LU-1-33 Eureka Square. Facilitate high-quality
redevelopment for the Eureka Square
Shopping Center using policies in the
Sharp Park Specific Plan.
The site's position along Highway 1, beneath
a ridge and backed by multi-family housing
make it well-suited for higher-intensity development, which would also reinforce the area as Pacifica 's center. A small pla:za should be
included as part of redevelopment.
LU-1-34 Gypsy Hill. Require sensitive site planning
in accordance with the Hillside Preservation District for up-per portions of Gypsy Hill.
Clustered development can preserve open
space and maintain the area's function as a
wildlife movement corridor.
LU-1-35 East Fairway Park Hillside. Ensure consistency with the Open Space/Agriculture/ Residential designation as shown in the
Land Use Diagram on the slope above
Fairway Park to ensure that any new developme·nt occurs at a very low density and meets standards of the Hillside Preservation District.
LU-1-36 Cattle Hill and Fassler Ridge. Ensure consistency with the Open Space/Agriculture/ Residential land use designation on Cattle
Hill and Fassler Ridge, as shown on the
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Packet Pg. 428 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption The General Plan allows higher-intensity mixed use redevelopment, as in the example at top, and redevelopment along lower Crespi Drive should provide a walkable commercial area appealing to both locals and visitors (bottom).
General Plan Land Use Daiagram, to
ensure that new development is
appropriate to the physical conditions and
high scenic value of the ridge.
· Certain locations are designated for Low
Density Residential development; site planning in these areas should be subject to the Hillside Preservation District to provide
clustered development. The Royce water tank
site will retain a Utilities designation. Trail
easements should be negotiated with land
owners based on the Parks and Open Space
map (Figure 6-1).
LU-1-37 Lower Cattle Hill. Any project proposed
on Lower Cattle Hill should perform
detailed transportation impact studies and
implement measures to minimize impacts
to vehicular traffic flow on Highway 1, and
4-38 PACIFICA GENERAL i-'LAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
to ensure maximum alternatives to singleoccupant vehicle trips, including but not limited to establishing on-site transit services and providing a pedestrian overcrossing to the west side of Highway 1.
LU-1-38 Lower Crespi Drive. Establish zoning
provisions to facilitate compact, mixed-use
redevelopment of older commercial and
residential properties along lower Crespi
Drive, consistent with the Mixed Use Center and Mixed Use Neighborhood designations as shown in the Land Use Diagram.
Redevelopment adjacent to the Community
Center, Skate Park, and Pacifica State Beach
should provide a· core for the southern portion of the City, a greater diversity of housing types, and a walkable commercial area appealing to both locals and visitors.
LU-1-39 Crespi Business Center. Protect existing
land uses at the Crespi Business Center to
support local employment and small business opportunities for residents. Ensure zoning allows the continuation of lightindustrial and research and development uses that would not generate significant
noise and odors, or use significant quantities of hazardous materials, that may be incompatible with mixed-use residential
development on the site or nearby sites.
LU-1-40 Linda Mar Shopping Center and Parkand-Ride. Allow redevelopment of the Linda Mar Shopping Center with additional commercial development along the Linda Mar Boulevard frontage. Re,;,;one the
north side of Linda Mar Boule~·ard to
f facil- itate mixed-use development~
shown in the Land Use Diagram, while
also accommodating the existing park-andride use, and improving the pedestriantransit interface. Explore shared parking facility use between the Linda Mar
Shopping Center and Park-and-Ride, as
well as beach parking. Exceed minimum
electric vehicle (EV) charging requirements
consistent with available funding.
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Packet Pg. 429 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption LU-1-41 Linda Mar and Park Pacifica Hillsides.
Ensure Linda Mar and Park Pacifica hillsides
are developed consistent with the Open
Space/ Agricultural/Residential land use
designation as shown in the Land Use
Diagram and are subject to the Hill- side
Preservation District.
LU-1-42 Park Mall Area. Facilitate mixed-use redevelopment at the Park Mall and Sanchez Library sites and adjacent vacant land~
shown in the Land Use Diagram, with retail
uses concentrated along Oddstad and Terra
Nova Boulevards.
Upper story housing over retail may be provided, along with attached, multi-family housing, and senior housing. Redevelopment
should include a small public open space and
public viewing areas at San Pedro Creek.
LU-1-43 Former Park Pacifica Stables. Ensure
development of the former Park Pacifica
Stables is consistent with the Open Space/
Agriculture/Residential land use designation as shown in the Land Use Diagram, to provide opportunities related to Pacifica's
natural setting, including continuing
equestrian use, or open space and minimal
residential development.
LU-1-44 Shamrock Ranch. Coordinate with San
Mateo County to ensure that any new
development at Shamrock Ranch is clustered
to preserve open space.
Shamrock Ranch is the largest parcel in the
sphere of influence outside of City limits. Any
subdivision of greater than ten lots or development of more than ten housing units or 40,000 square feet of non-residential space should
occur through a master planning process and
may involve annexation into the city. Such
subdivision and/or development may result in
a new neighborhood, employment area and/
or open spaces {or Pacifica, and will require an
amendment to the General Plan.
LU-I-A FAR Minimums. As part of the Zoning
Ordinance. establish appropriate min imum FARs
in commercial and mixed-use zoning districts.
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Packet Pg. 430 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption The Circulation Element provides a framework to guide management and improvements to Pacifica 's transportation-related infrastructure over the next 20 years. A safe and efficient transportation network is an important contributor to a community's quality of life and economic vitality. The circulation system enables access to · the City's neighborhoods, employment and educational opportunities, public services, commercial and recreational areas, and regional destinations. It provides far travel by automobile, transit, walking, and cycling.
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Packet Pg. 431 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
5.1 CIRCULATION F MEWORK
Transportation and Land Use
State law recognizes the close relationship between
transportation and land use and requires that policies for the two topics are related and mutually beneficial. By integrating transportation policies with land use, the General Plan ensures that there will be
sufficient roadway capacity to accommodate traffic
generated by future planned development. Additionally, by integrating transportation and land use planning so that a greater percentage of short trips can be accomplished by walking, cycling, or transit, the
City can reduce the air quality impacts and greenhouse gas emissions associated with automobile use.
Complete Streets
Pacifica's Circulation Element also responds directly
to the State requirement of planning for "Complete
Streets." In response to the California Complete
Streets Act, all cities and counties are required to
plan for the development of multimodal transportation networks in their general plans. According to the Act, jurisdictions must "plan for a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe
and convenient travel in a manner that is suitable to
the rural, suburban, or urban context of the general
plan." 1 The "users of streets, roads, and highways"
refers to bicyclists, pedestrians, children, motorists, persons with disabilities, the elderly, users of public transportation, and commercial goods movers.
Sustainable Communities
The transportation planning and policy set forth in
the Circulation Element is also an important component of Pacifica's responsibility toward meeting the requirements of the Sustainable Communities and
Climate Protection Act of 2008. This Act requires
that metropolitan planning organizations in California prepare a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) for meeting their greenhouse gas reduc1 California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2). 5-2 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
tion targets, through coordinating planning for land
use, transportation, and housing. While the SCS is
a regional plan, thoughtful land use and transportation planning in Pacifica is one part of a larger effort.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission
(MTC), Association of Bay Area Governments
(ABAG), Bay Area Air Quality Management District
(BAAQMD), and Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) adopted the "Plan Bay Area in 2013," which serves as the SCS for the region.
An update, Plan Bay Area 2040, was adopted in 2017
and forecasts transportation needs through the year
2040. Plan Bay Area 2050 will focus on four key
issues-the economy, the environment, housing and
transportation-and will identify a path to make the
Bay Area more equitable for all residents and more
resilient in the face of unexpected challenges. MTC
and ABAG adopted Plan Bay Area 2050 in October
2021.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
The City of Pacifica Bicycle and Pedestrian Master
Plan Update 2020 establishes a long-term vision for
improving walking and bicycling in Pacifica through
policy, program, and project recommendations. The
four criteria used to prioritize bicycle projects and
pedestrian improvements include enhancements to
safety; connectivity; accessibility; and feasibility.
This Circulation Element includes policies that are
consistent with the goals of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and that support its implementation.
This chapter sets forth a circulation plan that
strengthens Pacifica' s transportation network, provides more choice of travel modes, identifies needed improvements, and works in tandem with-land use
changes.
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Packet Pg. 432 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
5.2 EXISTING TRAVEL PATTERNS
Existing travel patterns are analyzed in terms of trip
type, travel mode, and geography using information
from the City/County Association of Governments
of San Mateo County (C/CAG) travel demand
model. In Table 5-1, "home-based work trips" are distinguished from other trips such as recreation-, shopping-, and school-related trips, and trip types are shown by the geography of residential location and
work or other attraction location.
Home-based work trips from Pacifica (Pacifica residents) to San Francisco or to other parts of San Mateo County account for 79 percent of the trips .
in this category, with only 10 percent of such trips
staying in Pacifica. In other words, the great majority of Pacifica's resident workforce commutes out of the City. Alternatively, 28 percent of commuter trips
to jobs in Pacifica originate in Pacifica, representing the second largest source with the first being the remainder of San Mateo County with 39 percent.
The majority of home-based work trips to and from
Pacifica are non-local however.
Table 5-1: DAILY TRAVEL PATTERNS
Destination Home-based Work Trips
Trips from Pacifica
Within Pacifica 10%
San Mateo County (not Pacifica) 38%
San Francisco 41%
Other Bay Area Counties 11%
TOTAL 100%
Trips to Pacifica
Within Pacifica 28%
San Mateo County (not Pacifica) 39%
San Francisco · 23%
Other Bay Area Counties 9%
TOTAL 100%
Source: OKS Associates, 2021.
On the other hand, 52 percent of all "other" trips
that begin in Pacifica have local destinations and 64
percent of "other" trips with Pacifica destinations
also begin there. This indicates that well over half
of recreation-, shopping- and school-related trips are
local. Altogether, about half (41 percent of trips from Pacifica, 59 percent of trips to Pacifica) of all trips are made entirely within the City.
Table 5-2 details the share of trips to and from Pacifica made by transit. Three percent of trips made by Pacifica residents are made by public transit. For
trips from Pacifica, more people drive to Caltrain
and BART. Trips to San Francisco employment and
other attractions are the most likely to be made by
transit. Transit accounts for only a small fraction
(0.12 percent) of trips within Pacifica. Trips made
by residents of locations outside Pacifica to Pacifica
employment and other attractions are much less
likely to be made by transit.
Percent of Trips by Trip Type
all Other Trips Total Trips
52% 41%
35% 35%
11% 19%
2% 5%
100% 100%
64% 59%
27% 29%
6% 9%
3% 4%
100% 100%
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Packet Pg. 433 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Table 5-2: TRANSIT MODE SHARE OF ALL TRIPS
Drive-access to
Transit1 Walk-access to Transit Total access Trips to Transit Trips from Pacifica
Within Pacifica 0.00% 0.12% 0.12%
San Mateo County (not Pacifica) 0.17% 0.61% 0.78%
San Francisco 10.47% 3.97% 14.45%
Other Bay Area Counties 0.94% 0.62% 1.56%
TOTAL 2.12% 1.05% 3.17%
Trips to Pacifica
Within Pacifica 0.00% 0.12% 0.12%
San Mateo County (not Pacifica) 0.05% 0.44% 0.48%
San Francisco 0.01% 1.36% 1.37%
Other Bay Area Counties 0.18% 0.69% 0.88%
TOTAL 0.02% 0.34% 0.36%
1 Includes Park-and-Ride trips and "Kiss and Ride " (drop off) trips to bus and BART or Ca/trans stations; 2) Transit stop is reached by walking Source: OKS Associates, 2021.
5-4 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 434 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
5.3 ROADWAY NETWORK AND
PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS
Three major routes connect Pacifica to the rest of the
region. State Route (SR) 1 (Coast Highway) traverses
the City from north to south, connecting Pacifica to
Daly City and San Francisco to the north, and to
Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo County coastline to the south, and providing continuous access to the Pacifica coast. SR 35 (Skyline Boulevard) generally runs along the eastern edge of Pacifica, and is a major north-south route connecting to Santa Clara
County and San Francisco. Sharp Park Road follows a southwest-northeast route through the center of Pacifica, connecting SR 1 with SR 35. It continues
east of SR 35 in South San Francisco as Westborough
Boulevard. Each of these major roadways intersects
with I-280, an eight-lane major regional freeway on
the Peninsula located between one-half and two
miles from the Planning Area.
Roadway Classification
Pacifica's roadway network is comprised of freeways,
highways, arterials, collector streets and local streets.
Each classification reflects the character of the roadway as well as its function within the context of the circulation system. Figure 5-1 illustrates the roadway
network with street classifications.
Freeways and Multi-Lane Highways
Freeways typically have speed limits of 55 and 65
miles per hour (mph) and four to eight lanes, with
physical medians and uninterrupted flow. Multilane
highways generally have posted speed limits between
40 and 55 mph2• Unlike freeways, multilane highways ·are interrupted by intersections or driveways.
These roadway types serve high volumes of high
speed regional vehicle traffic, including automobiles
and trucks. Bicycles and pedestrians are prohibited.
In Pacifica, SR 1 north of Linda Mar Boulevard and
SR 35 both have segments that are freeways and segments that are multilane highways. 2 City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG), 2007
Congestion Management Program, Appendix A.
Sam Trans provides a Park & Ride lot on Linda Mar Boulevard.
Only about 1.5 percent of trips beginning or ending in Pacifica are made using public transportation (top). SR 7 is a two-lane highway south of Linda Mar Boulevard, a four-lane highway between Linda Mar and Sharp Park, and a four-lane divided freeway north of Sharp Park (middle). Arterials such as Terra Nova Boulevard serve relatively high volumes of vehicles,· but are also important links for bicycle and pedestrian movement (bottom).
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Packet Pg. 435 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Two-Lane Highways
The 2019 C/CAG Congestion Management Program
defines a two-lane highway as a two-lane roadway
with one lane for use by traffic in each direction. In
Pacifica, SR 1 is considered a two-lane highway south
of Linda Mar Boulevard.
Arterials
In Pacifica, arterials are classified as roadways that
are wider, accommodate higher volumes of traffic,
or may provide access to the state highway system.
Arterials generally provide important connections
between different areas of Pacifica. They have frequent intersections and points of access, and may pass through pedestrian-intensive commercial areas.
These roadways serve relatively high volumes of
vehicles, but are also important links for bicycle and
pedestrian movement. Most arterials in Pacifica have
existing or planned bike lanes. In most cases, arterials are also the location. of bus service in Pacifica.
Along certain arterials, notably Palmetto Avenue,
Esplanade Avenue, and sections of Oceana Boulevard, Paloma Avenue and Manor Drive, the pedestrian environment should be prioritized.
Table 5-3: MODE PRIORITIES BY ROADWAY TYPE
Facility
Freeways and Multilane Highways
Two-lane Highways
Arterials
Collectors
Local
= Dominant
□ = Accommodated
0 = Incidental
X = Prohibited
Transit bicycles
□ X
□ □
□ □
0 □
0 □
1 Transit has priority over bicycles on Arterials, where conflicts exist. 5-6 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Collectors
In Pacifica, collectors have slower permitted speeds
than arterials, serve short, local trips, and accommodate travel between residential neighborhoods and arterials. Collectors are generally larger streets in residential areas but have smaller widths than arterials. Collectors have moderate volumes of vehicular traffic, and accommodate equally automobiles, bicycles, and pedestrians within the right-of-way. Transit use, if any, is incidental, and pedestrians are provided with continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street, to the greatest extent feasible. On-street parking is allowed and encouraged.
Mode Priorities
Table 5-3 shows generally how vehicle modes of travel
are accommodated on each type of roadway with the
City. This table provides a guide for how future roadway improvements should help to produce a complete streets network in Pacifica, with different roadways balancing needs differently to create a system that functions optimally for all users.
Pedestrians
X
0 □
□
□
Trucks
0 0
X
automobiles
□
□
□
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Packet Pg. 436 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Manor Drive Overcrossing
(planned improvement)
Pacific
0 c ea n
69 0 1/4 1/2
Sl1arp P<1rk
2 MILES
s"" P.:,lr<> 1',d/,:y Cuunt y f> 1uk
Figure 5-1: Roadway Network
and Planned Improvements
--- Freeway
==- Multi-Lane Highway
=== Two-Lane Highway
Arterial
Collector
Local Street
Unimproved Right-of-Way
Planned Improvement
Potential Future Street
City Limits
Planning Area
Source: City of Pacifica, 2020; DKS, 20019;
San Mateo County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
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Packet Pg. 437 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Figure 5-2: Palmetto Avenue Streetscape
Improvements
Potential location
for bike-racks, street
furniture and signange
------------ ....,.._ ___ ,.,
Potential 1---..-~·l'l'I
tree well
The Sharp Park Specific Plan includes recommendations for trees, landscaping, and furnishings along Palmetto to further enhance the street.
