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North Jacoby Creek Rocky Gulch
McDaniel Slough
Fickle
Hill Creek
Beith Creek
Jacoby Creek
Washington Gulch
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This map is for informational purposes only.
The City of Arcata, including any employees and sub-contractors, makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information contained in this map. The City of Arcata, including any employees and sub-contractors, disclaims liability for any and all damages which may arise due to errors in the map and the user's reliance thereon.
Date Saved: 2/19/2026 8:36 AM Path: R:\Av_projects\Com_Dev\Projects\LCP Maps\2026\LocalCoastalProgrammingUpdates\LocalCoastalProgrammingUpdates.aprx 0 500 1,000
City of Arcata Feet
2023 City of Arcata Imagery
Protected Views & Scenic Roadways
Figure C-10-1
Ca. Dept. Fish & Wildlife
Mad River
Slough Wildlife
Area
Date: 2/19/2026
Arcata Bay
Local Coastal Scenic Routes
F I C K L E
H I L L
A R C A T A B O T T O M
Coastal Zone Boundary
Arcata City Limits
Waterbody (Arcata Bay, Coastal Marshes, Estuaries, Slough) ! ! ! !
Protective Views
Scenic Resource
Protected View
Habitat Areas/Open Space
Visually prominent natural features located outside of but visible from the coastal zone, including agricultural lands, gulches, forested slopes, hillsides, ridgelines and mountain tops.
Creek
Designated Scenic Roadways: Coastal Scenic Routes
Other Features
XY Designated Vista Points
Scenic Trail Segments
Arcata Marsh and
Wildlife Sanctuary
USFWS Humboldt Bay
National Wildlife Refuge
Gannon Slough/Jacoby
Creek Wildlife Area
Arcata Community Forest
Arcata Community Forest
Sunny Brae Tract
Coastal Zone Boundary
Coastal Zone Boundary
$ View Corridor
Notes:
The data shown outside of the coastal zone is for informational, not regulatory, purposes, and the Ca Coastal Com’s certification does not extend beyond the coastal boundary.
“The Coastal Zone Boundary depicted on this map is shown for illustrative purposes only and does not define the Coastal Zone.
The delineation is representational, may be revised at any time in the future, is not binding on the Coastal Commission, and does not eliminate the possibility that the Coastal Commission must make a formal mapping determination.”
±
City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 76
11.0 Archeological and Cultural Resources
11.1. Introduction
The City of Arcata strives to protect archaeological, tribal cultural, and paleontological resources.
Section 30244 of the Coastal Act states that where development would adversely impact archaeological or paleontological resources as identified by the State Historic Preservation Officer, reasonable mitigation measures shall be required. The City of Arcata generally relies on the 1870 Tideland survey map prepared by the federal government, which delineates the former Arcata Bay shoreline, as a guide to show where Native American settlements might have been located. The City’s practice for discretionary permit review includes a referral to each of the three local Wiyot territory Tribal Heritage Preservation Officers to facilitate positive collaborative working relationships.
11.2. Local Coastal Element Policies
11.2.1. Protection of Archaeological and Paleontological Resources. Development shall protect and preserve archaeological, tribal cultural and paleontological resources from destruction, and avoid and minimize impacts to such resources.
11.2.2. Cultural Resources Consultation. As part of project environmental review for development that has the potential to adversely impact archaeological, tribal cultural, or paleontological resources, the City of Arcata shall, at a minimum, consult with the Northwest Information Center of the California Historical Resources Information System at Sonoma State University (or its successor) and Tribal Governments of the Blue Lake Rancheria, Wiyot Tribe, and Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, each of whom have recognized Wiyot ancestral ties to lands within Arcata's Coastal Zone.
11.2.3. Cultural Resources Report. A cultural resources report shall be prepared prior to project approval if: 1) initial project screening concludes that the project area may contain potentially significant archaeological, paleontological, and/or Native American tribal cultural resources; and 2) the project has potential to adversely impact these resources.
