Arcata City Planning Commission continues Local Coastal Program update after staff reports sea level rise conflict with Coastal Act

Arcata City’s Planning Commission on Oct. 14 heard a staff update on a comprehensive revision to the city’s Local Coastal Program and voted to continue the public hearing to Feb. 17, 2026 to allow additional negotiation with the California Coastal Commission.

Community Development Director David Loya told the commission that staff needs more time to resolve outstanding edits after multiple meetings with Coastal Commission staff. “We’re gonna need to continue this item one more time,” Loya said, adding that staff is meeting with Coastal Commission staff weekly to pursue conflict resolution on specific policies.

The central sticking point, Loya said, is the city’s proposed sea level rise approach. “Sea level rise is the sticking point,” he said, explaining the Coastal Commission interprets the Coastal Act to allow protective armoring—such as seawalls—for development built before the Act’s 1976 enactment while generally not extending the same entitlement to later development. Loya said that…