La Costanera Restaurant Daytime Hours Considered

1977 State and County permits for the restaurant at south end of Montara Beach limit operations to 5PM until normal closing time, in order to share available public/private parking between beach users in the daytime and restaurant users in the evening. 

The County is processing an application to modify the restaurant’s Use Permit to allow Friday and weekend daytime hours (10AM – 2AM).  Environmental review documents (Revised Initial Study and Negative Declaration) for this project are now available for review. 

Public comment regarding the correctness, completeness, or adequacy of this Negative Declaration must be received by County Planning Dept no later than 5PM, March 31, 2014.  Contact person: Camille Leung, Project Planner, 650/363-1826.  The MCC March 12 agenda will include this item.

This Initial Study and Negative Declaration addresses the potential environmental impacts of the proposed expansion in operating hours, installation of exterior lights, signs, and patios, and grading, drainage and other improvements of the adjacent dirt parking area owned by State Parks.  

In addition to the County-issued Use Permit amendment, a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) amendment will be required directly from the CA Coastal Commission (CCC) for the project described above, as well as for the repair of existing drainage systems and riprap.  Until the CDP Amendment is granted by the CCC, the County Use Permit amendment would be considered inactive.  

The current planning application dates from 2006.
PLN2006-00494 MCC comments: 2012 letter, presentation; 2010 letter
Long-standing alleged Coastal Act violations - CCC, MCC
Petition for removal of beach floodlights

The restaurant was built in 1977 on the site of former 1950’s motel/restaurant, and was operated as The Chart House until 2002, followed by The Outrigger until 2004.
1977 Planning Commission staff report - Use Permit - parking exception
1977 CCC Coastal Development Permit P-77-579
1981 CCC denial of CDP amendment to allow Sunday 10AM opening 
1984 County CDP 83-67 for riprap

UPDATES:  MCC comments/ presentation on the 2/27/14 Revised Initial Study & Neg Dec for La Costanera Use Permit Amendment.
3/19/14 comments from State Parks
12/18/13 CCC letter re permit application status
4/25/14 CCC letter re Violations

Volunteers needed for SamTrans Advisory Committee

SamTrans Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is composed of 15 representatives from various segments of the community and acts in an advisory capacity to the SamTrans policy board. Responsibilities include providing input on the needs of current and potential transit users. CAC has vacancies for community reps, bus rider reps, and multimodal reps.

The CAC meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the SamTrans administrative office, 1250 San Carlos Ave. in San Carlos.  Application and more info.

Seal Cove/ Moss Beach Road Improvements

A County road improvement project is proposed for two locations in Moss Beach – paving of three previously unimproved rights of way in Seal Cove (San Ramon, Del Mar, Madrone), and replacement of a section of paving on Carlos Street at California with vegetated biotreatment and pervious paving. 

Public comment period on the environmental review documents extends from February 25 to March 27, 2014.  The NOTICE of Public Review is a one-page overview of the proposed construction details, public review process, and contact info.  The environmental document under review is titled, "Seal Cove/Moss Beach Area Roads Improvement Project - Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration". DPW project page