5-8 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
s
Streetscape Improvements in
Pedestrian Priority Areas
Pedestrian Priority Areas (PPAs) are areas within
proximity to one or more schools, trailheads, and a
crossing of Highway 1 that have potential to generate substantial volumes of pedestrians. While pedestrian improvements are not limited to within these areas, areas with highest needs include the Manor,
Sharp Park, Vallemar/Fairway Park, and Linda Mar
PP As. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan provides specific recommendations for each PPA, but pedestrian infrastructure improvements fall into six
general categories, including pavement markings;
pedestrian-actuated beacons; street furniture; sidewalks, trails, and medians; intersection and street design; and studies.
The City of Pacifica has made public realm improvements in Rockaway Beach and completed the first phase of street scape improvements for Palmetto
Avenue from Clarendon Road north to Paloma Avenue in 2017. Improvements included additions of new bikeways with green pavement markings, landscaping and bulbouts, lighting, and undergrounding utilities. The Sharp Park Specific Plan includes several policies to further enhance the comfort, atmosphere, and navigability of the streetscape for pedestrians and bicyclists within the Sharp Park neighborhood, such as those shown in Figure 5-2. During the planning period, additional attention will be paid
to streetscape improvements in the City's mixed use
centers and other visitor-oriented commercial areas.
Roadway Improvements and
Complete· Streets
Roadway improvements will follow design standards for each roadway classification that take into account a facility's relation to the larger circulation system; appropriate travel speeds; surrounding land
uses; conditions for managing local access; safety;
and mode priority, as described in this chapter. These
standards will be based on "Complete Streets" concepts, and State and federal requirements for "routine accommodation" of cyclists and pedestrians.
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Packet Pg. 438 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Figure 5-3: Illustrative Roadway Retrofits
Existing Conditions Linda Mar Boulevard,
Residential Area
Side- P~rk- 1 Travel I Travel I Travel I Travel I Park- Side- walk mg mg walk -E-----------¾ ~ ~ ~ +-------------+ f-------------- E-----------J> ~ 7' 7' 10.5' 10.5' 10.5' 10.5' 7' 7'
56'
1+----------------------------s, ·
70' Right-of-Way
Proposed (Illustrative)
Side- Park- Bike walk ing
<----> <----> ......... 7' 7 4'
One-foot
painted
buffer
Two-Way
Travel Left Turn
Lane
<---> II' 10'
56'
Travel
II'
70' Right-of-Way
bM mg
><---->
4' 7
Note: Roadway retrofits will require additional analysis.
Sidewalk
I<----------->
T
Existing Conditions Crespi Drive, Mixed Use Area
I), ~ ~ @ R ((1
Side- ::I Two-W>:f I Parking Side- Travel Left Turn Travel walk Lane walk +---+ <-->
T 10' IT 12' IT 10' T
66'
80' Right-of-Way
Proposed (Illustrative)
I II I Sidewalk Parking Bike Travel LMedian/ e~~~m I Travel ·11 Bike I Parking Sidewalk ~ -1-> E-------i- 4-) f-------i, ~ ,(-), +------) <~
10· 8' s· 1r 10· 1r s· 0· 10·
60'
80' Right-of-Way
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Packet Pg. 439 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption They will be flexible enough to adopt the latest and
best ideas, and allowing for adjustment to existing
right-of-way and special circumstances.
Many roadways in Pacifica offer opportunities for
redesign of the existing right-of-way to balance the
needs of all users and create a safer and more attractive public realm. Roadway improvements that do not require adjustments to curbs may involve the
narrowing of travel lanes to a more compact 10 or
11 feet to accommodate bicycle lanes, or the conversion of four-lane streets to three lanes, with one travel lane in each direction and a continuous center
left-turn lane. Figure 5-3 illustrates two examples of
how arterial and collector roadways may be retrofitted to function as a complete street. The first example, a segment of Linda Mar Boulevard in a residential neighborhood context, requires only re-striping.
The second example, a segment of Crespi Drive in
a mixed-use center context, includes extending the
sidewalk and building a median. Specific roadway
retrofits will require additional future analysis.
Level of Service Standards
Level of Service (LOS) is a measure of the degree
of vehicle congestion that occurs during peak travel
periods and is the traditional measure of roadway
and intersection performance. Level of Service can
range from "A" representing free-flow conditions, to
"F" representing extremely long delays. LOS B and
C signify stable conditions with acceptable delays.
LOS D is typically considered acceptable for a peak
hour in urban areas. LOS E is approaching capacity
and LOS F represents conditions at or above capacity.
The City/County Association of Governments (C/
CAG) has LOS standards for highways (see Table
5-4).
In Pacifica, the most critical congestion occurs on
SR 1 and SR 35, where certain intersections and road~
way segments currently operate at LOS E or F during peak periods. (See Table 5-6) As established in this General Plan 2040, the City's policy is to limit
further deterioration of traffic conditions by evaluating the significance of impacts of new development on highway congestion and requiring improvements
to maintain, if possible, LOS D for City streets and
the LOS standards set by the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) for roadway segments included in the San Mateo County Congestion
Management Program (CMP).
Table 5-4: C/CAG LEVEL OF SERVICE DESCRIPTIONS
105
A
B
C
D
E
F
Freeways and Multilane Highways
Highest quality of service with free-flow conditions and a high level of maneuverability .
. Free-flow conditions, but presence of other vehicles ls noticeable. Minor disruptions easily absorbed.
Stable operations, but minor disruptions cause significant local congestion.
Borders on unstable traffic flow with ability to maneuver severely restricted due to congestion.
Unstable operations with conditions at or near capacity.
Disruptions cannot be dissipated and cause bottlenecks to form.
Forced or breakdown flow with bottlenecks forming at
locations where demand exceeds capacity. Speeds may drop to zero.
Source: C/CAG, San Mateo County Congestion Management Program, 2019. 5-10 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Two-lane Highways
Free-flow conditions with a high level of maneuverability.
Passing is easy to accomplish.
Stable operations with passing demand approaching
passing capacity.
Stable operations, but with noticeable increases in passing · difficulty.
Approaching unstable traffic flow. Passing demand is high while passing capacity approaches zero.
Unstable operations. Passing is virtually impossible and pl'atooning becomes intense.
Heavily congested traffic flow with traffic demand
exceeding capacity. Speeds may drop to zero.
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Packet Pg. 440 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Multi-Modal Level of Service
To apply the Complete Streets framework, this Circulation Element identifies qualitative indicators that may be used to prioritize improvements and evaluate
projects, for all users, including transit riders, pedestrians, and cyclists, based on the National Cooperative Highway Research Prograrn.3 An LOS grade is established for each mode, based on the user's perceptions of the quality of service provided by the street. These grades correspond to numerical scores,
which are calculated using a variety of inputs that
cover the facility design, facility controls, and volumes by mode. The thresholds for each grade are shown in Table 5-5 and described below.
The Bicycle LOS is a weighted combination of the
bicyclists' experience at intersections and on street
segments in between the intersections. The numerical score is dependent on:
• Presence of co~ventional (striped) bike lanes,
buffered bike lanes, cycle tracks, or wide outside
travel lanes;
3 National Cooperative Highway Research Program. "Multimodal Level of Service Analysis for Urban Streets" Report 616. Washington, DC: 2008
• Pavement condition; and
• Vehicle speeds and volumes.
Pedestrian LOS is based on: pedestrian density and
a weighted combination of factors related to pedestrians' experience on the street segment and at intersections as well as roadway crossing difficulty. The numerical score is dependent on:
• Width of the buffer;
• Presence of parking lane and/or bike lane;
• Number of street trees;
• Parking occupancy; and
• T raffle volumes.
For transit LOS, the numerical score is dependent
on:
• Average scheduled headway and on-time performance;
• Bus speed and perceived travel time;
• Bus stop amenities; and
• Pedestrian LOS (e.g. pedestrian volumes, intersection controls).
Table 5-5: DEFINITION OF MULTI-MODAL LEVEL OF SERVICE INDICATORS 10S Transit bicycle Pedestrian
(Good walk access to bus stops, (Few driveway and cross street (Low traffic volumes, wide buffer A frequent service, good bus stop conflicts, good pavement condition, separating sidewa I k from traffic, amenities.) ample width of outside lane, including numerous street trees, and high parking parking and bike lanes.) occupancy.)
B
n n n C
D
E
(Poor walk access to bus stops, (Poor pavement condition, narrow (High traffic volumes, limited buffer F infrequent service, poor schedule width of outside lane, frequent separating sidewalk from traffic, few adherence, no bus stop amenities.) driveways and cross streets.) street trees, low parking occupancy.) Source: Dowling Associates, 2010.
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Packet Pg. 441 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Planned Improvements
The City currently has one roadway improvement
project in the planning stage within the Planning
Area. This improvement is related to the Manor
Drive Overcrossing project, described below and
shown in Figure 5-1. Other improvements to the
roadway network are expected to be needed during
the planning period to achieve a balance between
existing and future land use and traffic carrying
capacity. Major street improvements planned or programmed for Pacifica are described below.
Manor Drive Overcrossing
The Manor Drive overcrossing is planned to be widened and coordinated signal control is recommended to be added at the intersections of Manor Drive with
Oceana Boulevard and Palmetto Avenue. This project includes consideration of a new on-ramp to SR 1 from Oceana at Milagra Drive.
Potential Additional Improvements to
Accommodate Buildout
Additional improvements are justified based on the
analysis of existing and projected future traffic conditions with projected growth during the planning period, compared to the City's level of service standards. These potential additional improvements should be considered in coordination with Caltrans
and the County of San Mateo.
• SR 35: By 2040, SR 35 would operate at LOS F
during PM peak hour between Hickey Boulevard
and Timber__Hltill Gettff-Street in the absence of
improvements. While most of this traffic is not
related
to the expected employment and residential
growth in Pacifica, an additional lane of travel in
the northbound and southbound directions will
improve the roadway segment LOS to an acceptable level B or bett~r. Widening would need to occur on the east side of the roadway only to
allow for planned development.
5-12 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Proposed improvements would upgrade SR 1 between Reina de/ Mar and Fassler Avenue. to alleviate a major traffic bottleneck (top). The Devil's Slide tunnel project has moved SR 1 out of the path of frequent landslides (middle). Some Pacifica neighborhoods contain streets that were not built to current standards or have deteriorated and need improvements (bottom).
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Packet Pg. 442 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption • Intersection of Hickey Boulevard and SR 35: Signal timing optimization is required, specifically for the 2040 PM peak hour volumes, to ensure
chat the intersection operates at an acceptable
LOS of D during both AM and PM peak hours.
• Intersection of Paloma Avenue and Oceana
Boulevard: This intersection currently operates
at LOS F during the AM peak hour and meets a
peak hour signal warrant. (See Table 5.9). Signalization of this intersection would improve the operation to LOS D during the AM peak hour
and would maintain LOS C during the PM peak
hour, consistent across existing and build scenarios, with slightly increased delay for the build PM scenario. Further analysis should be conducted
to determine if signalization is appropriate and
improves bicycle and pedestrian safety in concert
with improved vehicular traffic movement.
• Intersection of SR 1 and Reina del Mar: The
limited right of way and high volumes at the
intersection result in no easy improvements to
reduce delay to acceptable levels. Reducing green
time for underutilized approaches is feasible and
reduces delay to acceptable levels if the pedestrian
phase is removed with installation of a pedestrian
overcrossing allowing for safe grade-separated
crossing of pedestrians across SR 1. This improvement will result in operations maintaining LOS E during both AM and PM periods for the build
scenario, respectively.
• Intersection of SR 1 and Fassler Avenue: By
2040, the intersection of SR 1 and Fassler Avenue
will operate at LOSE during the PM peak hour.
Signal timing optimization will improve operations to LOS D.
Traffic Conditions
Intersection Operating Conditions
Of the 13 study intersections, five are located along
roadway segments included in C/CAG's Congestion Management Program (CMP) for San Mateo County. Four of these are located along Highway
1 (SR 1) and one is located along Skyline Boulevard
(SR 35). As shown in Table 5-6, one of the five CMP
intersections along SR 1 currently operates at an
unacceptable LOS during the AM peak hour (Reina
Del Mar and SR 1), and none of the five intersections
operate at an unacceptable LOS during the PM peak
hour. Also, except for the intersection of Paloma
Avenue and Oceana Boulevard during the AM peak
hour, none of the seven non-CMP intersections currently operate at an unacceptable LOS (defined as LOSE or F by this General Plan) in the AM and/or
PM peak hours.
With buildout of the General Plan, two of the five
CMP intersections would operate at unacceptable
LOS during the study peak hours. As proposed in
the Plan, replacing the existing pedestrian crosswalk
with a pedestrian overcrossing at the intersection of
SR 1 and Reina del Mar Avenue would help with the
excessive delay, however, it still remains at LOS E.
Also, optimizing the signal timing at the intersection of SR 1 and Fassler Avenue would reduce delay and improve intersection operations during PM peak
hour but the intersection would continue to operate
at LOS D.
Regarding the non-CMP intersections, two intersections (i.e., intersection of Manor Drive and Palmetto Avenue and intersection of Manor Drive and Oceana
Boulevard) would mostly operate at unacceptable
LOS during peak hours.
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Packet Pg. 443 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Table 5-6: PEAK-HOUR INTERSECTION OPERATIONS SUMMARY - EXISTING AND
PLAN BUILDOUT CONDITIONS
Existing Plan Buildout (2040)
Intersection Control~ Peak Hour Delay1 LOS Delay1 LOS 2 2 CMP Intersections
Hickey Boulevard/ SR 35 Signalized AM 41.7 D 50.8 D
PM 39.1 D 50.8 D
10 Reina del Mar Avenue/ SR P Signalized AM 61 .0 E 69.6 E PM 35.5 D 58.2 E
11 Fassler Avenue/ SR P Signalized AM 35.5 D 38.8 D
PM 47.8 D 37.0 D
12 Crespi Drive/ SR 1 Signalized AM 12.2 B 14.7 B
PM 7.1 A 9.7 A
13 Linda Mar Boulevard/ SR 1 Signalized AM 17.3 B 28.0 C PM 27.2 C 43.6 D
Non-CMP Intersections
2 Manor Drive/ Oceana Boulevard AWSC AM 18.0 C 63.1 E
Signalized
Build
PM 23.2 C 44.3 D
3 Manor Drive/ Palmetto Avenue• AWSC AM 32.1 D 96.9 F
Signalized
Build
PM 23.0 D 71 .7 E
4 Ma Re, Q,i 1,ePaloma Ave / Oceana AWSC AM 66.6 F 48.4 D Boulevard' Signalized
Build
PM 15.4 C 23.5 C
5 Paloma Avenue/ Francisco Boulevard AWSC AM 11 .2 B 17.5 C PM 9.8 A 13.2 B
6 Paloma Avenue/ Palmetto Avenue AWSC AM 12.4 B 20.8 C
PM 12.3 B 28.7 D
7 Clarendon Road/ Oceana Boulevard AWSC AM 12.4 B 17.1 C PM 12.3 B 15.1 C
8 Clarendon Road/ Francisco Boulevard AWSC AM 9.8 A 11.9 B PM 10.2 B 11.6 B
9 Francisco Boulevard/ SR 1 AWSC AM 5.0 A 5.0 A
PM 5.0 A 5.0 A
1 Delay is in seconds per vehicle. For signalized intersections, delay is based on average stopped delay. For unsignalized intersections, delay is based at the worst approach for two-way stop controlled intersection.
Z...LOS = Level of Service
l_AWSC = All-way stop control
Source: DKS Associates, 2021.
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Packet Pg. 444 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Roadway Segment Operating Conditions
As shown in Table 5-7, 10 of the 16 CMP roadway
segments studied currently operate at or above the
threshold of LOS E. Three northbound segments
of SR 1 currently operate at LOS F in the AM peak
hour, and three southbound segments operate at
LOS F during the PM peak hour. Bottlenecks exist
at areas along SR 1 as a result of an increase in traffic control devices and at-grade intersections between Westport Drive and Linda Mar Boulevard.
At Plan buildout, six CMP segments would operate at LOS F during the AM and PM peak hours if no improvements were made. The CMP requires
the City to take steps to ensure development projects reduce their impacts on the CMP transportation network, such as through implementation of transportation demand management (TOM) measures identified in the CMP. None of the local roadway
segments would operate at LOS E or F during the
AM or PM peak hours at Plan buildout.
Traffic Signal Warrant Analysis
Eight unsignalized intersections were investigated to
determine whether traffic signals were warranted (see
Table 5-8). At Plan buildout (2040), the intersection
of Manor Drive and Oceana Boulevard, West Manor
Drive and Palmetto Avenue, and Paloma Avenue and
Oceana Boulevard would meet the signal warrant criteria for the AM and PM peak hours. The West Manor Drive and Palmetto Avenue intersection would meet
the signal warrant analysis for the PM peak hour, but
not for the AM peak hour because the 2040 C/CAG
model indicates that traffic volumes for this intersection will decrease between the existing study year and 2040.
The intersections of Manor Drive and Oceana Boulevard, and West Manor Drive and Palmetto Avenue, and Paloma Avenue and Oceana Boulevard may need
to be modified in terms of traffic control ( traffic signalization), efficiency (widening of the overcrossing to provide shoulders and flaring curb returns without
changing the existing number of lanes), and Highway 1
access (adding the Milagra Drive on-ramp). The City's
planned improvements to the-two intersections as well
as the overcrossing and Milagra Drive on-ramp as part
of the Manor Drive overcrossing project will allow traffic to flow through the area in a much better manner, by remaining on the intended streets and reducing the
diversion to side streets and neighborhoods.