The City will require reports to evaluate potential impacts to archaeological resources in consultation with the three Wiyot area tribes. The purpose of the report is to determine Coastal Act Policies
The following Coastal Act policy is most relevant to cultural resources in Arcata:
Section 30244: Archaeological or paleontological resources. Where development would adversely impact archaeological or paleontological resources as identified by the State Historic Preservation Officer, reasonable mitigation measures shall be required.
City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 77
whether significant cultural, paleontological, or archaeological resources are present; determine the size, nature, and significance of any identified resource; and provide measures that result in avoidance, or minimization if avoidance is not feasible, of impacts to resources that are present on the site. All reports shall be prepared by a qualified archaeologist/paleontologist.
11.2.4. Mitigation of Potential Impacts. Potential impacts to archaeological, tribal cultural, and paleontological resources shall be avoided or mitigated in consultation with affected tribes and other responsible agencies.
11.2.5. Coordination with State Historic Preservation Officer. The City shall consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer and affected tribes to identify actions to protect archaeological, tribal cultural, and paleontological resources.
11.2.6. Review Required for City Projects. The City will, as a matter of process, inform the local Tribal Heritage Preservation Officers of ground disturbing activities that occur on City sites or within City rights-of-way within ¼ mile of known sensitive sites even when no permit is required. The City will rely on updates of sensitive locations from the Tribal Heritage Preservation Officers at their discretion.
City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 78
12.0 Agricultural Resources
12.1. Introduction
The Coastal Act requires the protection of agricultural lands within the Coastal Zone. It directly mandates that the maximum amount of prime agricultural land be maintained in production, and supports various measures to limit threats to agricultural productivity. The City’s definition of prime agricultural land within the Coastal Zone as discussed in this chapter is consistent with Coastal Act §30113 and Government Code §5120. Figure C-12-1 shows land in agricultural production that meets the definition of prime agricultural land, as well as lands in other urban land uses with agriculturally classified soil types.
Coastal Act Policies
The following Coastal Act policies are most relevant to agriculture in Arcata:
Section 30241 Prime agricultural land; maintenance in agricultural production. The maximum amount of prime agricultural land shall be maintained in agricultural production to assure [sic] the protection of the areas’ agricultural economy, and conflicts shall be minimized between agricultural and urban land uses through all of the following:
(a) By establishing stable boundaries separating urban and rural areas, including, where necessary, clearly defined buffer areas to minimize conflicts between agricultural and urban land uses. (b) By limiting conversions of agricultural lands around the periphery of urban areas to the lands where the viability of existing agricultural use is already severely limited by conflicts with urban uses or where the conversion of the lands would complete a logical and viable neighborhood and contribute to the establishment of a stable limit to urban development.
(c) By permitting the conversion of agricultural land surrounded by urban uses where the conversion of the land would be consistent with Section 30250.
(d) By developing available lands not suited for agriculture prior to the conversion of agricultural lands. (e) By assuring that public service and facility expansions and nonagricultural development do not impair agricultural viability, either through increased assessment costs or degraded air and water quality. (f) By assuring that all divisions of prime agricultural lands, except those conversions approved pursuant to subdivision (b), and all development adjacent to prime agricultural lands shall not diminish the productivity of such prime agricultural lands.
Section 30241.5 Agricultural land; determination of viability of uses; economic feasibility evaluation (a) If the viability of existing agricultural uses is an issue pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 30241 as to any local coastal program or amendment to any certified local coastal program submitted for review and approval under this division, the determination of "viability" shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of an economic feasibility evaluation ...
Section 30242 Lands suitable for agricultural use; conversion. All other lands suitable for agricultural use shall not be converted to nonagricultural uses unless (l) continued or renewed agricultural use is not feasible, or (2) such conversion would preserve prime agricultural land or concentrate development consistent with Section 30250. Any such permitted conversion shall be compatible with continued agricultural use on surrounding lands.
