Plan Princeton

County Project Webpage
MCC Princeton Shoreline page

The area comprised of Princeton, Pillar Point Harbor and the Half Moon Bay Airport is the visitor-serving and industrial hub of the Midcoast. In 2013 the County began a comprehensive planning update for the greater Princeton area to update existing land use plans, development policies and zoning regulations.

Goals of Planning Update:

Enhance coastal access, recreation, research, and education opportunities.
Support and expand coastal-dependent and coastal-related uses.
Provide facilities needed by the commercial fishing industry and recreational boaters.
Create local jobs and services.
Abate neighborhood blight and zoning violations.
Address parking, circulation, and infrastructure needs.
Identify and evaluate potential solutions to shoreline erosion problems.
Protect and restore water quality and sensitive habitats.
Maintain compliance with CA Coastal Act and State airport compatibility requirements.

2024-2025 timeline for Plan Princeton

After developing a Preferred Plan & Policy Framework, the project was paused in 2016, and resumes in 2024 informed by the California Ocean Protection Council’s latest research on impacts of sea level rise projections affecting Princeton.

Sea Level Rise Community Workshop – November 1, 2024
Draft updates presentation – January 2025
Final plan update – March 2025
Airport Land Use Commission, Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors – TBD
California Coastal Commission -- TBD

INITIAL Timeline & Progress of Plan Princeton:

2013 Community Visioning Report
2014 May: Existing Conditions Report
2014 Sept: Alternatives Workbook - comments by MCC -- CCC
2015 Preferred Plan & Policy Framework - presentations to MCC - Planning Commission - comments by CCC -- CGF — comments on Development Standards Oct 2015 by MCC
2016-2024 Project paused
2017 - MCC requested status update -- see 7/12/17 minutes #4a, although imminent roll out did not occur.
2019 Princeton Shoreline Management Plan - County policy framework memo to CCC & attachments — 2020 CCC reply: positive feedback on proposed water levels, erosion rates, and policy framework

MCC Early Efforts

2009 MCC and Pillar Ridge request for updated M-1 zoning regulations and Supervisor Gordon reply.
2012 MCC request/presentation to prioritize zoning updates for Princeton light industrial districts (M-1 and W).
2013 Pillar Point Harbor Shoreline Erosion MCC presentation
2014 MCC Overview Presentation on shoreline conditions, past and existing development, approved projects on appeal or not yet built

Background

Coastal Act Background & Requirements

Airport Plan Updates

For info on 2014 updates of the Half Moon Bay Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) and the HMB Airport Layout Plan, see Airport page.