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Commission pauses permit and seeks records after unpermitted stone revetment found on town right‑of‑way
Summary
Commissioners said a stone revetment placed in the town right‑of‑way was not on approved drawings, raised safety and lot‑coverage concerns, and agreed not to consider a related permit until BZA findings and ownership/permit records are located.
At its June 12 meeting the Long Beach Building Commission flagged a stone revetment installed along Ridge Road/Loma Portal as unpermitted and potentially unsafe, and the commission declined to consider a separate permit for additional work on the same property while violations remain unresolved.
"Number 1, it was never permitted in my estimation," Building Commission lead Larry Wall said after reviewing drawings and aerial photos, arguing the boulders sit in the town right‑of‑way and are not shown on the approved site plans. Wall told the commission the revetment also appears to push the property’s lot coverage toward or past the town’s 35% limit and could narrow the roadway in a steep area frequently plowed in winter.
Staff told the commission they had issued a citation and that the contractor supplied some permit documents after the commission received a complaint. The commission asked staff to find signed findings of fact and any amended BZA decisions that might have authorized a landscaping or retaining structure; commissioners said they could not lawfully approve work placed on town‑owned land without council action.
Commissioners described safety risks if a plow strikes a heavy boulder in the right‑of‑way and noted the revetment could make it hard for vehicles to move off the road. The commission agreed not to consider the new permit (permit 514) until outstanding citations were paid and until staff can confirm whether the variance or the BZA findings specifically authorized the wall. Staff was asked to compile the BZA record, the submitted permit materials, and any evidence of what was approved to clarify whether the placement was ever authorized.
Next steps: staff will retrieve the signed BZA findings and any related permit records and bring them back to the commission. Commissioners also suggested discussing remediation options and whether portions of the revetment need removal or reconfiguration to protect traffic safety and keep lot coverage within limits.