Table 5-7: PEAK HOUR ROADWAY SEGMENT OPERATIONS SUMMARY- EXISTING AND PLAN
BUILDOUT CONDITIONS
Existing Plan Buildout
(2040)
Roadway Class Location Measure of Peak MOE1 LOS2 MOE1 LOS2 Segment Effectiveness (MOE) Hour
State Routes
SR 35 Type I From South of SR 1 to Hickey Blvd V/C Ratio AM 0.60 A 0.64 B PM .012 C 0.85 D
SR 35 Type I From Hickey Blvd to South of SR 1 V/C Ratio AM .071 B 0.75 C PM .58 A 0.68 B
SR 35 Type I From Hickey Blvd to Timberhill Ct V/C Ratio AM 0.90 D 0.53 A PM 0.90 D 0.67 B
SR 35 Type I From Timberhill Ct to Hickey Blvd V/C Ratio AM 0.87 D 0.51 A PM 0.88 D 0.64 B
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Packet Pg. 445 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Table 5-7: PEAK HOUR ROADWAY SEGMENT OPERATIONS SUMMARY- EXISTING AND PLAN
BUILDOUT CONDITIONS
Existing Plan Buildout
(2040)
Roadway Class Location Measure of Peak MOE1 LOS2 MOE1 LOS2 Segment Effectiveness (MOE) Hour
SR 1 2-Lane Between San Pedro Ave and VIC Ratio AM 0.27 C 1.03 F Highway Linda Mar Blvd PM 0.20 B 1.05 F
SR 1 4-Lane From Linda Mar Blvd to Crespi Dr V/C Ratio AM 0.61 C 0.67 C Highway PM 0.43 B 0.58 C
SR 1 4-Lane From Crespi Dr to Linda Mar Blvd VIC Ratio AM 0.30 B 0.43 B Highway PM 0.69 C 0.79 D
SR 1 4-Lane From Crespi Dr to Sea Bowl Ln VIC Ratio AM 0.76 D 0.90 E Highway PM 0.68 C 0.68 C
SR 1 4-Lane From Sea Bowl Ln to Fassler Avel V/C Ratio AM 0.78 D 0.90 E Highway PM 0.52 C 0.68 C
SR 1 4-Lane From Fassler Ave to Crespi Dr3 V/C Ratio AM 0.36 B 0.52 C Highway PM 0.83 D 0.97 E
SR 1 4-Lane From Fassler Ave to Reina del V/C Ratio AM 1.17 F 1.30 F Highway Mar Ave3
PM 0.70 D 0.87 E
SR 1 4-Lane From Reina del Mar Ave to V/C Ratio AM 0.59 C 0.76 D Highway Fassler Ave3
PM 1.16 . F 1.35 F
SR 1 4-Lane From Reina del Mar Ave to Mori V/C Ratio AM 1.23 F 1.37 F Highway Point Rd3
PM 0.72 D 0.89 E
SR 1 4-Lane From Mori Point Rd to Reina del VIC Ratio AM 0.66 C 0.84 D Highway Mar Ave
PM 1.24 F 1.42 F
SR 1 4-Lane From Mori Point Rd to Ave to V/C Ratio AM 1.23 _E, 1.37 F Highway Westport Df PM 0.72 D 0.89 E
SR 1 4-Lane From Westport Dr to Mori Point V/C Ratio AM 0.66 C 0.84 D Highway Re¥ PM 1.24 F 1.42 F
Local Roadways
Hickey Type II From SR 35 to Gateway V/C Ratio AM 0.26 A 0.25 A Blvd PM 0.57 A 0.27 , A
Hickey Type II From Gateway to SR 35 V/C Ratio AM 0.45 A 0.40 A Blvd PM 0.33 A 0.31 A
Reina del Type I From SR 1 to Lauren Ave V/C Ratio AM 0.34 A 0.40 A Mar Ave PM 0.27 A 0.31 A
Reina del Type I From Lauren Ave to SR 1 V/C Ratio AM 0.36 A 0.42 A Mar Ave PM 0.22 A 0.26 A
Fassler Type I From SR 1 to Ebken St VIC Ratio AM 0.21 A 0.22 A Ave. PM 0.38 A 0.39 A
5-16 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 446 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Table 5-7: PEAK HOUR ROADWAY SEGMENT OPERATIONS SUMMARY- EXISTING AND PLAN
BUILDOUT CONDITIONS
Existing Plan Buildout
(2040)
Roadway Class Location Measure of Peak MOE1 LOS2 MOE1 LOS1 Segment Effectiveness (MOE) Hour
Fassler Type I From Ebken St to SR 1 VIC Ratio AM 0.40 A 0.40 A Ave. PM 0.20 A 0.20 A
Crespi Dr Type II From SR 1 to Roberts Rd V/C Ratio AM 0.13 A 0.13 A PM 0.25 A 0.25 A
Crespi Dr Type II From Roberts Rd to SR 1 VIC Ratio AM 0.24 A 0.24 A PM 0.18 A 0.18 A
Linda Mar Type II From SR 1 to De Solo Dr V/C Ratio AM 0.23 A 0.23 A Blvd PM 0.41 A 0.41 A
Linda Mar Type II From De Solo Dr to SR 1 VIC Ratio AM 0.29 A 0.29 A Blvd PM 0.30 A 0.30 A
1 MOE = Measures of Effectiveness. For arterials, MOE is measured in vie ratios (volume to capacity ratios). 2 LOS = Level of Service is based on 2019 C/CAG of San Mateo County Final Congestion Management Plan criteria Source: OKS Associates, 2020.
TABLE 5-8: EXISTING CONDITIONS SIGNAL WARRANT ANALYSIS
existing Plan buildout (2040:JS)
AM Peak Hour PM Peak Hour AM Peak Hour PM Peak Hour
Intersection Warrant Met? Warrant Met? Warrant Met? Warrant Met? Manor Drive/ Oceana Boulevard Yes Yes Yes Yes
.W. Manor Drive/ Pa lmetto Avenue Yes Yes Yes Yes
-Paloma Avenue/ Oceana Boulevard No No Yes Yes
Paloma Avenue/ Francisco Boulevard No No No Yes
Paloma Avenue/ Palmetto Avenue No No No No
Clarendon Road/Oceana Boulevard No No No No
Clarendon Road/ Francisco Boulevard No No No · No
Francisco Boulevard/ SR 1 No No No No
Source: DKS Associates, 2021.
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Packet Pg. 447 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a Guiding Policies
CI-G-1 Comprehensive Circulation System.
Create a comprehensive, multi-modal
transportation system with streets and
highways; transit facilities; a continuous
network of sidewalks and bicycle routes.
CI-G-2 Serve All Users. Plan, design, build,
and maintain transportation improvements
to support safe and convenient access for
all users with priority for "complete streets"
projects that facilitate walking, bicycling
and transit use wherever possible.
CI-G-3 Safety. Make safety a primary objective in
street planning and traffic regulations.
CI-G-4 Level of Service (LOS) for all Modes of
Travel. Assess the performance of the
transportation system by measuring how
well pedestrians, bicycles, and transit vehicles as well as automobiles are able to move within and through the community.
CI-G-5 Vehicle Miles Traveled. Strive to reduce
overall vehicle miles travelled by developing higher-density, mixed use areas, designing pedestrian-oriented streets, and
improving transit options and efficiency.
CI-G-6 ~ Context Sensitivity. Plan, design, and
build transportation improvements so chat
they respect.the surrounding environment.
CI-G-7 ~ Congestion on Highway .I. In consultation with Calcrans, seek solutions to ease the traffic congestion that occurs on
Highway 1 near the Reina Del Mar, Fassler
Avenue, and Lii=ida Mar Boulevard intersections. Strive for the greatest benefit with the least environmental impact possible.
CI-G-8 Congestion on Hickey and Skyline.
Improve travel to and from Pacifica's
5-18 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
northern neighborhoods by easing congestion on Hickey Boulevard through coordinated signalization or other changes, and working with the County to improve
operations on SR 35 (Skyline Boulevard).
CI-G-9 Coordination of Local and Regional
Actions. Coordinate local transportation
planning and improvements with State,
Regional and County agencies to ensure
consistency with the Regional Transportation Plan, the Congestion Management Program, and other regional actions.
CI-G-10 Abandonment of Public Rights-of-Way.
Ensure that abandonment or vacation of
public rights-of-way does not adversely
impact coastal access or emergency access.
Implementing Policies
Complete Streets Implementation
CI-1-1 Connective Street Network. Require
new streets created as part of new development to continue existing street patterns, and include stub access points to adjacent
undeveloped areas.
CI-1-2 ~ Complete Streets Design Approach.
Update the City's engineering design standards to implement Complete Streets concepts, and include Complete Streets design principles in the planning of all circulation
improvement projects. These principles
include, but are not limited to:
• Maximizing connections with the existing circulation network; • Minimizing ingress and egress points
and consolidating entries;
• Providing public transit facilities and
improvements;
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Packet Pg. 448 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption • Providing bicycle and pedestrian facilities (bike lanes and sidewalks); • Minimizing pedestrian crossing distances by providing curb extensions; medians with safety refuges, and other
treatments;
• Improving safety by providing lighting
and traffic calming devices for residential streets;
• Including landscaping (trees, medians,
key intersections and gateways);
• Providing appropriate signage, including _
street signs, entry signs, and directional
signs;
• Providing street furniture; and
• Maintaining on--street parking.
Any proposed development or transportation
project that does not adequately incorporate
complete streets concepts should be supported
by findings of why all travel modes have not
been accommodated. The Complete Streets
approach should be applied to new roadway
· construction as well as to retrofit projects.
CI-1-3 ~ Complete Streets in the Project
Development Process. Incorporate complete streets concepts at each stage of the development process for projects affecting
the right-of-way, including the following:
• As part of design review, both at Phase
I and Phase II, require documentation
of how the "routine accommodation" of
bicyclists and pedestrians has been satisfied in planning and design.; • During project review and approval,
ensure that the objectives and purpose
are consistent with MTC directives on
Complete Streets and Routine Accommodation;
• For projects subject to MTC's Resolution 3765, as amended, work with MTC to secure approval of the Complete
Streets checklist and submittal to MTC
of all required documents.
Integrating Complete Streets considerations
should require only minor additions to
normal design, acquisitions, and approval
guidelines.
CI-1-4 ~ Roadway Retrofits. Identify opportunities to retrofit existing roadways to create complete streets, giving priority to arterial
and collector streets where travel lanes may
be narrowed or where four lanes may be
converted to three, including a center left
turn lane, with bicycle facilities added in
both cases.
Linda Mar Boulevard, Terra Nova Boulevard, Fassler Avenue, Esplanade Avenue, Monterey Road, Hickey Boulevard, Rosita
Road, Crespi Drive, Oddstad Boulevard,
Everglades Drive, Alicante Drive, Talbot
Avenue, Inverness Drive, and Gateway Drive
may all present opportunities for roadway
retrofits. Roadway retrofits will also help to
complete the bicycle network, as described in
Section 5.4, and provide safety for cyclists.
Ten- and elev~n-foot travel lanes are often
acceptable for auto and transit use, respectively, without adversely affecting capacity.
Roadway retrofits will require additional
analysis.
CI-1-5 ~ Streetscape in Mixed Use Areas.
Require pedestrian-oriented amenities and
design in visitor-oriented commercial and
mixed ~se areas, including wider sidewalks, curb bulb-outs at key intersections, outdoor seating, and public art.
Priority streetscapes include Palmetto
between Paloma and Clarendon; Montecito, Santa Rosa, and San Jose Avenues in West Sharp Park; Rockaway Beach Avenue
and Dondee Way in Rockaway Beach; lower
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Packet Pg. 449 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Crespi Drive and Linda Mar Boulevard in
Linda Mar; Manor Drive and Aura Vista
Drive in West Edgemar-Pacific Manor; and
Oddstad and Terra Nova Boulevards and
new streets created as part of redevelopment
of the Park Mall site.
CI-1-6 Block Size and Maximum Street
Spacing. For new development at the
Quarry site or Park Mall site, require
streets to be designed to maximize connectiviry for automobiles, cyclists, and pedestrians, with blocks between 200 and 600 feet in length. Provide mid-block pedestrian connections where blocks exceed 500 feet in length.
The intent of these standards is to prevent
development of introverted neighborhoods,
provide flexibility in circulation, and promote access for bicyclists and pedestrians.
CI-1-7 e) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Committee. Create and solicit input from
a bicycle and pedestrian advisory committees (BPAC) on planning and funding for transportation improvement projects.
Roadway Improvements to Ease Congestion
and Improve Level of Service
CI-1-8 e) SR 1 Improvements Between South ·
of Fassler and North of Reina del Mar.
Continue to wprk with the California
Department of Transportation (Calcrans)
and the San Mateo Counry Transportation
Authority (SMCTA) to improve operations
along SR 1. Strategies could include'installation of a pedestrian overcrossing, allowing for safer grade-separated crossings of pedestrians.
Improvements to SR 1 should alleviate traffic
congestion between .north of Reina del Mar
and south of Fassler Avenue while minimizing environmental impacts and impacts to adjacent land uses, ensuring adequate
local access, and enhancing the community s
image.
5-20 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
CI-1-9 Manor Drive Overcrossing Improvements. Complete planned improvements to the Manor Drive overcrossing to facilitate traffic movement across SR 1 for all modes.
Improvements should include widening of
the overcrossing, possible signal control at the
intersections of Manor Drive with Palmetto
Avenue and Oceana Boulevard, and a new
on-ramp to SR 1 from Oceana at Milagra
Drive.
CI-1-10 SR 35 Improvements. Work with San
Mateo County to evaluate, design and
implement improvement~ to SR 35 to
relieve congestion along chis roadway
within Pacifica. Improvements chat would
mitigate regional growth may include
adding an additional travel lane in either
direction, or widening on the east side of
the roadway only.
Most growth in traffic along SR 35-is unrelated to expected growth in Pacifica.
CI-1-11 SR 35 and Hickey Boulevard Intersection
Improvements. Add signal timing optimization to the SR 35 and Hickey Boulevard intersection.
CI-1-12 Paloma Avenue and Oceana Boulevard
Improvements. Add signal control to the
intersection of Palo.ma Avenue and Oceana
Boulevard to improve pedestrian safety
and facilitate traffic movement.
CI-1-13 Hickey Boulevard and Gateway Drive
Intersection Improvements. Add signal
control to the intersection of Hickey Boulevard and Gateway Drive, with signal timing to facilitate traffic movement.
CI-1-14 ~ Strategies to Reduct: School-Related
Peak Hour Auto Congestion. Work with
Pacifica School District and Jefferson
Union High School District co promote
adoption of staggered hours, car-pooling,
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Packet Pg. 450 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption and use of transit to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours.
This policy applies especially to Vallemar
School and the Visalia School District offices,
where trips contribute to traffic congestion
around SR 1 and Reina de! Mar Avenue.
Level of Service Standards
CI-1-15 Multi-modal Level of Service (LOS) Performance Measures. Develop performance measures for LOS for pedestrians, cyclists,
and transit users, based on the criteria in
this chapter and on "best practices."
Measures may be both quantitative (for
example, sidewalk width) and qualitative
(perceived safety and attractiveness.) Measures should use data that is readily available or can be readily collected, while providing
an accurate assessment.
CI-l-16 LOS for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Transit
Users. Strive to maintain LOS C or better
for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users
on all roadways, and impose mitigation
measures as needed co achieve multi-modal
service objectives.
CI-1-17 Vehicle Level of Service on Roadways
Included in the Congestion Management
Program. Accept an LOS E on SR I and
SR 35, consistent with the C/CAG Congestion Management Program (CMP), in planning improvements.
CI-1-18 Vehicle Level of Service for Other Roadways and Intersections. For all roadways and intersections not included in the CMP
network, strive to maintain LOS D for
vehicles during p·eak periods. Allow level of
· service to exceed chis threshold under the
following circumstances:
• Constraints on development as would
be required co achieve or maintain
these standards would adversely impede
achievement of this Plan's economic,
land use and community development,
and environmental goals and policies;
• Mitigation of congestion would negatively affect transit, bicycle or pedestrian circulation, or would conflict with General Plan goals for these alternative
modes of circulation, for example by
increasing crossing distances, increasing pedestrian safety risk, or restricting bicycle or transit access;
• Traffic congestion is a result of an effort
to promote transit ridership and/or
access, including the development of
higher-density development in mixed
use areas; or
• A demonstrated significant increase in
transit ridership, carpooling, bicycling,
and/or walking is achieved.
CI-1-19 Interim Standard for Intersection of
Linda Mar Boulevard and SR 1 and
Hickey Boulevard and SR 35. Accept LOS
F at the intersections of Linda Mar Boulevard and SR I and Hickey Boulevard and SR 35 as an interim standard until feasible
traffic improvements can be designed,
funded and constructed.
CI-1-20 Monitor Traffic Congestion at Key Intersections and Roadway Segments. Periodically monitor levels of service at intersections and roadway segments where existing LOS is E or lower.
