise scenario for most shoreline areas'the staff presentation used a working number of about 6.6 feet of sea level rise for a roughly 100-year expected life of new residential or commercial development (planning horizon to about 2130). The ordinance would require that when a structure is substantially redeveloped (defined as 50% or more of…