County Seeks Input on Local Coastal Plan

The Marin County Local Coastal Plan draft was approved by the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 13, but now it's your turn to share your input on the plan for our county coastline.

The Coastal Plan can be read in detail on the Marin County Coastal Program website.

Key changes though, according to a statement from Jack Liebster, county prinicipal planner, include:

• Requiring that proposed developments in potentially hazardous areas demonstrate their long-term safety plan to deal with sea-level rise and intense storms.
• Making it easier for family-owned farms and ranches to pass on ownership to children, addressing the need for agricultural workforce housing, and allowing for farm diversification, such as homestays or cheese stands. 
• Continuing to ban major industrial, oil and gas plants from the coastal zone.
• Minimizing polluted run-off and applying source control measures.
• Incorporating high-priority policies for the West Marin communities and towns, as brought about by community members.

Mostly, though, the Coastal Plan is continuing many of the policies of preservation and access that it had in place before, but simply attempting to address new environmental standards and issues.

“After almost three years of careful study, discussion and workshops with the full spectrum of interested groups and individuals, and eight formal public hearings with the County’s Planning Commission we’ve reached a major milestone in renewing Marin’s commitment to protect the coast,” said Brian Crawford, Director of the Community Development Agency, in a statement.

The ninth community conversation will take place at the West Marin School Gym on March 4, this Sunday, from 4 to 6 p.m. with Liebster and Supervisor Steve Kinsey.

There will then be workshops with the Board of Supervisors on March 20 and 27.