Funding for Improvements
CI-1-21 Transportation Improvement Funding.
Establish funding mechanisms to ensure
that new development pays its proportionate share of the costs of new and improved transportation facilities as a result of the
development.
CI-1-22 Improvements for Existing Facilities.
Maintain and upgrade local streets, sidewalks, utilities, and other City infrastructure in a manner that prevents deterioration and corrects existing deficiencies. 5 n
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Packet Pg. 451 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Safety
CI-1-23 Design for Safety. Incorporate safety measures in improvement designs for intersections, roadways, pedestrians, transit, and bicycle facilities.
CI-1-24 Development on Unimproved Streets.
Continue to require a Site Development
Permit for development on lots with unimproved streets to ensure off-site improvements meet City standards.
This policy will protect the visual and natural
resource qualities of the hillsides and minimize adverse impacts on existing neighborhoods, drainage, traffic, land stability, and natural resources.
CI-1-25 Emergency Access. Require all developers to incorporate emergency access needs consistent with Title IO of the Municipal
Code.
See Chapter 8: Safety for related policies.
5-22 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Streets in "Pedestrian Priority Areas" should be desighed to emphasize pedestrian comfort-and access. Redevelopment
around Crespi Drive (top) would be supported by streetscape improvements such as those at Rockaway Beach (middle). SR 1 presents a barrier to pedestrian movement in Pacifica (bottom).
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Packet Pg. 452 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
SA PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE
NETWORK
Pedestrian Circulation
Walking is a basic and often overlooked part of all
trips that also involve transit or automobiles. Walking can be ideal for short, local trips for shopping, school, and recreation. Adequate facilities for pedestrians help to ensure access to and along the coast.
Chapter 6: Open Space and Community Facilities
includes a section devoted to Pacifica' s trail system, and how it should be enhanced during the planning
period. This section focuses on pedestrian facilities
that support comfortable and safe day-to-day pedestrian travel.
Sidewalks and Crosswalks
Where sidewalks are present in Pacifica, they are
generally between five and ten feet wide and in good
condition. Crosswalks are provided at all studied
intersections with appropriate striping and, where
appropriate, pedestrian signals. However, there are
streets within Pacifica that do not have sidewalks,
which force pedestrians to walk in the road and
navigate around parked cars. Under the General
Plan 2040, pedestrian facilities will be improved and
enhanced, especially within the four Pedestrian Priority Areas identified in the 2020 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan: Manor, Sharp Park, Vallemar/ Fairway; and Linda Mar. Pedestrian improvements
include pavement markings; ped;strian-actuated
beacons; street furniture; sidewalks, trails, and medians; intersection and street design, and additional studies.
Within city limits, there are thirteen crossings of
Highway 1. Each crossing type has a unique set of
challenges associated with it. There are five at-grade
· crossings (ground level with intersections), five
above-grade (overpasses) crossings, and three belowgrade crossings (underpasses and tunnels). Pedestrian/bicycle overcrossings are located at Milagra Drive and San Jose Avenue, with an undercrossing at
Sharp Park Golf Course.
Hiking and Pedestrian Trails
Pacifica has a network of trails along the Pacific
Ocean and on inland ridges. Some are paved and
allow for cycling and pedestrians, while others are
unpaved and only accommodate pedestrians. Some
are open to horseback riders.
A brief summary of existing trails follows:
• The Coastal Trail is a seven-mile coastal trail
starting from Sharp Park Beach, crossing Mori
Point, passing through Rockaway Beach, and
ending at Pacifica State Beach near the Linda
Mar district. ·
• Milagra Ridge, part of the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area (GGNRA), has paved paths for
hiking and bicycles and unpaved paths for hiking
only.
• Mori Point, a addition to the GGNRA, now an
elevated trail with wooden decking leading to
a viewing platform overlooking a new habitat
pond; an accessible trail loop; and a new link in
the Coastal Trail.
• GGNRA's Sweeney Ridge Trails includes Mori
Ridge Trail, connecting Shelldance Nursery at
Highway I with Sweeney Ridge; Baquiano Trail,
from the top of Fassler Avenue eastward to the
Portola Discovery Site; Sneath Lane from San
Bruno west to the Discovery Site, and Sweeney
Ridge Trail, extending along the crest and connecting these trails. • Sweeney Ridge Trail, a part of the larger Bay Area
Ridge Trail, which continues along the Fifield
and Cahill Ridges to the south. To the north, it is
interrupted at Milagra Ridge.
Bicycle Circulation
Pacifica's highly scenic setting, recreational . amenities, and connections to major regional open spaces and trails make it ideal for recreational bicycle riding, and for local trips along the coastline or in the valley neighborhoods. However, the network of bicycle routes is inconsistently developed and not always well marked. The 2020 Bicycle and Pedestrian Mas5
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PACIFICA GFNERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 5-23
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Packet Pg. 453 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption ter Plan updates existing plans and identifies needs
and opportunities to improve walking and bicycling
on city streets as well as trail and beach access.
The proposed bicycle network, shown in Figure 5-4,
is a critical component of the circulation network. It
shows both bicycle routes and improved signage to
improve access and safety. It provides bicyclists with
a complete network of continuous and safe access
along the coastal corridor and between neighborhoods. These designations support the 2020 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
The bicycle network in Figure 5-4 includes four types
of bikeway classifications, consistent with Chapter
1000 of the Cal trans Highway Design Manual:
• Class I facilities (bike paths or trails) are paved
trails wholly separated from the street. They
allow two-way travel by people bicvcling and
walking. and are often considered the most
comfortable facilities for children and
inexperienced riders as there are few potential
conflicts between people bicycling and people
driving.ha¥e eJcclu sive right of i.vay, are
separated from roads, a.Rd eicclude general
motor vehicle traffic.
• Class II facilities (bike lanes) are marked by
painted stripes on the roadway. While the striping provides preferred space for bicycles, they are still part of the paved road and are not exclusive
for bicycles.
• Class III facilities (bike routes) share traffic lanes with automobiles and are only identified by signage.
• Class IV facilities (separated bikeways) are for the
exclusive use of bicycles and includes a separation required between the separated bikeway and the through vehicular traffic. The separation may
include, but is not limited to, grade separation,
flexible posts, inflexible posts, inflexible barriers,
or on-street parking.
Bikeways
Within Pacifica, there are 11 miles of bicycle facilities. Existing facilities are broken into two primary categories: on-street bikeways and trails. The Coastal
Trail is the centerpiece of Pacifica's trail network
and accounts for most of the system's mileage. The
Coastal Trail and Palmetto Avenue are the primary
active transportation north-south spines of Pacifica' s active transportation network, both are west of Highway 1. Highway 1 and the side path (about
10-feet wide), where present, also provides northsouth connectivity, but in a higher-stress environment. Currently, bike lanes are primarily on three corridors: Linda Mar Boulevard, Palmetto Avenue,
and the uphill side Sharp Park Road. The Palmetto
and Linda Mar facilities provide access to schools,
A Class I bicycle trail and walking path were built along a restored portion of lower Calera Creek in the 1990s, providing an alternative to cycling along SR 1 for this stretch of the Coastal Trail. 5-24 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 454 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
Ocean
0 1/4 1/2
-~\R:~-- / ~ ~
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2 Figure 5-4: Existing and Proposed
Bicycle Network
_ Existing Class I
....... , Proposed Class I
= Existing Class II
=======, Proposed Class II
= Existing Class III
=======, Proposed Class III
....... , Proposed Class IV
--- Trails
IIIID Bicycle
Lockers
m
Bicycle Parking
... Restroo
m/Changing Room
.... Pe
destrian Overpass
¢::::::, Pe
destrian Underpass
&i Trailhead
c:=J Parks/Open Space
---City Limits
_ Planning Area
Source: Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan, City of
Pacifica 2020; San Mateo County, 2020; Dyett &
Bhatia, 2020.
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Packet Pg. 455 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption and the Sharp Park facility connects to the Milagra Ridge Trail. However, many of the shared-use paths within Pacifica lack comfortable bikeways
along major arterials and gaps at barriers and may
leave people who want to bike disconnected from the
many destinations within Pacifica.
A series of additional bikeways are proposed to serve
the Sharp Park, Vallemar, Rockaway Beach, Linda
Mar, and Pedro Point neighborhoods. These routes
are planned to provide convenient access to most
Pacifica residents, to connect to Pacifica amenities
and attractions, to follow streets with gradual slopes, and to use through streets with adequate right-ofway for bicycle facilities where possible. The type of bikeway class should be appropriate to the context of
each street while maximizing safety, separation from
vehicles, traffic calming, and network/destination
connectivity.
Bicycle Parking and Amenities
Facilities are an essential component of Pacifica' s
bicycle network. End-of-trip facilities include bicycle parking (short-term and long-term parking), selfrepair stations, and lockers ·and changing areas in existing or new buildings. Outdoor facilities, especially bicycle_parking, is an important factor because potential users may be less likely to complete a trip
by bicycle if they do not believe they have a safe and
secure location to lock their bike.
Current bicycle parking is limited in Pacifica. Bike
racks are close to most major destinations along the
two bike routes, but are not present at Rockaway
Beach, the beach access location at the end of Esplanade Avenue, in the Pedro Point area, at some of the public schools, ot in the Pacific Manor commercial
area. Improved parking and facilities will increase
the · comfort and appeal of biking in Pacifica during
the planning period.
5-26 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
CI-G-11 Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes. Establish trails, bike routes and pedestrian amenities connecting neighborhoods to major shopping and public facility destinations,
and fill in gaps in the existing network.
CI-G-12 Walkable Neighborhoods. Improve pedestrian amenities to create more walkable neighborhoods, especially in mixed-use
activity centers and around schools.
CI-G-13 Recreational Access. Provide recreational access to coastal resources and public open space in keeping with Paciflca' s natural environment, with links to regional trails and bicycle corridors.
See Chapter 6 for additional Trail System
policies.
CI-G-14 ~ Mobility for All Users. Create a safe
and attractive pedestrian environment
accessible for all users, particularly persons
with disabilities, seniors, and younger residents and visitors.
CI-G-15 ~ Connections Across Highway 1.
Enhance under- and over-crossings of
Highway 1 for pedestrians and bikes to
improve accessibility and connect neighborhoods to each other and to the coast.
CI-G-16 ~ Coastal Trail and North-South Bikeway. Complete the Coastal Trail and the north-south bikeway from the north to
south end of the City parallel to Highway
1, providing clear, safe and efficient means
to traverse coastal Pacifica.
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Packet Pg. 456 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Implementing Policies
Pedestrian Access
CI-1-26 ~ Pedestrian-Oriented Street Improvements. Implement Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan recommendations to improve
pedestrian-oriented safety and comfort.
Priority locations for pedestrian-oriented
design improvements include:
• Pedestrian Priority Areas (including
Manor, Sharp Park, Vallemar/Fairway
Park, and Linda Mar PP As,) which
include mixed use and higher-intensity
areas;
• Streets that are part of Pacifka's proposed trail system improvements; • Streets adjacent to schools; and
• Locations where pedestrian-automobile
collisions have occurred.
CI-1-27 .;} Sharp Park Specific Plan Streetscape.
Complete and implement streetscape
impro:..ements in the Sharp Park Specific Plan to widen sidewalks, provide bike lanes, landscaping, and make other
improvements that will upgrade the
appearance of the area and make it more
attractive to pedestrians.
CI-1-28 ~ Additional Pedestrian Facilities on
Large Sites. Enhance the pedestrian network with an interconnected system of walkways, continuous sidewalks on both
sides of the street, and pedestrian crossings
as part of higher-intensity redevelopment
oflarge sites.
CI-1-29 Safe Routes to Schools. Partner with Pacifica School District and Jefferson Union School District to develop and implement
a Safe Routes to Schools program.
CI-1-30 ~ Universal Design. Require all pedestrian facilities to be ADA compliant and accessible to persons with disabilities.
Bicycle Facilities
CI-1-31 ~ Neighborhood Bikeways. Develop a
system of bikeways connecting all neighborhoods to the City's north-south pathway consistent with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
CI-1-32 Class II Facility Design. Wherever Class
II facilities are designated, make bike lanes
at least 5 feet wide along local streets and at
least 6 feet wide on arterials or highways.
Separate Class II facilities from vehicle
traffic with a solid stripe and mark them
with bike lane symbols.
A one-foot buffer strip between the bike lane
and vehicle traffic should be provided wherever feasible to increase safety. Raised or twoway cycle tracks or other forms of bikeway should also be considered where appropriate.
CI-1-33 Class III Facility Design. Demarcate Class
III bicycle facilities by painting "sharrows"
on streets, where appropriate.
A consistent Class II bikeway on SR 1 between Reina de/ Mar Avenue and San Pedro Creek will complete a direct north-south bikeway (left). Parallel routes to the east and west feature Class I and Class II facilities that provide greater comfort and scenic value (right). 5 /"'I
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Packet Pg. 457 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption CI-1-34 Signage Program. Develop and implement
a signage program for the bikeway system
in order to:
• Alert motorists to the presence of
cyclists on the road;
• Alert cyclists to route turns junctions,
and changes in the class of bicycle facility; and
• Provide a clear identity for each bicycle
route, and periodically provide distance
to key destinations.
CI-1-35 Obstructions. Align designated bikeways
to avoid obstructions such as light posts,
signage, trees, and curb cuts, and relocate
or modify these obstructions as necessary.
CI-1-36 Priorities for Improvements. Make designated bicycle routes a priority for pavement repair, as needed, and for regular maintenance to remove sand, gravel or other debris.
Cl-1-37 Improved Bikeway Visibility. Use strategies to improve bikeway visibility, including but not limited to:
• Using visual cues such as brightly-colored paint on bike lanes or a one-foot painted buffer strip;
• Upgrading a Class III facility to Class II
and providing additional signage; and
• Removing on-street parking, if feasible.
CI-1-38 ~ Bicycle Lockers at Public Parking
Lots. Replace existing bicycle lockers at
the public parking lot on Crespi Drive,
and add lockers at the park-and-ride lot on
Linda Mar Boulevard.
CI-1-39 ~ Bicycle Parking at Re~reation Areas.
Provide bicycle parking at the following
locations where feasible:
• Park and beach access at the northern
end of Esplanade Drive (Lands End
Apartments); and
5-28 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
• Pedro Point Headlands/Devil's Slide.
CI-1-40 Bicycle Parking Requirements for
New Development. Continue to require
bicycle parking facilities in new non-residential development.
CI-1-41 Bicycle Parking at Schools and Workplaces. Work with the school districts and employers to provide adequate bicycle
parking at all schools and workplaces with
30 or more employees.
CI-1-42 Bicycle Education. Distribute appropriate informational material to all schools in Pacifica in conjunction with bicycle education campaigns.
CI-1-43 Funding for Bicycle Facilities. Designate a portion of the City's annual street construction and improvement budget to
fund bikeway design and construction, and
continue to pursue potential funding from
MTC and San Mateo County T ransportation Authority, as well as appropriate Federal and State programs.
CI-1-44 ~ Eligibility Criteria for Improvements.
Review eligibility criteria for funding for
improvements from the State, to obtain
additional funding for bicycle facilities.
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Packet Pg. 458 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
5.5 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
AND TRANSPORTATION
DEMAND MANAGEMENT
Pacifica's location at the edge of the metropolitan
area and its relatively low density makes extensive
transit service or use challenging. J use one percent of all trips to or from Pacifica are made using transit.
While as much as four percent of trips between Pacifica and San Francisco are made by transit, only a fraction (under 0.5 percent) of trips within Pacifica
are transit trips. Growth during the planning period
is expected to be limited, but the General Plan aims
to concentrate new development in mixed use, transit-accessible locations.
Transit Service
The San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans)
provides bus service throughout San Mateo County
and into San Francisco and Palo Alto. SamTrans
provides local service in Pacifica as well as service to and from BART and Caltrain stations.
\
'
Bus Routes
As of 2019, nine Sam Trans bus routes serve Pacifica
(see Figure 5-5).
• Routes 14 and 16 make loops through the southern and northern areas of Pacifica serving shopping areas, schools, and services. • Routes 19 and 49 provide service on school days
to serve students. Route 19 makes loops through
southern Pacifica and up to Ingrid B Lacy Middle
School, and Route 49 connects northern Pacifica
to Terra Nova High School.
• Routes 110 and 112 provide service between the
Highway 1 corridor in Pacifica and the Daly City
and Colma BART stations, respectively. Both
terminate at Linda Mar Shopping Center.
• Route 118 provides service co Colma BART station during the AM and PM peak hour periods of weekdays.
• Route 121 runs through Pacifica's northern upland
neighborhoods, serving Fairmont Shopping Center and providing connections to Skyline College 5 Q
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Sam Trans provides bus service within Pacifica and to and from BART and Ca/train stations.
PAClflCA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REV[EW DRAFT 5-29
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Packet Pg. 459 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption in San Bruno, Serramonte Shopping Center and
Seton Medical Center in Daly City, and the Daly
City and Colma BART stations.
• Route 140 connects the Pacific Manor shopping
center on Palmetto Avenue and Manor Drive to
Skyline College and the San Bruno BART station
to the east. It extends to Terra Nova High School
on school days to serve students.
