Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Coastal Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Arcata adopts comprehensive coastal zoning update; council confirms amendment removing 'parking' wording
Summary
The Arcata City Council adopted Ordinance 1581 and Resolution 256-49 to submit a comprehensive local coastal program update to the Coastal Commission, confirming an earlier amendment that removed the word 'parking' from outdoor-lighting language so standards apply citywide.
Arcata’s City Council adopted Ordinance 1581 on March 18, approving a comprehensive update to the coastal zoning ordinance and directing staff to submit the local coastal program update to the California Coastal Commission (Resolution 256-49).
Community Development Director David Loya asked the council to confirm a March 4 amendment that struck the word “parking” from the outdoor-lighting section so the updated lighting rules would apply to all outdoor areas rather than just parking areas. Council members confirmed the amendment and voted to adopt the ordinance and supporting resolution to commence certification review by the Coastal Commission.
Members of the public praised elements of the update. Joanna Magerian thanked staff for including a dark-sky initiative, calling it “the future,” and expressed appreciation for the many years of staff work on the local coastal program. Staff described the ordinance as aligning City policy with state coastal requirements and strengthening local protections for coastal development.
Ordinance 1581 and the associated submittal give Arcata a formal path to update its local coastal policies; the staff report indicated that once the City adopts and forwards the local coastal program materials, the Coastal Commission will review the package for certification. The ordinance was adopted by voice vote with all present councilmembers voting in favor.
The measure includes both the ordinance adoption and a resolution authorizing submittal to the Coastal Commission; Council discussion noted long-term staff and community involvement in compiling the document and expressed hope the commission will certify the update.
The council also received no formal remands or suggested modifications during the meeting other than confirming the previously made amendment to the outdoor-lighting language.
The ordinance and submittal are now set for the next steps in the Coastal Commission’s local certification process.