Agricultural lands are an important resource within Arcata’s Coastal Zone. Agriculture is the largest non-urban use in the City, representing 25 percent of the land base in total. Arcata’s agricultural lands are generally used for grazing, silage, and hay production, as well as flower and vegetable crops including lilies, daffodils, raspberries, strawberries, potatoes, corn, artichokes, and other shallow-rooted crops. The City of Arcata owns approximately 80 percent
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H St
Q St
7th St
V St
G St
11th St
17th St
Janes Rd
Samoa Blvd
Samoa Blvd
S G St
Foster Ave
Spear Ave
Bayside Rd
Bayside Rd
Golf Course Rd
Golf Course Rd
Bayside Cutoff Rd
Buttermilk Ln
Buttermilk Ln
West End Rd
West End Rd
Old Arcata Rd
This map is for informational purposes only.The City of Arcata, including any employees and sub-contractors, makes nowarranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information contained in thismap. The City of Arcata, including any employees and sub-contractors, disclaimsliability for any and all damages which may arise due to errors in the map and theuser's reliance thereon.
Date Saved: 2/19/2026 8:36 AM Path: R:\Av_projects\Com_Dev\Projects\LCP Maps\2026\LocalCoastalProgrammingUpdates\LocalCoastalProgrammingUpdates.aprx 0 1,000 2,000
City of Arcata Feet
Arcata
Agricultural Resources
Figure C-12-1
Date: 2/19/2026
Notes:
The data shown outside of the coastal zone is for informational, not regulatory, purposes, and the Ca Coastal Com’s certification does not extend beyond the coastal boundary.
“The Coastal Zone Boundary depicted on this map is shown for illustrative purposes only and does not define the Coastal Zone.
The delineation is representational, may be revised at any time in the future, is not binding on the Coastal Commission, and does not eliminate the possibility that the Coastal Commission must make a formal mapping determination.”
Land Within Coastal Zone Designated as Coastal Agriculture (:CA) Arcata City Limits
Coastal Zone Boundary ! !
Legend
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City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 80
of the agricultural land within the Coastal Zone and manages this land as seasonal grazing and natural resource open space.
Much of the City’s agricultural lands within the coastal zone consist of diked former tidelands that were reclaimed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and have been continuously farmed or grazed for over a century. These areas were historically part of tidal marsh and estuarine systems but were isolated from tidal influence through the construction of levees and drainage infrastructure to support agricultural use. Today, these lands function as grazed wetlands, providing a mix of agricultural production and habitat values, and are hydrologically and ecologically distinct from undisturbed tidal wetlands. In some locations, former agricultural lands have been intentionally restored or allowed to revert to tidal or estuarine conditions, reflecting changing land use priorities, habitat restoration efforts, and increased recognition of the ecological functions of coastal wetlands.
12.2. Local Coastal Element Policies
Agricultural Lands
12.2.1. Agricultural Classifications. The agricultural classification in the City’s Coastal Zone is Coastal Agricultural [:CA]. This designation is intended to preserve land for agricultural production. The : CA designation is appropriate for lands with prime agricultural soils and wetlands that could be used as grazed agricultural lands as well as other areas with nonprime soils suitable for protecting their current uses as, or potential for, agricultural production. Structures accessory, incidental to, and compatible with agricultural production, such as barns and farmhouses, are appropriate uses in :CA areas.
12.2.2. Land Use Compatibility. Agricultural practices can include spraying of herbicides, application of fertilizer, operation of farm equipment, and use of local roads by slowmoving and large vehicles, along with other activities that are not commonly considered compatible with urban uses. These practices can cause noise, health, light, odor, and travel impacts for residents in adjacent non-agricultural areas. To minimize these impacts, development of new non-agricultural uses that locate adjacent to existing agricultural uses shall maintain setbacks and establish buffers. The potential impacts of adjacent agricultural practices is required to be disclosed to future residents. Where new agricultural uses locate adjacent to existing non-agricultural areas, the agricultural user shall be responsible for maintaining setbacks and establishing buffers as set by the Coastal Zoning Ordinance. Setbacks and buffers shall be sufficient to ensure that non-agricultural development does not impair agricultural viability or diminish the productivity of agricultural lands.