• Route 17 connects the Linda Mar Park and Ride
to Half Moon Bay and the Hillsdale Cal train station in San Mateo.
BART and Ca/train
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) provides rail rapid
transit to Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco,
and San Mateo Counties. The Colma, Daly City,
San Bruno, and South San Francisco BART stations
are accessible to Pacifica residents via bus connections or by car.
Caltrain provides commuter service over a 77-mile
route between downtown San Francisco and Gilroy,
through San Jose and along the San Francisco Peninsula. The San Bruno station is approximately eight miles east of Pacifica, while the South San Francisco
station is approximately six miles east. Dial-a-Ride
Service
All SamTrans buses are accessible to persons with
disabilities. The San Mateo County Transit District
also operates dial-a-ride (or p~ratransit) service for
persons who cannot use fixed-route bus service. Paratransit service in the Planning Area is called RediCoast.
Planned Transit Improvements
In Summer 2019, the San Mateo County Transit
District launched Reimagine SamTrans, a comprehensive operational analysis (COA) to redesign the ·entire SamTrans bus system. Reimagine SamTrans
began its work by evaluating every element of the
SamTrans system to identify improvements to local
and regional travel connections, route design, how
often the buses run, best practices for operations and
public health, and more. Reimagine SamTrans uti5-30 P CIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT lized data and public input to pinpoint the strengths
and challenges in the current bus system. The recommended Sam Trans changes are slated to be adopted in Winter 2021 and implemented in summer 2022.
Changes include shortening of Route 112 to provide
more streamlined service; elimination of the FLX
Pacifica route, to be covered by Route 110; and direct
service on Route 118 to/from Daly City BART only.
Neither BART nor Caltrain have planned improvements that would change service levels in the vicinity of Pacifica.
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Packet Pg. 460 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific Sharp P,
i rk
0 c ea n
EB
0 1/4 1/2 2
MILES
.'i wr:cucy
R idt!C (GGN~RA)
Slln l',•,t,., l'<-dfry c..,u111,,, Pilrk
Figure 5-5: Existing Transit Routes
SamTrans to BART
SamTrans to Caltrain
Local Service
~ Park and Ride Lot
City Limits
Planning Area
Pcu iu511/11
\1t 111cr$/i ed
(Sf-' PUC)
• Ro ute 14, Route 11 8 services are suspended due
to COVID19 impacts.
Source: DKS, 2019; Sam Trans, 2020; City of Pacifica,
2020; San Mateo County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
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Packet Pg. 461 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption The Linda Mar Park & Ride lot is a hub for transit in Pacifica.
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a ~ -
Guiding Policies
CI-G-17 ~ Improved Public Transit. Advocate for
Sam Trans and other public transit providers to improve transit service and facilities, to enable trips to be made without use of a
car. In particular, advocate for the expansion of public transit services and facilities to improve public access and recreation
opportunities along the coast.
CI-G-18 ~ Transportation Demand Management (TOM). Support TOM strategies to reduce congestion and single-occupant
vehicle travel.
5-32 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Implementing Policies
CI-1-45 Service Optimization. Continue coorCI-1-46
dination efforts with transit agencies (i.e.,
Sam Trans) to maintain transit service that is
s~fe and efficient, provides convenient connections to high-use activity areas and key destinations outside the City, and responds
to the needs of all passengers, including
seniors, youth, and persons with disabilities.
_Improved Transit Stops. Work with
transit agencies to improve transit stops
and access to facilities.
CI-1-47 ~ Park-and-Ride Locations and Attributes. Work with Samtrans to identify changes that would improve the convenience and functionality of Park-and-Ride facilities, and result in increased ridership.
CI-1-48 Transit-Oriented Development. Work
with Sam trans to facilitate transit-oriented
development on all or part of the Linda
Mar Boulevard Park-and-Ride lot.
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Packet Pg. 462 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption The City should work with transit agencies to improve transit stops to create a more pleasant, comfortable, and safe waiting environment for transit users (right).
CI-1-49 ~ Promotion of Transit Use. Promote
transit use and reduce reliance on_ the private automobile in order to reduce congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve quality of life.
CI-1-50 ~ Transportation Demand Management Measures. Incorporate conditions of approval for development projects that
exceed the Congestion Management Program (CMP) threshold for impacts to the CMP transportation network to require
adoption of transportation demand management (TOM) measures authorized by the CMP to make measurable reductions
in their trip generation and to require a
monitoring plan to determine if established
trip reduction targets are met or exceeded.
Require TOM measures for development
projects below the CMP threshold whenever
feasible, but do not require a monitoring
plan for these smaller projects.
CI-1-51 ~ Local Transportation Services. Support expanded funding for local transportation services tailored to the schedules and destinations of students, seniors, and
recreational visitors.
CI-1-52 ~ Age-Friendly Community. Support
mobility programs and improvements that
enable mobility for all people, including
seniors and people with disabilities.
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Packet Pg. 463 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
5.6 TRUCK MOVEMENT
In addition to moving people, the roadway system in
Pacifica carries trucks moving goods. Trucks move
well through the City and to destinations in the City,
particularly in commercial areas. However, there is
very little industrial aqivity in the Planning Area,
and locally-originating truck trips are minimal.
SR 1 and SR 35 are State-designated truck routes,
including their segments in the Planning Area. The
routes allow truck traffic to pass through the City
with minimal impact on residential neighborhoods,
local vehicular traffic and pedestrians. They also
aim to discourage the use of Sharp Park Road for
through truck traffic because of its sharp curves and
grade change. Designated truck routes do not prevent trucks from using other streets as needed for local trips.
POLICIES
Guiding Policy
CI-G-19 Truck Movement and Quality of Life.
Balance commercial goods movement with
the health and quality of life priorities of
the community.
Implementing Policy
CI-1-53 Truck Route Identification. Ensure that
clear identifying signage is provided for
trucks or SR 1 and SR 35.
Pacifica aims to ensure good access to beaches and recreational open spaces along the coastline. 5-34 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 464 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
5.7 PARKING
Parking policies are intended to accommodate
parked vehicles used by occupants, visitors, customers, clientele, and employees of a variety of buildings in the City. These policies seek to provide accessible, attractive, secured parking facilities, and to ensure
adequate access to beaches and recreational open
spaces along the coastline.
On-Street Parking
On-street parking is an important contributor to a
street's functionality. On-street parking is permitted
on most residential streets in Pacifica. It is allowed
and encouraged on collector streets, and on most
arterials in pedestrian-oriented commercial areas.
On-street parking can complement both automobile
and pedestrian use, and provide a buffer between the
two. On-street parking is not permitted on high-traffic roadways such as SR 1, SR 35, Sharp Park Road, and small, limited sections of Linda Mar Boulevard
and Fassler Avenue. On these roadways, smooth traffic flow is prioritized.
Off-Street Parking
The City requires off-street parking and loading
facilities for all new developments.
Off-street parking is available in public lots in the
Planning Area that serve commuters, beach visitors,
and visitors to recreational open space areas.
• Commuter parking is provided at the park-andride lot on Linda Mar Boulevard. • Public parking lots for beach visitors exist at
Pacifica State Beach, Rockaway Beach, and Sharp
Park Beach and Promenade. The public parking
lot on Crespi Drive serves the Community Center as well as beach visitors. • The Northern Coastal Bluffs and the Esplanade
bluff are publicly protected open space with
limited trail or beach access, and are served by
on-street parking.
• Trailhead parking is provided on GGNRA land
at Milagra Ridge and Shelldance Nursery. Parking serving GGNRA open spaces in Pacifica is also provided at Skyline College just east of the
Planning Area. Parking also exists at San Pedro
Valley County Park.
• Public parking lots exist at Fairmont Park, Fairmont West Park, Odds tad Park, Sanchez Park, and Frontierland Park.
Commuter lots are shown on Figure 5-5: Transit
Routes and Facilities. Trailhead parking for open
space and beach users is shown on Figure 6-2: Trail
System. Table 5-10 provides a current inventory of
off-street parking for commuters and beach visitors
in the Planning Area.
Table 5-10: COMMUTER AND BEACH
VISITOR PARKING
Type and location Capacity (approx.)
Park-and-Ride Lots
Linda Mar
Subtotal
Beach Visitor Lots
Crespi Drive
Pacifica State Beach (south)
Pacifica State Beach (north)
Rockaway Beach (south)
Rockaway Beach (north)
Sharp Park Beach Promenade/Pier
Subtotal
Source: Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
70 70
110
54 135
50 54
53 456
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Packet Pg. 465 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption In 2009, parking lots at Pacifica State Beach were
60 Commuter lots are shown on Figure 5-5: Transit Routes and Facilities. Trailhead parking for open space and beach users is shown on Figure 6-2: Trail
System. Table 5-10 provi~es a current inventory of
off-street parking for commuters and beach visitors
in the Planning Area. In summer 2013, Pacifica State
Beach began a parking program, wherein a parking
receipt or pass is required to park in both the north
and south Pacifica State Beach parking lots on Highway 1, the Crespi Drive lot, and SR 1 adjacent to the Pacifica Comm_unity Center. Recently constructed
parking areas include a lot at the north tunnel
entrance at Devil's Slide, enhanced visitor services
at Shelldance Nursery provide access to GGNRA
lands. In the future, the public parking area at Sharp
Park Beach/Pacifica Pier may be reconfigured as part
of redevelopment of the former Wastewater Treatment Plant site.
The City should support the development of centralized off-street parking facilities in areas with multiple attractions or where pedestrian and bicycle circulation patterns should be prioritized. Centralized off-street parking facilities can increase the efficiency of parking for visitors to attractions and can minimize the number of curb cuts for driveways which can disrupt safe pedestrian and bicycle circulation.
One tool to accomplish development of centralized off-street parking facilities is payment of in-lieu parking fees by developers. In 2020, the City Council updated the fee for the Rockaway Beach Specific Plan area and enacted a new in-lieu parking fee for
the Sharp Park Specific Plan area.
5-36 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
CI-G-20 Private Parking. Ensure adequate offstreet parking in all new development.
CI-G-21 Public and Visitor Parking. Facilitate
beach and recreational use by providing
safe and well-located public parking.
CI-G-22 Commuter Parking. Facilitate transit use
by providing safe, well-located park-andride lots.
Implementing Policies
CI-1-54 Parking Lot Design. Set standards for the
size and design parking lots to minimize
environmental impact.
CI-1-55 On-Street Parking. Revise the zoning
code to preserve on-street parking by limiting the number and location of curb cuts.
CI-1-56 Off-Street Parking. Update parking
requirements in the zoning code based on
"best practices," including provisions for
reduced parking and, if acceptable, parking maximums.
CI-1-57 Shared Parking. Facilitate efficient use·
of parking areas by allowing uses whose
primary activity occurs at different times
of day or days of the week to share parking, and provide less than the sum total of parking spaces each use would be required
to provide individually. Require a shared
parking agreement and approval of the
Planning Director.
CI-1-58 Accessible Parking. Require convenient
and accessible parking facilities for persons
with disabilities, consistent with Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
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Packet Pg. 466 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption CI-1-59 Parking Districts. Within mixed-use and
commercial areas, monitor parking supply and availability and explore methods to alleviate parking shortages, including
through increasing efficiency of on-street
parking, shared parking arrangements, and
need/feasibility of parking districts.
CI-1-60 In-Lieu Parking Fees. Allow developers to
meet their minimum parking requirements
via shared parking between uses, payment
of in-lieu fees, or off-site parking within a
reasonable walking distance.
CI-1-61 Environmental Benefits. Amend the Zoning Ordinance to establish "green" parking design standards that have multiple benefits, including photovoltaic panels to
generate energy for parking lot lighting,
and pervious paving to improve groundwater recharge.
See also policies on stormwater management and sustainable planning and design in Chapter 1. See Chapter 3: Community
Design for additional policies on designing
parking to create a strong urban fabric.
Cl-1-62 i) New and Enhanced Trailhead Parking. Support GGNRA, the Coastal Conservancy and others in developing and enhancing new public parking for recreational users at Devil's Slide and Shelldance Nursery.
CI-1-63 i) Parking at Sharp Park Beach. Ensure
that adequate and well-located public parking is preserved for Sharp Park Beach, the Promenade and Pier as part of any redevelopment of the City-owned 2212 Beach Boulevard property.
CI-1-64 i) Signage for Visitor-Serving Parking.
Undertake a citywide program for improving signs for public visitor-serving parking. This may include incorporating smart parking technology for high-demand parking lots to alert drivers to the location of available parking.
CI-1-65 i) Parking Enforcement. Continue to
make parking enforcement a priority at
public visitor parking areas.
On-street parking contributes to compact and pedestrianfriendly commercial districts and neighborhoods (top). Public parking at Sharp Park Beach/Pacifica Pier will be preserved (bottom). 5 r'I
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PACI FICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 5-37
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Packet Pg. 467 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Open space is a defining feature of the Pacifica Planning Area, an extraordinary resource, and a priority for the community. Parks, schools, and public utility services are a vital part of a livable and sustainable Pacifica. The purpose of this chapter is to document existing public open space and community facilities and infrastructure, identify priority improvements, and ensure that they meet the needs of community members. The close relationship between open space, parks, recreation, and schools is highlighted.
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Packet Pg. 468 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
6.1 PARKS, BEACHES D OPEN SPACE
Parks and recreation facilities provide community
gathering places, opportunities for relaxation, passive and active recreation, enjoyment of the natural environment, and a break from the stresses of everyday life. Public open space in Pacifica also defines neighborhoods, establishes urban edges, creates scenic vistas, protects coastal resources, and protects rare and endangered or threatened plants and animals and
their habitats.
Nearly half of the Planning Area land is protected
open space or park land. In addition to large areas
of preserved open space along ridgelines, Pacifica
has over six miles of coastline and beaches, offering
recreation opportunities that include isolated beach
experiences, outstanding fishing, surfing, tide-pooling and diving. Trails provide public access along the Planning Area's ridges and coastline. Pacifica also provides City parks in a variety of sizes for local residents and visitors, maintains a partnership with local school districts making certain recreational facilities available for community use, and has a historic coastal public golf course and clubhouse. Both
existing parks and proposed improvements are
shown on Figure 6-1, Parks and Open Space
System.
City Parks and Playfields
City parks and playfields provide active use areas
and areas for local passive enjoyment for Pacifica
residents. These include district parks, neighborhood
parks, pocket parks, special facilities, and school
grounds. As Table 6-1 shows, Pacifica's City parks
and playfields total just over 240 acres, providing 6.3 acres per 1,000 P;cifica residents in 2020.
District Parks
Pacifica has one park whose size and range of amenities translates to a service area larger_ than the immediate neighborhood. Froritierland Park, at the eastern edge of the Park Pacifica neighborhood, comprises 63
acres. It features a picnic area, sports fields, a children's play area, and undeveloped hillside land. 6-2 PACIFICA G~NERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Neighborhood Parks
Pacifica has six neighborhood parks ranging in size
from about four to 20 acres for a total of 55 acres.
These parks are summarized below, from north to
south.
• Fairmont West Park covers five acres and includes
a soccer field, basketball hoops, and public restrooms. • Fairmont Park comprises six acres and includes a
parking area, a small community building, and a
playground.
• Imperial Park, with 13 acres, is steeply sloping and
largely unimproved. It has a play area accessible
from Imperial Drive.
• Fairway Park provides three baseball diamonds.
• Oddstad Park occupies a mostly wooded 20 acres
on a ridge in Linda Mar, with one access point,
from Crespi Drive, two parking areas, a basketball court, a building used by a theater company, and another building used by a performing arts
school.
• Sanchez Park occupies about half of the 8.8-acre
site of the former Sanchez School, now used as
an arts center. The park contains two t-ball fields
and a soccer field.
Pocket Parks
Pacifica has 11 small parks that provide playlots or
public use areas serving the immediate vicinity.
Edgemar Pa:rk, Skyridge Park, and Pomo Park are
the largest of these, at one to two acres each. Other
pocket parks include the City-owned Horizon,
Brighton, Palmetto, and Portola Mini-Parks, and
privately-developed mini-parks in the Connemara,
Cypress Walk, and Timber Hill subdivisions and on
Monterey Road.
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Packet Pg. 469 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
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Figure 6-1:
Parks and Open Space System
0 Park Opportunity Site
0 Park Improvement
Opportunity
* Points of Interest
c=i Regional Open Space - District, Neighborhood,
& Pocket Parks
- Special Facilities
c=i School Playfields
c=i Priorities for Conservation
c=i Golf Course
Beach
c=i Other Protected Open Space
~ Partial Conservation
with Development
c=i Urban Reserve
'--,__ .. .. .....
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City Limits
- Planning Area Source: City of Pacifica, 2020 S
an Mateo
County, 2020;
Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
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Packet Pg. 470 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Special Facilities
Beach Boulevard Promenade is located above the
seawall in the West Sharp Park neighborhood. It is
served by public parking, and is popular for walking
and jogging. The Promenade provides picnic tables
and access to the Pacifica Pier and Sharp Park Beach.
Pacifica Municipal Pier is one of the Bay Area's most
popular places to fish. The pier is adjacent to the
promenade and picnic area along Beach Boulevard.
A cafe is located at the foot of the pier.
