Midcoast Community Council
An elected Municipal Advisory Council to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors,
representing unincorporated Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, Princeton, and Miramar
HMB Planning Commission Study Session VIDEO
Tues, June 27, 2017, at 7:00 PM
Emergency Operations Center, Kelly Ave, HMB
Coastal Access will be the focus of the June 27 session, which will feature a presentation posing options for Highway 1, in addition to topics relevant to coastal access, including trails, parking, and transit. Community members are encouraged to attend and participate during the public forum.
San Mateo County Resource Conservation District provided an update presentation to the Harbor Commission 6/21/2017 on their continuing investigation of sources of fecal bacteria from warm-blooded animals in Pillar Point Harbor, particularly at Capistrano Beach. Past studies have shown that the pollution enters the harbor from watershed drainage (creek and storm drain outlets) rather than from boats. The current investigation is focused on the upland areas that drain to Capistrano Beach: Denniston watershed, St. Augustine watershed, and Capistrano drainage.
Video of presentation (at 13 min)
The Calera Parkway Project proposed to widen Highway 1 to six lanes between Fassler and Reina del Mar in an effort to ease peak-hour congestion. During years of local controversy, twice as many Pacificans spoke against the widening at every opportunity. The project EIR is tied up in the courts. Then the 2016 elections brought a shift in City Council majority on this issue.
In March 2017 the Pacifica City Council adopted an ordinance that prohibits any formal Council action to support or approve the construction of additional through lanes along Highway 1 without first obtaining a majority voter approval of the Pacifica electorate.
On June 12 the City Council approved a letter asking Caltrans to abandon the proposed widening and remove it from further consideration. The Council believes that through a combination of alternatives, excluding widening, an environmentally sustainable solution to the congestion can be achieved.
Coastal access improvements have long been a goal for the waterfront street ends in Princeton. Supervisor Horsley has recently allocated funding from district-specific Measure K County funds for the Princeton Street-End Waterfront Access Improvement Project. Dept of Public Works will oversee the permitting and construction.
Broadway: $22,000 was allocated for a viewing area where the existing guard rail will be moved back from the bluff edge to make room for two wood benches. The concept plan was reviewed by MCC in Feb 2017.
Columbia and West Point: $40,000 has been allocated for beach access improvements at these street ends (staff report). County staff will gather MCC and public input as the plans are developed. Adjacent property owners will also be notified in advance of project implementation.