12.2.3. Uses Allowed in Diked/Reclaimed Former Tidelands. Allowable uses in historically grazed or farmed wetlands are limited to existing uses compatible with t h e Public Trust as follows:
1. Existing agricultural operations limited to apiaries, field and truck crops, livestock raising, and orchards.
2. Existing farm-related structures including barns, sheds, and farmer-occupied housing
City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 81
necessary for the performance of agricultural operations.
3. Restoration projects.
4. Nature study, aquaculture, and similar resource-dependent activities.
5. Incidental public service purposes which may temporarily impact the resources of the areas (such as burying cables or pipes and maintenance of existing intake and outfall lines).
12.2.4. Aquaculture. Bayfront land that is suitable for coastal dependent aquaculture shall be protected for that use, and proposals for aquaculture facilities located on those sites shall be given priority, except over other coastal dependent developments or uses.
Aquaculture in the C-ROS designation shall avoid, if feasible, or mitigates adverse impacts to coastal resources.
Agricultural Resources Management
12.2.5. Prime Agricultural Lands. The City shall maintain the maximum amount of prime agricultural land in agricultural production and minimize conflicts between agricultural and urban land uses through use of strategies identified in Coastal Act Section 30241.
12.2.6. Protecting Agricultural Land. For areas within the City’s Coastal Development Permit jurisdiction, the City shall protect existing agricultural land, especially prime agricultural land, from conversion to other uses unless the conversion is allowed pursuant to Policy
12.2.7. Protection shall be in the form of zoning and land use restrictions as well as proactive measures. These may include but are not limited to affirmative conservation easements, or recordation of “right-to-farm” deed restrictions for development occurring in proximity to such agricultural lands. For coastal agricultural lands within the City’s Planning Area, to the west of the City limits within the County of Humboldt, the City shall encourage the retention of Agricultural Exclusive zoning and shall not convert any prime agricultural lands to other uses if the land is annexed into the City limits.
12.2.7. Reports for Agricultural Conversions. For proposed conversions of prime agricultural lands around the periphery of urban areas, the City shall require the applicant to submit an economic feasibility evaluation consistent with Coastal Act Section 30241.5. The City shall also require the applicant to submit a report prepared by a qualified professional demonstrating that the conversion will not diminish the productivity of adjacent prime agricultural lands. The City may approve the proposed conversion only after approving the reports, as required by the Coastal Zoning Ordinance
12.2.8. Non-Prime Agricultural Land Conversions. As provided in Coastal Act Section 30242, the City shall prohibit the conversion of non-prime agricultural land to nonagricultural uses unless (1) continued or renewed agricultural use is not feasible, or (2) such conversion would preserve prime agricultural land or concentrate development consistent with Coastal Act Section 30250. Any such permitted conversion shall be compatible with continued agricultural use on surrounding lands.
12.2.9. Subdivision of Agricultural Land. The City shall allow the subdivision of prime agricultural lands only when consistent with Coastal Act Section 30250(a) and other applicable Land
City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 82
Use Plan policies. For proposed subdivisions of prime agricultural land, the City shall require the applicant to submit a continued viability report and economic management plan prepared by a qualified professional demonstrating that the subdivided land will remain viable for, and actively engaged in, agricultural use. The City may approve the proposed subdivision only after approving the report and plan.
12.2.10. Development on Agricultural Lands. All structural development, including farm dwellings, on agriculturally zoned lands shall be subject to siting, design and performance standards as required by the Coastal Zoning Ordinance to protect the maximum amount of agricultural lands and minimize interference with production activities to ensure that agricultural lands do not lose their long-term productivity.
12.2.11. Development Adjacent to Agricultural Lands. New non-agricultural development immediately adjacent to agricultural areas shall include location, design, construction, and maintenance techniques that do not impair agricultural viability, diminish the productivity of agricultural lands, and are compatible with continued agricultural use on surrounding lands, as required by the Coastal Zoning Ordinance.
12.2.12. Prime Agriculture Soils Reuse. The long-term productivity of soils shall be protected. Prime agricultural soils removed in the construction of agricultural-related structures that could not be feasibly located elsewhere to avoid such impacts, shall be stockpiled and reused on productive agricultural lands.
