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 gross floor area), applicants perform a coastal hazards report comparing FEMA flood elevations and sea level rise, and design to whichever standard is higher. County staff described elevation on piles or stilts as the principal adaptation strategy for many shoreline communities, with limited allowances for maintaining existing shoreline protective devices but not expanding them.

Public comment brought contrasting concerns. Joy Downing Riley of the Surfrider Foundation'Ventura County chapter urged stronger triggers and enforceable mitigation measures to remove shoreline armoring where it harms beaches and surf breaks, saying the county's approach "would allow neighborhood scale shoreline armoring to continue and even expand in some places." Mandy Sackett, California policy manager for Surfrider Foundation, urged county coordination with Caltrans and Union Pacific and called for explicit surf-protection policies; she noted Ventura County has a high percentage of armored shoreline.

Board questions and staff responses covered visual impacts, emergency and disaster rebuilding, septic systems, and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and agencies. Staff said FEMA maps were updated in 2021 and do not cover all sea-level-risk areas; the amendments propose to require design elevations based on the higher of FEMA or the intermediate-high sea level rise scenario. Director Dave Ward and coastal scientist Dr. David Bridal joined Engstrom to answer technical questions about the vulnerability assessment and the need for neighborhood-scale planning and periodic updates.

Action taken and next steps: Supervisor Lopez moved to approve the package as recommended; Supervisor LaVier seconded. The board voted unanimously to adopt the proposed resolutions approving coastal area plan amendments and to forward the amendments to the California Coastal Commission for certification, and adopted the zoning ordinance amendments through the ordinance process as part of the package. Staff will pursue certification with the Coastal Commission and continue outreach and neighborhood-scale planning work.

Quantities and other details from staff presentation: the unincorporated coastline to be planned is roughly 30 miles (about 23 miles excluding naval base federal jurisdiction); the vulnerability assessment and adaptation strategies were completed in phases; the staff-referenced sea level rise value of about 6.6 feet is the intermediate-high scenario used for a 100-year design life; substantial redevelopment is tracked at a 50% threshold; about two-thirds of the county's coastline is currently armored, a rate staff noted is high relative to other counties. The package includes visual-impact analyses and provisions to allow limited repair of existing seawalls (ministerial approval for up to 20% restacking, under specified conditions) while requiring that new development not rely on shoreline armor for protection.

Context and implementation risks: staff said this is an initial, county-initiated step intended to control how new redevelopment addresses sea level rise and to buy time for neighborhood-scale adaptation planning. The amendments will require Coastal Commission certification; staff and several supervisors noted future updates will be needed to reflect evolving science and to pursue regional sediment-management and coordination with the Port of Hueneme, the naval base and neighboring cities.

Ending note: supervisors praised the planning team's outreach and technical work and asked staff to return with neighborhood-scale planning and continued science updates as implementation proceeds.