Once upon a time in the charming city of Coastalville, there was a magical meeting taking place at the Planning Commission. The Director of Community Development, David Loya, along with his trusty Administrative Specialist, Mads Odom, were presenting a very important topic to the Honorable Chair and Commissioners.

The topic of discussion was the Draft Local Coastal Element, a crucial component of the City’s Local Coastal Program. The Program, which was last updated in 1989, needed a comprehensive update to align with current policies and zoning regulations. The Element, once adopted into the General Plan, would set the policy foundation for the entire program.

The City had been working tirelessly on this update since 2000, and the current version had been in process since 2014. The goal was to integrate the Program with the General Plan, the Land Use Code, the Gateway Area Plan, and other adaptation planning efforts.

During the meeting, the Commission was tasked with providing direction and recommendations on the Draft Element. State Law authorized Local Coastal Programs to implement the Coastal Act at the local level, and the City’s current Program needed major revisions to reflect current policies and regulations.

The Draft Element had gone through years of public engagement, with input from hundreds of members of the public, City Committees, the Commission, and the Council. The document had also been reviewed by Coastal Commission staff and had received two Coastal Commission grants.

As the meeting continued, the Commission discussed the importance of planning and locating new development, as well as the basics around zoning regulations. The focus was on how the Draft Element would relate to other City planning documents and how it would address issues like sea level rise and resource protection.

After a thorough discussion, the Commission provided valuable feedback and direction to the staff. The next steps would involve submitting the comprehensive update to the Commission for final approval, with the hope of certification by the Coastal Commission.

As the meeting came to a close, the City of Coastalville was one step closer to updating its Local Coastal Program and ensuring the protection and sustainability of its beautiful coastal resources. And with the guidance of the Planning Commission, the future of Coastalville looked brighter than ever.

And so, with the promise of a better tomorrow, the residents of Coastalville drifted off to sleep, knowing that their city was in good hands. The end.

— LoCOBot