12.2.13. Recreational Activities on Agricultural Lands. Private and public non-vehicular recreational activities such as hiking, riding, fishing, hunting, kayaking, and paddleboarding and which do not require permanent structures, facilities, or foundations, may be permitted in areas designated :CA. These activities are allowed only if they do not interfere with adjacent agricultural uses, or limit potential of the site to return to agricultural use, or significantly displace the wildlife utilizing the area, especially in wetlands.
12.2.14. Habitat Restoration on Agricultural Lands. The City shall support and encourage the voluntary conversion of agricultural lands within the coastal zone to restored or enhanced natural habitats, including but not limited to the restoration of riparian corridors along creeks, the enhancement or reestablishment of wetlands, and the reconnection of former tidelands to tidal or estuarine processes, where such actions improve coastal resource protection. Habitat restoration projects shall be designed to enhance ecological functions, water quality, flood storage, and climate resilience, and may draw upon the City’s Baylands restoration project as a model for integrating habitat restoration with long-term land management and public benefit. Conversion of agricultural lands to habitat restoration shall be consistent with applicable Coastal Act policies, certified Local Coastal Program provisions, and resource agency requirements, and shall avoid adverse impacts to adjacent agricultural operations unless mitigated.
City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 83
13.0 Glossary
This section defines terms and phrases used in the Local Coastal Element that are technical or specialized, or that may not reflect common usage. If a definition in this section conflicts with a definition in the General Plan Glossary, the definition in in this chapter governs when interpreting and applying Local Coastal Element requirements. If a term or phrase is not defined in this section, the General Plan Glossary, the Coastal Act, or Coastal Commission Regulations, the Director shall determine the correct definition.
Aquaculture. A form of agriculture as defined in Section 17 of the Fish and Game Code.
Aquaculture products are agricultural products, and aquaculture facilities and land uses shall be treated as agricultural facilities and land uses in all planning and permit-issuing decisions governed by the Local Coastal Element.
Coastal Access. The ability of the public to reach, use or view the shoreline of coastal waters or inland coastal recreation areas and trails.
Coastal Act. The California Coastal Act of 1976, as amended.
Coastal-dependent Development. Any development or use which requires a site on, or adjacent to, the sea to be able to function at all.
Coastal Development Permit. A permit for any development within the coastal zone that is required pursuant to Coastal Act Section 30600(a).
Coastal Hazards. Environmental processes and events that pose risks to life, property, infrastructure, and coastal resources. Coastal hazards include, but are not limited to, shoreline retreat and coastal erosion, high seas, ocean waves, storms, tsunami, tidal scour, coastal flooding, liquefaction, and the interaction of same.
Coastal-related Development. Any use that is dependent on a coastal-dependent development or use.
Coastal Resources. Include, but are not limited to, public access and public access facilities and opportunities, recreation areas and recreational facilities and opportunities (including for recreational water-oriented activities), public views, natural landforms, marine resources, watercourses (e.g., rivers, streams, creeks, etc.) and their related corridors, waterbodies (e.g., wetlands, estuaries, lakes, etc.) and their related uplands, ground water resources, biological resources, environmentally sensitive habitat areas, agricultural lands, and archaeological and paleontological resources.
Coastal Zone. The geographic zone adjacent to the shoreline, the land and water area boundaries of which are determined by the California Coastal Act of 1976, as amended Coastal Zoning Ordinance. Division 2 of Title IX of the Arcata Municipal Code, certified as part of the Implementation Plan of the City of Arcata Local Coastal Program.
Critical Infrastructure. Facilities, systems, and assets located within or serving the coastal zone that are essential to public health, safety, emergency response, and the continued functioning of the City of Arcata, and for which disruption or failure would result in significant adverse
City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 84
consequences to life, property, or coastal resources. Critical infrastructure in Arcata’s coastal zone include transportation infrastructure such as local and regional roadways, bridges, , and evacuation routes; water-related infrastructure including water supply facilities, wastewater collection and treatment systems, stormwater and drainage infrastructure, flood control and tide gate facilities; utilities such as energy and communications infrastructure; and emergency service facilities necessary to support life-safety, disaster response, and recovery, particularly in areas vulnerable to coastal flooding, erosion, and sea level rise.
