Coastal Zone

In October 2018, the City Council adopted the Land Use Plan (LUP) for the Santa Monica Coastal Zone/ It is currently pending certification (anticipated in January 2020). City Planning has begun work on two projects for the Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan (IP): the Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO) and the Low-Cost Lodging (LCL) Fee Update. A New Zoning Ordinance for the Coastal Zone Based upon the existing Zoning Ordinance, the CZO will be a new section of the Municipal Code establishing zoning rules for all properties located in the coastal zone. It will implement specific coastal policies through development standards and conditions that will be contained in Coastal Development Permits (CDP), which the City will issue once the CZO is certified. For example, CDPs will include conditions for proposed projects in sea level rise hazard zones, special environmental protection requirements, beach access provisions and restrictions for projects within identified view corridors and vantage point viewsheds. What does a Fully-Certified LCP mean for the City? With a certified CZO, residents and businesses in most of the coastal zone will no longer apply to the Coastal Commission for CDP approvals and waivers. Instead, this review will be integrated with the City Planning application process. It is not anticipated that development of the CZO will significantly change development standards contained in the existing Zoning Ordinance. The CZO will mainly integrate coastal policies with current zoning policies and standards and remain consistent with the Civic Center Specific Plan and the Downtown Community Plan. In the most sensitive areas near the coastline and bluffs, the Coastal Commission will retain CDP authority or serve as an appeals body for certain City-issued CDPs.