Public Input Sought for Revised Coastal Access Project Guidelines

Are you interested in improved public access to California’s coast? We invite you to comment on the Coastal Conservancy’s revised Coastal Access Project Guidelines.

Comments are due by November 5, 2021 and should be submitted to publiccomments@scc.ca.gov. Based on comments received, the Standards will be revised before the Conservancy Board considers adoption at their December 2, 2021 meeting.

The existing Standards are from 1983 and are outdated. The revised Standards include a greater focus on accessibility for people with disabilities, coordinating with California’s tribes, and providing equitable and inclusive coastal access. They also take into account sea level rise, encourage green design that considers climate change impacts, call out the need for operations and maintenance, and expand the definition of lower-cost overnight accommodations beyond hostels. Guidelines for location and support facilities remain, but there is less of a focus on exact dimensions of accessway easements or trails. The Conservancy uses the Standards to evaluate, prioritize, and implement coastal access projects.