Development. Any of the following, whether on land or in or under water:
1. The placement or erection of any solid material or structure.
2. Discharge or disposal of any dredged material or of any gaseous, liquid, solid or thermal waste.
3. Grading, removing, dredging, mining or extraction of any materials.
4. Change in the density or intensity of use of land, including, but not limited to, subdivisions, and any other division of land, including lot splits, except where the land division is brought about in connection with the purchase of such land by a public agency for public recreational use.
5. Change in the intensity of use of water, or access thereto.
6. Construction, reconstruction, demolition or alteration in the size of any structure, including any facility of any private, public or municipal utility.
7. The removal or harvesting of major vegetation other than for agricultural purposes, kelp harvesting and timber operations which are in accordance with a timber harvesting plan submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Z’berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973.
As used in this definition, "structure" includes, but is not limited to, any building, road, pipe, flume, conduit, siphon, aqueduct, telephone line, and electrical power transmission and distribution line.
Energy Facility. Any public or private processing, producing, generating, storing, transmitting, or recovering facility for electricity, natural gas, petroleum, coal, or other source of energy.
Environmental Buffer Area (EBA). An area of land separating all permitted development from adjacent sensitive habitat, streams and wetlands. The purpose of the buffer area is to prevent any degradation of the ecological functions provided by the area as a result of the development. This term includes buffers from ESHA as required by the Local Coastal Program.
Environmental Justice. The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins, with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Environmental justice includes, but is not limited to, all of the following: (1) The availability of a healthy environment for all people. (2) The deterrence, reduction, and elimination of pollution burdens for populations and communities experiencing the adverse effects of that pollution, so that the effects of the pollution are not disproportionately borne by those populations and communities. (3) Governmental entities engaging and providing technical assistance to populations and communities most impacted by pollution to promote their meaningful participation in all phases of the environmental and land use decision making process. (4) At a
City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 85
minimum, the meaningful consideration of recommendations from populations and communities most impacted by pollution into environmental and land use decisions.
Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHA). Any area in which plant or animal life or their habitats are either rare or especially valuable because of their special nature or role in an ecosystem and which could be easily disturbed or degraded by human activities and developments. In addition, the following areas are categorically ESHA as identified in Arcata’s LCP:
1. Rivers, creeks, sloughs, and associated riparian habitats including Jacoby Creek, Beith Creek, Grotzman Creek, Campbell Creek, Jolly Giant Creek, Janes Creek, Gannon Slough, Butcher Slough, and McDaniel Slough.
2. Wetlands, estuaries, and associated riparian habitats including Arcata Bay, Mad River Slough, Liscom Slough, Butcher Slough, and the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary.
3. Other unique habitat areas including water bird rookeries; shorebird concentration sites; habitat for all rare, threatened, or endangered fully protected, and special concern plant and animal species and natural communities on federal or state lists; and plant species appearing on the California Native Plant Society List “1b” and “2” lists.
4. Any areas not specifically designated in the Local Coastal Program that meet the definition of ESHA in Section 30107.5 of the Coastal Act shall be accorded all the protections provided for ESHA in the Local Coastal Program.
Erosion. The wearing away of land by natural forces. On a beach, the carrying away of beach material by wave action, currents or the wind.
Estuary. A coastal water body usually semi-enclosed by land, but which has open, partially obstructed, or intermittent exchange with the ocean and in which ocean water is at least occasionally diluted by fresh water runoff from the land.
Existing Development. Development lawfully in existence prior to the effective date of the Coastal Act (January 1, 1977).
Farm Dwelling. A dwelling unit on an agricultural property owned by the farm owner or operator.
Farmed Wetland. A wetland that has been diked or drained to prevent the saturated soil conditions that would normally occur, to conduct agricultural activities (e.g., grazing), that do not require the most productive agricultural soils. These lands would typically revert to freshwater, brackish, or saltwater marsh should the dike barriers be removed. In their present state, these lands are frequently covered by shallow water during the rainy season.