The Grace McCarthy Vista Point, on Sharp Park
Road, features a sheltered viewpoint with benches
overlooking the Sharp Park neighborhood, the Pier,
and the Ocean.
Pacifica Skate Park opened in 2005 and is located
adjacent to the Pacifica Community Center on
Crespi Drive.
School Playfields
Schools provide recreational resources used by the
community, including playing fields, at nine sites
with a total of 112 acres. With the exception of the
Oceana High School pool, the City does not have
a joint-use agreement with either Jefferson Union
High School District or Pacifica School District to
operate fields on evenings or weekends.
Park Standards
The City's park standards, shown in Table 6-2, are
intended to meet the needs for active and passive
recreation and enjoyment of Pacifica residents and
visitors over the planning period. For local-serving
parks, the General Plan provides standards for park
size, service area, and distribution. The table compares these standards to existing park land, and presents a range of park land needs .to keep pace with population growth through the planning period.
Size Range and Service Area
All residents should be within a short walk (onequarter to one-half mile) of either a neighborhood park or usable outdoor area at a school site, but
6-4 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DR.A.FT
not necessarily both. This flexibility underlines the
importance of maintaining outdoor play areas at
school sites for community use after school hours.
Most Pacifica neighborhoods fall within the service
area standards for neighborhood parks or school
play fields. However, Pedro Point, Rockaway Beach,
Rockaway, West Fairway Park, and parts of West
and East Sharp Park, West and East EdgemarPacific Manor, and West Linda Mar do not meet the General Plan's service standard in this category.
Areas where active play areas are not readily accessible should be priorities for future improvements, even if those are as simple as exercise stations and
a playground. Beaches may reasonably make up for
this park shortage in some areas. Meanwhile, only
the southern portion of the City is currently within
three miles of Frontierland Park, Pacifica's only "district park." While an opportunity to change this is not likely, it may become possible in the long term
to convert a portion of Sharp Park or the Oceana
High School campus to a district park with multiuse characteristics.
The General Plan does not specifically establish
acreage standards for regional parks, and no longer
identifies a classification for large City parks of 100+ acres, as this is neither feasible nor needed.
Distribution (Acres per 1,000 Residents)
Pacifica requires developers to dedicate land or pay
an in-lieu fee to provide park land at a ratio of five
acres per 1,000 residents. The citywide ratio (6.3 acres per 1,000) includes school grounds. Distribution
standards by park type are provided in ranges to give
the City flexibility to respond to opportunities and
adapt to potentially changing circumstances.
Recreation Facilities and Needs
A th/etic Fields and Courts
City parks include five baseball fields and two soccer
fields. School sites provide another 15 tennis courts,
10 baseball or softball fields, eight soccer fields, four football fields, three gyms, two full tracks, and two
swimming pools. The Jean E. Brink Pool, located at
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Packet Pg. 471 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Table 6-1: CITY PARKS AND PLAYFIELDS
Park acres1 Park
District Parks Special Facilities
Frontierland Park 63 Grace McCarthy Vista Point
Subtotal 63 Pacifica Skate Park
Neighborhood Parks Rockaway Beach Promenade
Fairmont Park 6.4 Sharp Park Promenade and Pier
Fairmont West Park 4.9 Subtotal
Fairway Park 6.9 School Playfields3
Imperial Park 12.8 Cabrillo School
Oddstad Park 19.9 IB Lacy Middle School
Sanchez Park 4.5 Linda Mar School
Subtotal 55 Ocean Shore School
Pocket Parks Oceana High School
Brighton Mini-Park 0.1 Oddstad School
Connemara Mini-Park2 0.3 Ortega School
Cypress Mini-Park2 0.5 Sunset Ridge School
Edgemar Park 1.2 Terra Nova High School
Horizon Mini-Park 0.1 Vallemar School
Monterey Mini-Park2 0.6 Subtotal
Palmetto Mini-Park 0.1 TOTAL
Pomo Park 0.8 CURRENT PARKS RATI04
Portola Mini-Park 0.2
Skyridge Park 1.9
Timber Hill Mini-Park2 0.3
Subtotal 6.3
1. Acreage subtotals and totals may not add up due to rounding.
2. Private parks created as part of development, these are not counted as City parkland.
3.Owned and operated by Pacifica School District or Jefferson Union High School District.
4. Acres of publicly-owned land per 1,00.0 residents, at 2020 population of 38,330.
Sources: San Mateo County Assessor's Office, 2019; City of Pacifica, Dyett & Bhatia, 2020 Table 6-2: PARK STANDARDS
General Plan Standards Existing
Classification1 Size Range Service area acres/1000 Parkland Persons2
District Parks 20 - 100 acres 1 /2 to 3 miles 1.5 to 2.25 63 Neighborhood Parks 3 - 20 acres 1 /4 to 1 /2-mile 1.5 to 1.75 55 Pocket Parks 2500 sq. ft. - 1 acre Subneighborhood 0.15 to 0.25 6.3 Special Facilities NA City 0.15 to 0.25 5.4
School Playfields 4- 30 acres 1 /4 to 1 /2-mile 2.0 to 3.0 112 TOTAL 6.3 242
1. The Planning Area also includes 2,932 acres of regional park land and beaches.
Existing Ratio
(acres/1000
persons)
1.5 1.3
0.2 0.1
2.7 6.3
2. Total park land acreage standard assures future development will provide new park land at 5 acres per 1,000 residents.
3. Assumes population of 41,450 in 2040, and 5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents provided for new development.
Sources: City of Pacifica, 2019; San Mateo County Assessor's Office, 2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020. acres
2.6 1.4
0.1 1.3
5.4 10.0
4.0 4.0
4.0 19.0
5.0 17.0
11 .0
33.0 5.0
112
242
6.3 New acres
Needed3
Oto 27
4 to 14
Oto 4
Oto 5
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Packet Pg. 472 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Oceana High School, is home to the City o(Pacifica's
aquatics program. The pool at Terra Nova High School
is not open to the public. Pacifica's two high schools
have renovated athletic facilities at both campuses.
Pacifica youth participate at high levels in league
sports, including two soccer and three baseball leagues.
Currently, local sports leagues may use the City's fields for free but may take responsibility for maintenance.
The leagues pay a fee to the school districts for use
of those fields, often using grant money from parent
organizations. There is a shortage of fields for both
organized play and general community use.
Playgrounds
Pacifica currently has 13 playgrounds within its district, neighborhood and pocket parks. West Edgemar-Pacific Manor, much of West Sharp Park, West Fairway Park, Rockaway Beach, and Pedro Point, as
well as much of Linda Mar and Park Pacifica, are not
within walking distance of a playground.
Other Amenities
Many parks have fields where dogs can play or be
walked on-leash, and an off-leash dog park has been
developed at Sanchez Park. Dogs also are allowed
off-leash at Esplanade Beach. A bocce ball court has
been built at the community center, with donated
funds and services.
Parks and Recreation Priorities
According to the California Parks and Recreation
Department, conservation of and access to outdoor
spaces, particularly minimally-developed areas in a
nearly natural state and areas with facilities for
children's play and for exercise and group sports.
Parks also provide a sense of social connectedness.
The desire for natural areas is abundantly met in
Pacifica.
While Pacifica has a good inventoty of park land,
some built-out neighborhoods with limited existing
parkland may experience increasing in-fill density,
leading to unique park needs. Additionally, fiscal
constraints make park maintenance a challenge in
the future. Pacifica is likely to focus on solutions to address park access in built-out neighborhoods, such
as rooftop parks or public plazas, enhancing existing
parks, and evaluating opportunities to create new
parks on underused public land and as part of new
development. Opportunity sites for new parks and
park improvements are shown in Figure 6-1.
Regional Parks and Beaches
Regional Parks
Regional parks and beaches, totaling approximately
2,930 acres, are listed in Table 6-3. This park land
is owned and managed by various agencies, including the National Park Service, the State of California, San Mateo County, the City and County of San Francisco, and the City of Pacifica. The City does
not have permitting authority over park land owned
by other public agencies. While the California redlegged frog and the endangered San Francisco garOddstad Park occupies a mostly wooded 20 acres on a ridge in Linda Mar (left). Pacifica Skate Park could become part of an enhanced community gathering place with diverse attractions (right). 6-6 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAn
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Packet Pg. 473 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption ter snake are noted within the Mori Point and Sharp
Park areas, these or other sensitive species may also
be present in other regional park or beach areas.
GOLDEN GA E NA n NAL RECREA O AR :A
Sweeney Ridge, Mori Point, Milagra Ridge, and
land on Pacifica's Northern Coastal Bluffs are part
of the National Park Service's Golden Gate National
Recreation Area (GGNRA), which extends in segments from Point Reyes, through San Francisco, to the Santa Cruz Mountains. Additional land owned
by the California Coastal Conservancy and the City
of Pacifica on Pedro Point Headlands and Sweeney
Ridge is may be added to the GGNRA in the future.
As of 2018, GGNRA estimated approximately 17
million visitors to the Recreation Area as a whole.
Protected ridges and coastal bluffs in and adjacent
to the GGNRA are features of major local and
regional significance as well as being vantage points
for impressive views of the coast and bayside ridges
and valleys.
Northern Coastal Bluffs
GGNRA manages approximately 17 acres of bluffs
along the ocean in the far northern end of Pacifica,
nearly contiguous with GGNRA-managed coastal
land around Mussel Rock in Daly City. This land
Table 6-3: REGIONAL PARKS AND BEACHES
Park Name or Category
Regional Parks
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Sharp Park2
San Pedro Valley County Park
McNee Ranch State Park3
Subtotal
Beaches
Sharp Park Beach
Rockaway Beach
Pacifica State Beach
Subtotal
TOTAL
Owner
offers wide open views from Palmetto Avenue. There
is currently no improved public access. GGNRA
intends to preserve and enhance the natural and scenic value, with some public access.
Sharp Park
The 400-acre Sharp Park is the result of a 1917 land
bequest by the Murphey family to the City and
County of San Francisco, on the condition that
the land remain in recreational use. Sharp Park has
an 18-hole public golf course, occupying 128 acres
between the ocean berm and Highway 1. It was
established in 1932 and designed by Alister Mackenzie. The Park provides low-cost golf to the general public, with reduced greens fees for Pacifica and San
Francisco residents. The golf course also includes
habitat for the California red-legged frog and the
endangered San Francisco garter snake. In 2009,
the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission
adopted a restoration plan that would retain the golf
course, while also creating more habitat by realigning parts of the course.
Milagra Ridge
The 245-acre Milagra Ridge area provides habitat to
the federally-protected Mission Blue Butterfly and
the San Bruno Elfin Butterfly, which are considAcres
National Park Service or Others1
City and County of San Francisco
San Mateo County
1,958
397
521
22 2,888
State of California
City and County of San Francisco, State of California
Private
State of California, City of Pacifica
14 5
21 40
2,937
1. As of 2021, some GGNRA land is owned by the City of Pacifica, and the California Coastal Conservancy. This includes 5 acres of land, known as the Colt Property in Pedro Point, currently owned by the City of Pacifica.
2. Portion of Sharp Park Beach within Sharp Park is calculated separately below.
3. Only a small portion of McNee Ranch State Park is within the Planning Area.
Source: San Mateo County Assessor's Office, 2019; City of Pacifica, 2021; Dyett & Bhatia, 2021. 6 0
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Packet Pg. 474 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption ered sensitive to human disturbance. The park unit
also offers spectacular views and historic resources.
GGNRA manages Milagra Ridge with the primary goal of protecting and restoring natural habitat, while still providing public access. Access to the park is from a parking lot at the end of College Drive
north of Sharp Park Road. A housing development
on lower Milagra Ridge, Connemara, included the
preservation of 35 acres of open space that could be
transferred to an appropriate public or private land
steward.
Sweeney Ridge
At 1,470 acres, GGNRA's Sweeney Ridge is the largest public open space tract in Pacifica. The park, reaching an elevation of 1,220 feet, offers views to
Mount Tamalpais to the north, Mount Diablo to the
east, Montara Mountain to the south, and the Farallon Islands to the west on clear days. Trailheads are at Skyline College, Shelldance Nursery off Highway
1, and Sneath Lane off Skyline Boulevard. Under
GGNRA's management, Sweeney Ridge's natural
landscape will be protected and trail amenities will
be enhanced, including efforts to improve connections to the regional trail network and surrounding public lands. The City of Pacifica acquired 331 acres
on upper Cattle Hill directly adjoining Sweeney
Ridge on the west, and seeks to transfer the land to
an appropriate public or private land steward.
The San Francisco Bay Discovery Site, where the
Portola Expedition crossed over Sweeney Ridge in
1769 and for the first time came to view the Bay, is
iocated on Sweeney Ridge. It is a National Registerdesignated historic site. Access to chis landmark will be improved, and a hikers' hut added as part of a system of huts proposed for the Bay Area Ridge Trail.
Shelldance Nursery, just off Highway 1 at the base
of Sweeney Ridge, features a display of orchids, bromeliad, and stag head ferns. The site also provides shared-use trailhead parking for access to Sweeney
Ridge and is used for park maintenance. GGNRA's
6-8 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
plans for Shelldance Nursery include new v1s1tor
facilities, a community stewardship/education center, enhanced trailhead parking, and an improved trail connection to Mori Point.
Mori Point
Mori Point, a 106-acre promontory between Sharp
Park and Rockaway beaches, was added to the
GGNRA in 2002. Mori Point is accessible from the
Coastal Trail along Calera Creek, from the Sharp
Park levee at Clarendon and Beach Boulevard, or
from Mori Point Road in the West Fairway Park
neighborhood. The San Francisco garter snake and
California red-legged frog are found on Mori Point,
and the unit is managed for the protection of these
species, while trail enhancements are also being provided.
Pedro Point Headlands
Pedro Point Headlands is the coastal extension of
San Pedro Mountain, jutting into the Pacific west
of Highway 1 north of Devil's Slide. Most of Pedro
Point Headlands within the Planning Area are now
owned by the State of California or the City of.Pacifica. In 2016, the City of Pacifica added five acres of land, known as the Colt Property, to the Headlands
using funds granted by Measure A and the State of
California Habitat Conservation Fund. The constructiori of the Devil's Slide Tunnel allowed the bypassed highway segment to be converted to a trail
in 2014. Parking areas and trailheads are also now
available at this segment, and new trails have been
developed to link the trailhead at the north end with
trails on Pedro Point Headlands. The Headlands will
be managed for habitat protection and public enjoyment. '"I V ,L 0
The Middle and South Forks of San Pedro Creek
flow year-round through the 1, 150-acre San Pedro
Valley County Park, providing spawning habitat for
migratory Steelhead salmon. The park entrance is
reached from the south end of Odds tad Boulevard in
Pacifica; near the entrance the park offers two group
picnic areas and a small visitors' center. During rainy winter months, visitors can see Brooks Falls, which
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Packet Pg. 475 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption has a three-tiered, 175-foot drop. Ten miles of trails
offer both easy walks and challenging climbs to the
ridges, with views to the ocean. Approximately half
of the park is within the Planning Area.
MCNEE RANCH STATE PARK
McNee Ranch State Park adjoins San Pedro Valley
County Park to the west. Trail connections between
the parks allow hikers beginning in Pacifica to reach
the summit of 1,900-foot North Peak and the ocean
at Montara State Beach or Gray Whale Cove. Just 22
acres of this park are within the Planning Area.
Beaches
PAClflCA STATE BEACH
Pacifica State Beach, stretching more than a half
mile between Pedro Point and Aramai Point, is one
of the most popular surfing spots in the San Francisco area. By a 2005 estimate, more than one million visitors use Pacifica State Beach every year. Most of the beach and dunes are owned by the State and
are part of the state parks system, but are managed
by the City of Pacifica. Improvements completed in
2004 included rehabilitation of the Linda Mar Sewage Pumping Station, wetlands restoration, shoreline protection, dune restoration, improvements to the
Coastal Trail, and new public restrooms.
ROC AW Y BEACH
Rockaway Beach lies on a small bay between rocky
headlands. The south end of the beach may be
accessed from a seafront plaza at the end of Rockaway Beach Avenue. A parking lot connects the south end of the beach to a new segment of the Coastal
Trail crossing the Headlands between Rockaway
Beach and Pacifica State Beach. The new section
of Coastal Trail along Calera Creek can be reached
from the north end of Rockaway Beach.
SHARP PA k BEACH AND PACIFICA PIER
Sharp Park Beach extends from Mori Point along the ·
west side of the Sharp Park levee to the West Sharp -
Park neighborhood. The southern section is owned by
the City and County of San Francisco as part of Sharp
Park, while the northern portion is owned by the State.
The beach is open to the public, and is popular for walkNearly 2,000 acres of land in the Planning Area are preserved as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including Sweeney Ridge (top). A restoration plan would retain Sharp Park Golf Course while also creating more habitat (middle). Pacifica State Beach is one of the most popular surfing spots in the San Francisco area (bottom).
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Packet Pg. 476 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption ing. Ir is reached from the south from a small trailhead at Mori Point, and from the north at the Beach Boulevard Promenade, where public parking is available. The Promenade also provides access to Pacifica Pier.
