The board heard hours of public comment, and debated the contentious issues among themselves, before voting to approve the plan conceptually. The language of the ordinances will come back for final approval at the board's Nov. 14 meeting.
The LCP is intended to serve as a development plan for the Midcoast for as long as three decades, and a large crowd attended the meeting to voice last-minute concerns about a plan some say won't do enough to protect the coast.
 Geoffrey Davis |
"I think the general feeling is that the number is higher than what the infrastructure can support," said Geoffrey Davis, Midcoast Community Council chair. "We were trying to say that we know homes are going to be built, growth is fine, but what we care about is managed growth so that we don't incur severe problems and put an undue burden on the existing infrastructure."
But supervisors held the course, saying that three decades would be a reasonable time to reach build-out, and that they have taken measures to protect the coast from being further opened up to development.
"I remain satisfied with the provision," said Supervisor Rich Gordon, whose district includes the Midcoast. "Not only have we reduced the number of units allowed but we've eliminated the ability of future boards to override that number."
The board did change its position on the Burnham Strip, which has continued to be one of the more problematic portions of the document. Many residents of El Granada and the Midcoast want to see the county make the land a public park as it was originally intended.
The board decided to eliminate houses as one of the acceptable uses for the land, and to re-designate it as the El Granada Gateway District.
"I think it was a really appropriate decision," said Kathryn Slater-Carter, a member of the Midcoast Community Council.
Slater-Carter also said she continued to be concerned about land surrounding the airport, which she fears could be developed for commercial use.
"I'm concerned about the loss of centrally located, flat, potential recreation space," she said.
The board has postponed dealing with that issue until the airport has completed its general plan.
Despite the action on Tuesday, the board still has an important decision to make. Members of the Board of Supervisors must decide how they want the Coastal Commission to consider the document. The county board can submit the entire LCP for an up-or-down vote, or it can submit it as 23 amendments, allowing the statewide commission to approve it piecemeal, sending back what it deems insufficient.
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