Feasible. Capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, social and technological factors. These factors may include topographic contour, orientation, grading, slope stability, tree preservation, access to existing streets, and others.
Fill. Earth or any other substance or material, including pilings placed for the purposes of
City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 86
erecting structures thereon, placed in a submerged area.
Flood Hazard Area. The floodplain boundaries for Special Flood Hazard Areas ash shown on the current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).
Geologic Hazard. A risk associated with geologic processes or events including fault line surface rupture, liquefaction, subsidence, landslides, and coastal erosion.
Habitat. The physical location or type of environment in which an organism or biological population lives or occurs.
Hard Shoreline Protective Device. Engineered features such as seawalls, revetments, dikes and levees, that protect against coastal hazards by blocking the landward retreat of the shoreline.
Incidental Public Service Purposes. Projects, such as burying cables and pipes, inspection of piers, etc., which may temporarily impact the resources of a habitat area or result in limited permanent impacts. Impacts must be incidental and for a public service purpose.
Infill Development. Development, redevelopment or reuse of land that is either underutilized, brownfield or vacant, but substantially surrounded by existing urban development. In all instances, infill development occurs on sites that already have sufficient City services immediately available. Infill development may include new residential units on upper floors of commercial structures, development of second units on residential lots, and new or expansion of existing residential and commercial structures and uses consistent with the provisions of the applicable land use designations.
Land Use. The purpose for which a lot or structure is or may be leased, occupied, maintained, arranged, designed, intended, constructed, erected, moved, altered, and/or enlarged in accordance with the applicable land use designations.
Land Use Plan. the relevant portion of a local government's general plan, or local coastal element which are sufficiently detailed to indicate the kinds, location, and intensity of land uses, the applicable resource protection and development policies and, where necessary, a listing of implementing actions.
Lateral Access. A recorded dedication or easement granting to the public the right to pass and repass over real property generally parallel to, and up to 25 feet inland from, the mean high tide line.
Local Coastal Element. The portion of a general plan applicable to the coastal zone which may be prepared by local government pursuant to the Coastal Act, or any additional elements of the local government's general plan prepared pursuant to Section 65303 of the Government Code, as the local government deems appropriate.
Local Coastal Program. A local government's (a) land use plans, (b) zoning ordinances, (c) zoning district maps, and (d) within sensitive coastal resources areas, other implementing actions, which, when taken together, meet the requirements of, and implement the provisions and policies of, this division at the local level.
Low-impact Development. A stormwater management approach with the basic principle that rainfall be managed and retained at the source using uniformly distributed decentralized microscale controls to capture, treat and infiltrate stormwater runoff on site to maintain the site’s
City of Arcata Local Coastal Element 87
pre-development runoff characteristics.
Mixed-Use. Properties on which various uses, such as office, commercial, institutional, and residential, are combined in a single building or on a single site in an integrated development project with significant functional interrelationships and a coherent physical design. A "single site" may include contiguous properties.
Nonconformity. A legally-established lot, land use, structure, or other form of development that does not conform with the certified Local Coastal Program.
Non-prime Agricultural Land. Land suitable for agriculture that does not meet the definition of prime agricultural land.
Person. Any individual, organization, partnership, limited liability company, or other business association or corporation, including any utility, and any federal, state, local government, or special district or an agency thereof
Prime Agricultural Land. Those lands defined in paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 51201 of the Government Code.
Public Access. The right or privilege for persons to visit an area or resource.
Public Trust Lands. Lands to which California received title upon its admission to the Union and that are held by virtue of its sovereignty under the authority of the California State Lands Commission. These are lands under navigable waters including the ocean and navigable streams, and include lands formerly under water.
Public Works.
1. All production, storage, transmission, and recovery facilities for water, sewerage, telephone, and other similar utilities owned or operated by any public agency or by any utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission except for energy facilities.
2. All public transportation facilities, including streets, roads, highways, public parking lots and structures, ports, harbors, airports, railroads, and mass transit facilities and stations, bridges, trolley wires, and other related facilities.
3. All publicly financed recreational facilities, all projects of the State Coastal Conservancy, and any development by a special district.