Other Protected Open Space
State planning law (Government Code Section
65560) provides a structure for the preservation of
open space by identifying open space categories.
These are:
• Open space for public health and safety;
• Open space for the preservation of natural
resources;
• Open space for resource management and production;
• Open space for outdoor recreation;
• Open space for the protection of Native American sites.
As summarized in Table 6-4, over 3,600 acres in the
Planning Area are protected open space. The majority
of this is in large regional parks. This parkland serves more than one of the open space functions above: it
may shelter sensitive habitat and feature steep slopes
that present landslide hazards, while also providing
opportunities for recreation.
The Planning Area also includes protected open
space that does not have public access or provide
recreational opportunities, but is preserved in keeping with one of the other state-identified open space Table 6-4: OPEN SPACE INVENTORY
categories. These protected open spaces are shown on
Figure 6-1 as "Other Protected Open Space."
I\J E S COAST L UPLANDS Ar.JD BLU
The General Plan designates certain land for Conservation because it would be unsafe to develop due to slope failure, other seismic hazards, or coastal erosion, and may be considered "Open Space for Public Health and Safety. " These include the greenbelts along the San Andreas Fault corridor in the West
Fairmont, Fairmont, and Westview-Pacific Highlands neighborhoods in the north, the greenbelts along steep slopes in the Linda Mar and Park Pacifica
neighborhoods in the south, and land on the steep
bluffs along Esplanade Avenue. Nearly all of this
land is owned by the City of Pacifica. The rugged
uplands of the Rockaway Quarry site and the cliffs
around Rockaway Headlands are also designated for
conservation and presented as Other Protected Open
Space on Figure 6-1. Overall, protected greenbelts
and coastal bluffs total approximately 170 acres.
DO
Calera Creek's riparian corridor through the Rockaway Quarry site is owned by the City of Pacifica and preserved for its habitat value. Portions of Calera
Creek in the Vallemar neighborhood and San Pedro
Creek in Linda M ar and West Linda Mar are also set
aside for permanent conservation.
D
The City and County of San Francisco owns 434
acres of land within the Planning Area directly east
of GGNRA land on Sweeney Ridge, as part of its
Open Space Type Category Acres
Regional Parks and Beaches Outdoor Recreation, Natural Resources, Health 2,937 & Safety
City Parks Outdoor Recreation 130
Other Protected Space
Greenbelts, Coastal Uplands and Bluffs Public Health and Safety 170 Riparian Corridors Natural Resources 17
Peninsula Watershed Natural Resources 434
TOTAL 3,683
Source: San Mateo County Assessor's Office, 2019; City of Pacifica, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020. 6-10 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 477 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption much larger Peninsula Watershed. The land is managed to protect this critical natural resource.
Open Space Task Force Recommendation
An Open Space Task Force, convened by City Council in 1984 "to identify, prioritize, and seek means for long-range preservation of significant open space in
Pacifica," identified 51 properties as priorities for preservation. Preservation strategies include public acquisition ofland or conservation easements; General Plan and zoning changes; use of Transfer of Development
Rights; and action by a local land trust. The Open
Space Task Force recommendations include land that
has been permanently preserved since the Report was
produced. Land on Mori Point, Pedro Point Headlands, the Northern Coastal Bluffs, Esplanade Bluff, Sharp Park Beach, Pacifica State Beach, and upper
Cattle Hill were acquired by land trusts, the City of
Pacifica, the California Coastal Conservancy, or the
National Park Service for conservation. Land on Milagra Ridge has been permanently conserved as part of the Skyridge and Connemara developments, as well
·· as a portion of the Harmony @l development (now
known as Ohlone Point) south of Rockaway Beach,
providing models for conservation with development.
Open Space Priorities
The General Plan identifies land on the Northern
Coastal Bluffs and the bluffs along Esplanade Avenue as priorities for permanent conservation because of the presence of sensitive natural communities and
the risks of development along the coast. Land may
be managed by GGNRA, the City, or others, with
development rights transferred with use of the City's
TDR program.
On a variety of other sites shown on Figure 6-1 as
"Partial Conservation with Development," open
space is expected to be preserved as part of development.
Open Space Conservation with Development
Land identified for "Partial Conservation with
Development," as shown on Figure 6-1, includes portions of Gypsy Hill, the Quarry, and Fassler Ridge where conservation areas should be determined
based on habitat needs and site conditions. Having
Conservation will use strategies such as clustered
development, conservation easements, and transfer
of development rights.
This land is designated for very low-density or lowintensity development, and permanent open space protection is expected to occur along with development. Habitat and other natural resources also will be protected by federal and State laws that protect
wetlands, water quality, and Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHAs) in the Coastal Zone.
Development on steep or unstable sites also will be
limited to safe areas based on Chapter 8, Safety.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVJEW DRAFT 6-11
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Packet Pg. 478 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a ~ -
Guiding Policies
OC-G-1 e} Development of City Parks. Create
and enhance neighborhood and pocket
parks and plazas to provide access to
local recreational space to all Pacifica
residents.
OC-G-2 e) Recreation Facilities. Enhance outdoor recreation facilities and services in local parks, in coordination wi~h youth
and adult leagues and community groups
with priority given to sports fields and
off-leash dog play areas.
OC-G-3 e) Community Gathering Place. Create or enhance one or more public plazas or central gathering places where all
Pacifica residents come together. This
place or places should be connected with
concentrated, mixed use areas.
OC-G-4 i) School Playfields. Continue to cooperate with the school districts to make school play fields available for public use
after school hours.
OC-G-5 i) Open Space Preservation. Preserve open space that protects natural resources, visual amenities, and public
health and safety.
The top priority areas for conservation are
beaches, oceanfront bluffs, ridgelines, hillsides areas adjacent to existing open space, and areas that support critical wildlife habitat and endangered species. See Figure 6-1.
OC-G-6 e) Coastal Areas Suited for Water-Oriented Recreation. Continue to protect coastal areas suited for water-oriented
recreational activities.
6-12 PACIFl(A GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
The City must work to ensure community use of recreation facilities at school sites (top). Dedication of land or payment of in-lieu fees to provide park land at a ratio of five acres per 1,000 residents has resulted in pocket parks such as this one on Timber Hill Street (middle). The General Plan emphasizes improvements to enhance the quality of existing parks, including Sanchez Park (bottom).
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Packet Pg. 479 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption This policy applies to, but is not limited to,
the following: fishing at Pacifica Pier, suifing and other water recreation at Pacifica State Beach.
Implementing Policies
City Parks and School Playfie!ds
OC-1-1 Park Land Dedication or In-Lieu
Fees. For new development, continue to
require the dedication ofland or payment
of in-lieu fees to provide park land at a
ratio of five acres per 1,000 residents.
OC-1-2 Park Development to Meet Park
Standards. Develop new parks in a
timely manner using in-lieu fees or land
dedicated as part of new development, to
ensure that Citywide park and recreation
space is available to the community at a
ratio of 6.3 acres per· 1,000 residents by
2040.
OC-1-3 Community Use of School Grounds
and Recreation Facilities. Explore jointuse agreements and seek to strengthen these as needed to ensure community use
of play areas and indoor recreation facilities at school sites.
OC-1-4 Emphasize Park Maintenance and
Improvements. Enhance existing parks
to improve the quality and usability of
. Pacifica's park land, _and make improvements such that park facilities are equitably distributed throughout Pacifica. In particular:
• Improve existing sports fields in partnership with local non-profit youth and adult athletic groups; ·
• Add playgrounds or expand play areas
at Fairway, Imperial, and Oddstad
parks;
• Convert parking area to park space at
Oddstad, and make improvements at
the park's entrance.
• Provide an off-leash dog area at a location in the northern part of the City.
OC-1-5 Sanchez Park Improvements. Target
Sanchez Park for improvements so that
it functions as a complete neighborhood
park, with a playground and passive use
areas, including a viewing area at San
Pedro Creek. Study improvements to the
usability of the dog park including
drought-tolerant plants and trees, softer
surfacing, water features, and picnic
benches. Integrate the arts center in the
former school building into the park.
OC-1-6 Multi-Use Park Site. Pursue opportunities to provide a district-scale park, using existing public open space, that would be
a hub for group sports and athletic facilities. Potential locations may include:
• Oceana High School recreation facilities transferred from or shared with JUHSD, with City park improvements;
• New facilities developed on and
around the former rifle range in the
upland portion of Sharp Park; and
• Park land with a coastal setting on
developable portions of the Quarry
site.
OC-1-7 Community Center Park. Pursue development of a park with diverse and unique features, around and including the existing Community Center and Skate Park, with easy access by all modes of travel.
New features could include a more prominent interpretive settingfor the historic Portola campsite; visitor orientation and
restrooms; a playground t!.nd picnic area;
and a viewing area facing adjacent wetlands.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-13
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Packet Pg. 480 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption OC-1-8 Sanchez Adobe Park. Work with San
Mateo County to pursue development of
a more park-like setting for the Sanchez
Adobe while preserving historic and
cultural resources, following the 2007
Master Plan.
OC-1-9 Parks as Part of Future Development. Create future public spaces, accessible to the community, as part of
the redevelopment of publicly-owned
sites and of larger privately-owned sites,
including the Rockaway Quarry site, the
undeveloped San Pedro Avenue site, and
the Milagra Canyon site.
OC-1-10 ~ Pocket Park Opportunity Sites on
Public Land. Explore opportunities to
develop pocket parks on public land that
is not otherwise needed as neighborhood
gathering places and play areas.
Potential sites are on street stubs or rightofway not needed to serve future development, and within easy walking distance to adjacent residences. Amenities should
include, but not be limited to, play or exercise equipment in park-deficient areas, and benches or picnic tables at scenic overlook
points.
OC-1-11 Parks Landscaping. Promote landscapes
with native vegetation, which requires
little maintenance, little water, makes
good wildlife habitat, and is fire resistant,
in landscaping of City parks.
OC-1-12 Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Department. Continue to support the varied activities of the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Department. Periodically review their activities to ensure that programs
are meeting public needs.
Regional Parks and Beaches
OC-1-13 ~ Public Access Improvements and
Habitat Restoration. Support GGNRA
in implementing habitat restoration and
6-14 PACIFICA GENEFIAL PJ...AN PUBL,C REVIEW DRAFT
Greenbelts along steep slopes are designated for permanent conservation (top). Permanent conservation of private land on the Northern Coastal Bluffs would protect sensitive natural communities and protect against coastal erosion (middle). Future development on sites identified as "Partial Conservation with Developmen't" should include conservation areas based on habitat needs and site conditions (bottom).
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Packet Pg. 481 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption public access improvements at its park
units in the Planning Area, including
Sweeney Ridge, Milagra Ridge, Mori
Point, and the Northern Coastal Bluffs.
OC-1-14 Cattle Hill. Complete the planned transfer of City-owned land on Cattle Hill to GGNRA to allow the National Park Service to coordinate park land management and trail access and improvements.
OC-1-15 Pedro Point Headlands. Complete
the planned transfer of City-owned land
on Pedro Point Headlands to an appropriate public or private land steward, and pursue land and/or trail easement acquisition if necessary to connect Headlands trails with the Coastal Trail in Pacifica.
OC-1-16 Northern Coastal Bluffs. Promote
the permanent conservation of private
land on the Northern Coastal Bluffs
to protect sensitive natural communities and protect against coastal erosion.
Managed protected land together with
adjacent GGNRA land.
OC-1-17 i} _Sharp Park. Support the continued
operation of golf at Sharp Park Golf
Course, and support development of
additional recreational uses in upland
portions of the Park.
The long-term management approach must
protect existing development from hazards;
protect and restore habitat; and maintain
public access to and along the beach.
OC-1-18 .i) Sharp Park and Pacifica State
Beaches. Maintain partnership with the
State of California in ownership and
management of Sharp Park Beach and
Pacifica State Beach, balancing public
access with protection of habitat and
shoreline conditions.
OC-1-19 Rockaway Beach._Ensure that
public access to Rockaway Beach (from
Points
17 and 19 through 20 on the Coastal
Access map, Figure 6-3) is maintained.
Other Protected Opf}n Space
OC-1-20 Partial Conservation with Development. On sites shown on Figure 6-1 as "Partial Conservation with Development," require that high-value open space be protected as part of any development.
Protected open space need not be publicly accessible, but trail easements may be required to complete trail segments identified in the General Plan.
OC-1-21 Development Strategies to Preserve
Open Space. Continue to promote
density-open space trade-offs, such as
clustering development, transferring
development rights from sensitive to less
sensitive land, and dedication or protection of open space through covenants or consecutive easements.
OC-1-22 Open Space Restoration. Continue to
support local volunteer or community
service organizations in implementing revegetation programs on the City's greenbelts or elsewhere to reduce erosion
potential and enhance the visual quality
of these areas for adjacent neighborhoods.
The Coastal Trail runs nearly the length of the City, including this segment along the dunes at Pacifica State Beach.
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Packet Pg. 482 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
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·~ .. _r- ........ ... .. .. - ,
Figure 6-2: Trail System
----- Existing Trails
-=---- Existing On-Street Trail Routes
Proposed Trails or
Trail Improvements
Proposed On-Street
Trail Routes
---Coastal Trail
■ Existing Trail Heads
D Trail Heads to be Improved
® Visitor Parking Lots
Q Existing SR 1 Crossing ,t,;,"==- ... ,1 •• , j Proposed SR 1 Crossing ~ Regional Open Space -
Neighborhood, District
and Pocket Parks
~ Golf Course
~ Other Protected Open Space
CJ
~
Partial Conservation
with Development
School Playfields
l 00 ft Contour
City Limits
Planning Area
Source: City of Pacifica, 2020; San Mateo
County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
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Packet Pg. 483 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
6.2 TRAIL SYSTEM
Existing Trails in the Planning Area
The Planning Area has 67 miles of trails through
GGNRA land in San Pedro Valley County Park,
and along the coast, including segments along City
streets. Historically, the City has sought to create a
system that includes a coastal trail, a ridgeline trail, and lateral trails connecting the ridgeline to the
coast, as shown in Figure 6-2.
Coastal Trail
Pacifica's Coastal Trail currently runs almost the
length of the Planning Area, from the Daly City
boundary to Pedro Point Shopping Center. The
route follows Palmetto Avenue alongside the Northern Coastal Bluffs, turns onto Esplanade Avenue through the West Edgemar-Pacific Manor neighborhood, and follows Palmetto again through West Sharp Park. The tra:il then branches into two parallel routes. The western route travels along the levee between Sharp Park Golf Course and Sharp Park
Beach, and then east along the north side of Mori
Point. The eastern route follows Francisco Boulevard
south, meeting the other trail at the Mori Point trailhead. From this point, the Coastal Trail follows a path alongside Highway 1 and then arcs west along
the restored section of Calera Creek in the Rockaway Quarry site. After a short on-street segment in the Rockaway Beach district, the trail follows a path
over Aramai Point and then along the inland side of
the dunes at Pacifica State Beach. The trail currently
comes to an end at the south end of the beach.
The City in 2015 acquired an approximately fiveacre parcel in the Pedro Point Headlands, known as the Colt Property, which provided a critical link to
other publicly-owned land in the Headlands. As a
result, it should be possible co construct a trail west of Highway 1 to extend the Coastal Trail from its
current terminus southward through the Pedro Point
Headlands to connect with the Devil's Slide Trail.
Ridge Trails
The Sweeney Ridge trail, a segment of the Bay Area
Ridge Trail, extends from the Portola Gate at the
boundary of the Peninsula Watershed in the south
to Milagra Ridge in the north. Lateral trail connections exist along Mori Ridge and Cattle Hill to the west, and the Sneath Lane right-of-way to the
east. Trailheads with parking lots are at Milagra
Ridge and Skyline College to the north and northeast, Shell dance Nursery off of Highway 1 to the west, and Sneath Lane off of Skyline Boulevard to
the east. There is also a trailhead at the top of Fassler Avenue where the City completed parking and access
improvements in 2020.
Milagra Ridge has a three-quarter mile hiking trail
on paved road and/or dirt trail, bringing visitors to
overlook points. Access to the trails is from a parking lot at the end of the College Drive extension north
of Sharp Park Road. A new trail, the Milagra Battery Trail, was completed in 2016 and provides access west across the lower Milagra Ridge from a small
parking lot at the end of Connemara Drive.
County and State Park Trails
In the San Pedro Valley County Park, approximately
ten miles of trails offer both easy walks and challenging climbs to the ridges, with views to the ocean. The park entrance at the south end of Oddstad Boulevard has parking, a small visitors' center, restrooms, and picnic areas.
In McNee .Ranch State Park trail connections allow
hikers beginning in Pacifica to reach the summit of
1,900-foot North Peak and the ocean at Montara
State Beach or Gray Whale Cove.
Pedro Point Headlands
Trails at Pedro Point bring hikers from a trailhead on
Highway 1 to an overlook point and to Pedro Summit. The trailhead created with the opening of the Devil's Slide Tunnel in 2014 has created a new public
parking lot. As mentioned above, a trail connection
is planned to fill the gap in the Coastal Trail between Pedro Point Shopping Center and Devil's Slide Trail.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC l'{EVIEW DRAFT 6-17
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Packet Pg. 484 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Trailheads and Parking Areas
Existing trailheads are located at the Beach Boulevard Promenade; Mori's Point Road; Shelldance Nursery; Rockaway Beach; Crespi Drive at Highway 1; Pacifica State Beach; San Pedro Valley County Park; Milagra Ridge; and Fassler Avenue. Planning
Area trails also can be reached from trailheads outside the City Limits to the east at Skyline College and at Sneath Lane, and to the south on Highway 1
approaching Devil's Slide.
