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Commission Denies County’s Pilings Plan for Goleta Beach
Citing reluctance to issue a permit for what it called an “experimental” solution to the problem of erosion at Goleta Beach, the California Coastal Commission on Wednesday denied Santa Barbara County its plans for permeable pilings at the Goleta Pier.
“The question is not whether the park should be saved,” Commissioner Sara Wan said. “It’s how.”
With more than a million visitors a year from near and far, Goleta Beach Park is one of the most popular attractions of the South Coast. Recent bouts of major erosion have threatened the location to the point where the county has had emergency rock revetments put in place. It was a measure intended to last as long as it took to come up with a better solution, one that didn’t have the impacts of coastal armoring.
On Wednesday, Santa Barbara County officials presented what they believed to be a viable alternative to coastal armoring: a series of pilings that would extend from the pier, with the idea that the semipermeable structure would trap enough of the circulating sand to prevent further erosion. The plan was years in the process, formulated after a working group formed to address the erosion arrived at an impasse between using hard structures and managed retreat, where utilities and structures would be moved back as the ocean eroded into the shore.
“Because of the pattern of sand transport in the area — we believe it’s very predictable — we believe the results could be predicted with a high probability of success,” said Chris Webb, representing Moffatt and Nichol, designer of the permeable pilings solution. The groin created by the pilings would be prefilled with sand, and once the structure had trapped enough sand as it circulated along the shore, the excess would flow down to other beaches along the way, he said, addressing concerns that the structure could deprive down-coast beaches of sand that they need.
Skepticism about the plan came from representatives of the Environmental Defense Center and the Surfrider Foundation, who presented their own alternative.
“Even with proposed special conditions, the proposed groin will result in significant down-coast beach erosion,” the EDC’s Brian Trautwein said.
The environmental groups presented a plan to reconfigure the beach, to allow for what they say is a natural periodic cycle of erosion and accretion of the shore, without losing the utilities and structures in the area. The groups also contended that the reconfiguration would cost less than the permeable piles plan.
Representatives from the Goleta Water District and Southern California Gas also were on hand to weigh in on the state of the beach, and whether the rock walls in place should be removed at all.
“Any wave action that damages the upcoast sections of that park would most likely uncover our facility and other utilities, which are contained in that section of the park,” said Eric Ford, the GWD’s interim general manager.
Ultimately, the skepticism of the permeable piles project won out, with the commissioners favoring a deeper look into a managed retreat solution, or a better alternative to the piles, resulting in a 9-1 vote to deny the county’s application.
“To be pithy for a second, I don’t think we should think with our groins in this case,” Commissioner Ross Mirkarimi said. “In my opinion, if there’s a solid candidate for managed retreat, it’s this program.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Sonia Fernandez can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Comments
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» on 07.08.09 @ 11:56 PM
Let the harbor return!!!! It would get rid of the airport, so then the planes above my head would leave!!! Let Goleta beach wither away. Let nature return to it’s original course. Nature will find a way. Or at least until the Santa Barbara city council will get in the way. But right now they don’t have to. there are other people willing to do it for them. Who knew the City of Goleta is willing to fight for something to protect the City of Santa Barbara (Airport land).
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» on 07.09.09 @ 06:14 AM
The coastal commission has outlived it’s usefulness and needs to be disbanded. They are autocratic, tyrannical, messianic, and solopsistic. Yes, every one of those adjectives. They have NO business telling SBC what to do about our erosion.
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» on 07.09.09 @ 10:00 AM
Every culture has its tyrants. Ours have the environmentalists. From the global warming religion to the coastal commission, they are there, building their little empires into bigger more obtrusive ones. One day they will rule all.