4. All community college facilities.
Public Infrastructure. Roads, sidewalks, bikeways, trails, water delivery systems, stormwater facilities, sewer systems, gas and electric, and other similar facilities to serve the general public.
Recreational Facility. Non-commercial or commercial facilities that allow for the public to engage in outdoor and/or water-dependent leisure activities. Includes public parks and recreational facilities; public plazas; public marinas, boat launches, and piers; open space and wildlife areas; and trails. Also includes commercial facilities offering harbor cruises, fishing charters, eco tours, kayak and boat rentals, guided tours, carriage rides, and other similar activities.
Redevelopment. Development involving a structure that consists of one or more of the following:
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(1) Alteration (including interior and/or exterior remodeling and renovations, demolition or partial demolition, etc.) of 50 percent or more of major structural components (including exterior walls, floor and roof structure, and foundation) considered individually (i.e., percentages are calculated by the individual structural component being altered, and are not additive between different structural components);
(2) Additions and alterations to such development that lead to a 50% or more increase in floor area for the development; and/or
(3) Additions and alterations to such development that costs 50% or more of the market value of the existing structure before construction. Changes to floor area and individual major structural components and the costs of such changes are measured cumulatively over time starting from January 1, 1977, with deduction for inflation and depreciation (i.e., 50% in 1977 dollars less depreciation).
Scenic Resource. Aspects of the natural and built environment identified in Chapter 10: Scenic and Visual Resources of this Land Use Plan that contribute in a positive manner to Arcata’s unique sense of place.
Shoreline. Intersection of the ocean or sea with land; the line delineating the shoreline on National Ocean Service nautical charts and surveys approximates the mean low water line from the time the chart was prepared.
Shoreline Protective Device. Constructed features such as seawalls, revetments, riprap, earthen berms, cave fills, deep piers/caissons, and bulkheads built in a way that protects land or structures or other features against sea level rise, erosional forces and other coastal hazards.
Soft Shoreline Protective Devices. Types of shoreline protection that use natural or “green” infrastructure such as beaches, dune systems, wetlands, and other systems to buffer coastal areas; may include strategies such as beach nourishment, dune management, and living shorelines.
Streams. Streams in the coastal zone, perennial or intermittent, which are mapped by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in the National Hydrographic Dataset. Includes streams and waterways governed by the Arcata Creeks Management Plan, as amended, including McDaniel Slough, Gannon Slough and Butcher Slough.
Tidelands. Lands located between the lines of mean high tide and mean low tide.
Tribal Cultural Resources. Sites, features, places, cultural landscapes, sacred places, or objects that are of cultural value to a California Native American tribe and that are either listed or eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, included in a local register of historical resources, or determined by a lead agency, in consultation with a California Native American tribe, to be significant pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21074. Tribal cultural resources may include, but are not limited to, archaeological sites, burial sites, ceremonial areas, traditional use areas, and culturally significant natural features, whether located on land or submerged lands, and may possess cultural, spiritual, or religious significance to present-day tribes.
Vertical Access. A recorded dedication or easement granting to the public the privilege and right to pass and repass over dedicator's real property from a public road to the mean high tide
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line. Vertical accessways should be used for pass and repass and passive recreational use, unless specified otherwise.
Visitor. Any person visiting the coastal area for leisure and/or recreational purposes. Visitors to coastal areas include out-of-town guests and Arcata residents residing in locations outside of the coastal zone.
Visitor-Serving Facilities. Any land use that serves a visitor as defined by this Local Coastal Element. Visitor-serving facilities include restaurants, cafes, shops, hotels and motels, parks, trails, recreational facilities, leisure activities, and entertainment attractions.
Watercourse. Natural or once natural flowing (perennially or intermittently) water including rivers, streams, and creeks. Includes natural waterways that have been channelized, but does not include manmade channels, ditches, and underground drainage and sewage systems.
Wetlands. Lands within the coastal zone which may be covered periodically or permanently with shallow water and include saltwater marshes, freshwater marshes, open or closed brackish water marshes, swamps, mudflats, and fens.