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» on 07.09.09 @ 11:19 AM
I strongly supported the Goleta Beach plan that had been in the works for over 10 years, had the support of the community and the County of Santa Barbara as well. Unfortunately the CCC, which has become predictable in rejecting local community plans, yesterday denied the plan. Even more unfortunate was the lack of presence by my two opponents in the Assembly race, Das Williams and Susan Jordan. This was a chance to show a unified stand for the people of Goleta and neither has been anywhere to be heard or seen on this subject. I say to my two opponents, despite the Environmental Defense Center and Surfrider’s opposition (two entities I know neither of you dare cross or you loose precious votes of support) join me in supporting the community of Goleta in getting this plan back before the Commission and getting it approved. From my perspective, leadership starts in at least showing up and be willing to take a stand
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» on 07.09.09 @ 12:51 PM
The Coastal Commission exists to oversee the CA Coastal Protection Act. All this was set up by the legislature, signed by the governor, endorsed by state voters, and upheld by the courts for 35 years now.
All California developers and coastal communities must make good faith efforts to adhere to the state law, to protect our precious coastlines for everyone, not just today, but for generations to come.
Some jurisdictions and developers try harder than others, however.
Commissioners are equally balanced between local, elected officials in coastal areas,
and commissioners appointed by the governor, assembly, and state senate. You can
not find a more balanced review body anywhere in California.
Brooks Firestone, Dan Secord, SLO supervisor Achadjian (all private property rights Republican advocates) have all served recently, most with great distinction.
So, if the County’s Goleta Beach proposal got shot down overwhelmingly, it means it must have had more holes than Swiss cheese.
Obviously some people do NOT support the law, or any form of coastal protection.
The owner of a local newspaper litigated the law for several years, rather than keep
her escrow-title commitment to dedicated land when she bought her palatial Hope
Ranch home. But, like everyone else, she lost.
The owners of the Goleta Beach restaurant mobilized all their employees and diners
to support the County’s position. But they didn’t tell them that their plan had never
been tested, and might not pass muster. So this wasn’t a typical proposal the
Coastal Commission voted down.
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» on 07.09.09 @ 01:03 PM
I like Mike!
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» on 07.09.09 @ 01:42 PM
Mike Stoker leaves the [false] impression that he was at the Coastal Commission hrg yesterday. He was NOT there.
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» on 07.09.09 @ 03:05 PM
Ah, Marie (Antoinette), we barely knew ye…The “Let them eat cake” stance of Surfrider and the EDC is appalling, to say the least. The thousands of families who recreate annually at Goleta Beach Park will just have to be satisfied with old family photo albums of their gatherings in the future. The efforts of a community backed by solid engineering proposals resulted in a plan that spoke to both side’s concerns. The CC’s original mission was largely to ensure public access to our beaches, not to trump science and community efforts with heavy-handed politics. County residents were sorely misrepresented in this one.
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» on 07.09.09 @ 03:59 PM
Good post, Publius, until “So, if the County’s Goleta Beach proposal got shot down overwhelmingly, it means it must have had more holes than Swiss cheese”—this is not a sound inference.
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» on 07.09.09 @ 04:53 PM
if publius had listened to the deliberation he would know that his logic is incorrect. Commission also did not support EDCs proposal.
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» on 07.09.09 @ 06:22 PM
Waves coming in wash away the sand faster than it can be replaced naturaly.
Erik Ford’s statement that “Any wave action that damages the up coast section of the park woud most likely uncover our facility and other utilities which are contained in thatr section of the park.”
There is already a slight natural uprise off shore. Do as many other cities have done with similar sand erosion problems, increase this rise with a artificial reef.
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» on 07.10.09 @ 12:38 PM
The Coastal Commission was a novel idea and actually did some great things when it started but has become (like most other state bureaucracy) bloated and politicized.
Their decision on the Goleta Beach project is typical. Spend ridiculous amounts of $$$ on studying the issue and then the political appointees on the commission go against the staff and subject-expert recommendations.
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» on 07.10.09 @ 09:28 PM
they are gloating over their success at killing the project. Think of them when the beach washes away and the “process” is still dragging along.
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» on 07.11.09 @ 06:23 AM
California needs to rethink the environmental legislation; it’s a great example of good intentions gone awry.
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