Priorities for Enhancing Pacifica's Trail
System
Developing an integrated trail system, as proposed
in this Plan, will enhance access to and enjoyment
of Pacifica' s natural resources for both residents and visitors. It will make possible a variety of loop walks taking in a diversity of scenery and connecting large
open spaces with Pacifica's activity centers. The trail system will function both as a system with a Pacifica
identity, and as a link in regional and state trail systems.
The Plan proposes four areas of improvement. First,
new trail segments are needed to connect the Coastal
and Ridge trails and to provide better access to and
through Pacifica's neighborhoods. Second, new and
improved crossings of Highway 1 are needed to make
the new trail connections work. Third, new trailheads and improvements are needed to assure access at locations that reinforce existing activity centers.
And fourth, a signage and wayfinding program is
proposed to make the overall system legible both as a
Pacifica system and as part of the California Coastal
Trail and Bay Area Ridge Trail.
6-18 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Deve/op.a direct pedestrian route between the Sharp Park Beach Promenade and upper Sharp Park Road (top). Connect the Portola Expedition Camp with the San Francisco Bay Discovery Site on Sweeney Ridge, giving visitors the experience of this historic route (middle). Support the development of a new Highway 1 over-crossing at Mori Point, enhancing the Shel/dance Nursery location as a central point from which to explore Pacifica's trail system (bottom).
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Packet Pg. 485 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a . See
also policies in section 5-4: Pedestrian and Bicycle
Network.
Guiding Policies
OC-G-7 Trail System Expansion. Expand
the trail system in Pacifica to create a
connected trail network with communicywide links to open space and recreation facilities, as shown on Figure 6-2.
Implementing Policies
OC-1-23 New Segments of California Coastal
Trail in Pacifica. Create new trail segments through Rockaway Quarry uplands and the Headlands as part of
development or as separate Coastal Trail
initiatives.
OC-1-24 Coastal Trail at Devil's Slide and
Between Pacifica and Devil's Slide.
Work with involved agencies and property owners to achieve a trail connection west of Highway 1 between Pedro Point
Shopping Center and the Devil's Slide
north trailhead.
OC-1-25 ~ Pedro Point Headlands Ti:ails. In
coordination with GGNRA and the
California Coastal Conservancy, support trail improvements on Pedro Point Headlands, and extension of these trails
to the new trailhead at the north end of
Devil's Slide.
OC-1-26 ~ Pedestrian Improvements on Palmetto and Esplanade. Make sidewalk and streetscape improvements along
Coastal Trail segments of Palmetto and
Esplanade Avenues a priority.
Streetscape improvements for Palmetto Avenue will also support a pedestrian-oriented mixed use district in West Sharp Park and
may provide far a separated path along the
Northern Coastal Bluffi.
OC-1-27 Lateral Ridge Trail Extensions.
In coordination with GGNRA, pursue
lateral ridge trail extensions, providing
new connections between the Coast and
Sweeney Ridge.
• Extend the Baquiano Trail and Ahni
Trail down Fassler Avenue and across
private land to Crespi Drive and Highway 1 as part of the Ohlone-Portola Heritage Trail. This would connect the
Portola Expedition Camp with the San
Francisco Bay Discovery Site on Sweeney Ridge, giving visitors the experience of this historic route. • Extend the Farallon View Trail spur
west on a new easement with a new
trailhead on Caltrans land, or a shared
parking agreement with the church at
the base of the hill.
• Extend the Milagra Ridge trail west
across preserved land on the lower
ridge.
• Provide a safe and attractive connection between the foot of the Milagra Ridge Trail and the coastal access
point north of the San Francisco RV
Park.
OC-1-28 ~ Highway 1 Over-Crossing at Mori
Point. Support the development of a
new over-crossing between Shelldance
Nursery and Mori Point, in coordination
with GGNRA and Caltrans to enhance
visitor facilities in Pacifica. As an interim
alternative, strengthen signage and safe
connections to the existing Sharp Park
Golf Course undercrossing in the East
Fairway Park neighborhood.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-19
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Packet Pg. 486 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption OC-1-29 Sharp Park Trail. Encourage GGNRA,
San Francisco Recreation and Parks or
others to create a new trail from Rifle
Range Road to the Sweeney Ridge Trail
to enhance recreational use of Sharp Park
and provide public access in a wooded
area unique in Pacifica.
OC-1-30 ~ Harry Dean Trail. Improve and
extend existing trails connecting Cityowned parks and open spaces in Pacifica' s northern neighborhoods to reach Skyline
Boulevard on the east and Westline Drive
along the Northern Coastal Bluffs.
OC-1-31 e) Pier to Ridge Trail. Develop a direct
pedestrian route between the Beach Boulevard Promenade and upper Sharp Park Road, also connecting the West and East
Sharp Park neighborhoods. Improvements should include:
• A new trail extending east from the
top of Talbot Road to Sharp Park
Road, with a public access easement;
• Pedestrian improvements and trail signage along Talbot Road and San Jose or Santa Rosa Avenue; and
• Replacement or rehabilitation of the
Highway 1 over-crossing to enhance
pedestrian access between the West
and East Sharp Park neighborhoods.
OC-1-32 San Pedro Valley Trail. Develop a
pedestrian route between Pacifica State
Beach and San Pedro Valley County Park
through the Linda Mar and West Linda
Mar neighborhoods, including enhancement of the San Pedro Terrace right-ofway; sidewalk improvements and signage along Rosita Road; and connections to
the Sanchez Adobe and Old San Pedro
Mountain Road.
6-20 PACIFICA GENE1AL ~LAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
OC-1-33 e) Enhanced Visitor Services at Shelldance Nursery. Support the proposal for enhanced visitor services at the Shelldance Nursery site, including an education/visitors' center, additional parking, and better access, to be implemented by
GGNRA.
Shelfdance Nursery may become the hub of
Pacifica's trail system, with direct access to
coastal and ridge trails, visitor amenities,
and proximity to visitor-oriented commercial areas.
OC-1-34 e) Hikers' 14-ttts--Facilities and Related
Amenities. Support the development of
hikers' htttsfacilities, kiosks, or cabiAs
for hikers on Sweeney Ridge aAd at
Rockav,<a.y Headlands, and the
development ofcS:fflpgrounds on
s-iresand related amenities where
sufficient management and services can
be provided by the property owner or
operator.
OC-1-35 ~ Signage and Wayfinding. Develop
the overall image and accessibility of
Pacifica's natural assets, through a program of consistent and attractive signage for the trail system.
• Provide wayfinding signage along all
on-street portions of the trail system;
at junctions of off-street trails; and at
trailheads.
• Provide interpretive signage to identify landforms visible from viewpoints; provide information about the natural environment and sensitive species; information about historical and cultural points of interest; information
about unique features of Pacifica; and
other subjects.
1.c
Packet Pg. 487 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Support bluff trail
Northern
Coast11l
Bl11ffs
development on
(GGNRA)
Pursue small public park and trail
in 400-block of Esplanade Avenue ----1
if feasible
Improve public access and ------< restore bluff conditions Maintain public parking as part------=:::::;;:i!"',~ 1F=! of redevelopment of City-owned
Beach Boulevard property
Pacific
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GGNRAland
,---~---~_;:
' '
Provide additional signage and , 1[]/ ''o, / :,, : ! __ ,,. .. , ... ,!, amenities at Crespi Drive parking \!.:~',-/1,,,?ii;,,-------i-- Ensure public access.'robeach lot in relation to proposed extension -.:'l'-141--.\\--':i.,;,;.~ ', ', of Baquiano Trail • -::-------- Provide public trail to ovlfrlook point as part of development
Improve new segment of or land conservation
Coastal Trail along former Pa,ifi,a
railroad berm Srate Beach
··········• ...
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Figure 6-3: Coastal Access
© Coastal Access Points
(Bluff-top/View)
@ Coastal Access Points
(Beach)
c=i Regional Open Space
-
Neighborhood &
District Parks
c=i Golf Course
Beach
c=i Conservation
c=i Partial Conservation
with Development
c=i School Playfields
City Limits
Planning Area
Source: City of Pacifica, 2020; San Mateo
County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
1.c
Packet Pg. 488 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Each trail should have an identity as part
of the Pacifica trail system (e.g., Trail]-
Coastal Trail). Where routes are shared
with the California Coastal Trail or the
Bay Area Ridge Trail, these should also be
identified.
OC-1-36 ~ Pacifica Parks and Trails Map and
Guide. Develop a map of Pacifica' s parks
and trails to support recreation activities,
marketing and outreach efforts.
Table 6-5: COAST AL ACCESS POINTS
Map Name Beach Ownership Detail Proposed Improvement
Access?
North City No GGNRA Bluff top. Isolated beach access using Support bluff trai l Boundary informal trails. Erosion concerns. development on GGNRA land. 2 West Fairmont No GGNRA Bluff top. Isolated beach access using Support bluff trail informal trails. Erosion concerns. development on GGNRA land.
Foredune No GGNRA Bluff top. Support bluff trail development on GGNRA Isolated land.
beach
access using
informal
trails.
Erosion
concerns.
3 Pacific No Private Bluff top. Accessible from Palmetto Avenue View Villas or from trail at Oceanaire Apartments.
Condominiums
4 Lands End Yes Private High bluffs. Path and stairway to beach Apartments avai lable to public, privately maintained.
5 Esplanade at No City Steep bluffs. Coastal erosion has resulted Pursue small public park and Manor in loss of houses, and fencing across entire trail on bluff-top in 400-block stretch. of Esplanade Avenue if
feasible
6 San Francisco No Private Bluff top. Lateral trail connects to RV Park 500-block of Esplanade Avenue.
7 South of San Yes Private Coastal bluffs. Bea~h accessible by informal Improve publ ic access and Francisco RV (public path. Off-street parking provided. Erosion restore bluff conditions.
Park easement) concerns.
8 Cottages at No Private Bluff top. Lateral trail along bluff.
Seaside
9 Northern Beach No City -Seawall along Beach Boulevard and Boulevard armored bluff shoreline. No parking.
10 Pacifica Pier Yes City Access to beach at San Jose, Montecito Maintain public parking and Vicinity Avenues across armored bluffs, and to as part of redevelopment Pier at end of Santa Rosa Avenue. Popular of City-owned 2212 Beach fishing area. Erosion concerns. Pa rking at Boulevard property City-owned lot.
11 Beach Yes City and Low bluffs between beach and park.
Boulevard State Popular for walking, jogging, fishing, ocean Promenade viewing, beachcombing. Parking available
along Beach Boulevard.
12 Clarendon Road Yes City and Access to long beach across very low bluffs, State protective berm. Parking available along
Beach Boulevard.
6-22 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 489 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Table 6-5: COAST AL ACCESS POINTS
Map Name Beach Ownership Detail Proposed Improvement ... ... .. .. Access? 13 Sharp Park, Yes City/County Beach access from south end of berm.
South End of SF Access point is reached by GGNRA's Mori 0 Point Trail. m " z
14 Mori Point No GGNRA Steep rocky bluffs, subject to rockfalls. Trail V, improvements and habitat restoration in " )>
n progress. m
15 Mori Point Yes GGNRA Small parking lot at Mori Point Rd. & )> z
Public Parking Bradford Way. Mori Point Trail provides 0 Lot access to beach and bluff top trails. n
0 16 Calera Creek Yes City Small parking lot west of Reina del Mar s:
Public Parking & Highway 1 intersection. Calera Creek s:
Lot Multi-use Trail provides access to Rockaway c::
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Beach =i
17 Rockaway Yes City, private Low armored bluffs to sandy beach. Ensure public access. -<
..,, Beach, North Informal beach access. Public parking lot )> End provides access to beach, most of which is n
privately-owned ,-
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18 Rockaway No City Promenade above seawall provides ocean m V,
Beach Seawall views. Parking available in private lots or on-street.
19 Rockaway Yes Private Gentle slope to sandy beach. Popular for Ensure public access to the Beach, South surfing, ocean viewing. Served by public beach.
End parking lot for 60 vehicles. Also a trail head
for Coastal Trail.
20 Aramai Point No Private Headlands with steep cliffs descending to Provide public trail to cobble beach. No formal access. Erosion overlook point as part concerns. of development or land
conservation.
21 North End of Yes State Unrestricted access along beach and Pacifica State Coastal Trail. Nearest parking at public lot Beach at Crespi Drive.
22 Central Pacifica Yes State Unrestricted beach access, and access to Provide additional signage State Beach Coastal Trail. Public lot across Highway 1 at and amenities at Crespi Crespi Drive provides 175 parking spaces, Drive parking lot in relation restrooms and changing facilities/ to proposed extension of Baquiano Trail.
23 South End of Yes State Unrestricted beach access and access to Pacifica State Coastal Trail. Public parking for State Beach Beach provided in two parking lots, accessed from
Highway 1 and San Pedro Avenue.
24 North Side Yes Private Informal trail access, and customer parking Improve new segment of Pedro Point at shopping center. Coastal Trail along former Shopping railroad berm.
Center
25 Oceanshore No Private Narrow sandy beach backed by private Railroad Berm residences and the old Oceanshore Railroad berm, about 80-100 feet in height.
26 Shelter Cove No Private Steep bluff. Access by steep, informal trail on private land. High-up views over Shelter
Cove, Pedro Point.
27 Pedro Point No Public . Headlands with steep cliffs. Limited trail Access improvements Headlands access exists from trailhead at Highway 1. expected as a result of proposed construction of
the Coastal Trail between
Pedro Point Shopping Center
and the Devil's Slide north
trail head.
Source: City of Pacifica General Plan, 1980; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVJEW DRAFT 6-23
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Packet Pg. 490 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
6.3 COASTAL ACCESS
The 1976 California Coastal Act requires that coastal
jurisdictions maintain coastal land use plans, including a public access component to coordinate public and private access improvements. The General Plan
identifies coastal access points in Pacifica; these are listed in Table 6-5, and shown in Figure 6-3. Some
of the access points are privately-owned, while others are on public land. Two types of access points are distinguished: those that provide beach access, and
those that provide bluff-top access or views.
Coastal Access Points with Beaches
Public access to beaches in Pacifica exists at Sharp
Park Beach, Rockaway Beach, and Pacifica State
Beach. The shore can also be reached by a wooden
stairway at Lands End Apartments in the West Edgemar-Paciflc Manor neighborhood, and a public easement on the south side of the San Francisco RV Park.
Coastal Access Points at Bluff-tops or
Overlook Points
Bluff-top or promontory access with views over the
coastline exists at Mori Point and on the Northern
Coastal Bluffs. Direct views to the Ocean are provided at Esplanade Avenue; along Beach Boulevard; at Rockaway Beach; and from the Ocean Shore Railroad berm and the top of Kent Road in the Pedro Point neighborhood. A multi-purpose trail was
constructed in 2006 at the south end of Esplanade
directly north of the RV Park.
Coastal Access Improvements
General Plan policies identify additional coastal
access improvements. These include enhanced access
to the shore south of the RV Park and enhanced
access to bluffs and viewing areas along the Northern Coastal Bluffs, Pedro Point and Rockaway Headlands.
Promote potential trail improvements by GGNRA to create controlled public access to the bluffs while protecting Northern Coastal scrub and other vegetation (top).
6-24 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVltW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 491 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Coastal Access with Development
According to the Coastal Act, new development is
required to provide maximum beach access from the
nearest public roadway to the shoreline and along
the shoreline, except where specific conditions apply.
This provision does not apply to all types of new
development, including reconstruction of a single
family house or improvements to structures which
do not change the intensity of use (California Public
Resources Code Section 30210-30214).
The City is planning improvements to the public access point south of the San Francisco RV Park (top). Ensure permanent public access to Rockaway Beach, and pursue opportunities to enhance it (bottom).
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
OC-G-8 Coastal Access and Recreational
Opportunities. Provide maximum
coastal access and recreational opportunities for all people consistent with public safety and the need to protect
public rights, rights of property owners,
and natural resource areas from overuse,
including access at each point identified
on Figure 6-3.
OC-G-9 Management of Public Access.
OC-G-10
Regulate the time, place, and manner
that public access is provided, based on
such factors as topographic and site constraints; the fragility of natural resources; public safety; and the privacy of adjacent
residential uses.
Distribution of Public Coastal
Facilities. Continue to distribute pu,blic
facilities, including parking areas or facilities, so as to mitigate against the impacts of overcrowding or overuse by the public
of any single area.
Implementing Policies
OC-1-37 ~ Public Shoreline Access. Continue
to ensure that new development does not
interfere with the public's right of access
to the sea where public access to the sea
has been acquired through use or legislative authorization, including, but not limited to, the use of dry sand and rocky
coastal beaches to the first line of terrestrial vegetation.
Formalized public access locations are
shown on the Open Space and Trails map
in the General Plan and in the Public
Access and Recreation chapter of the Local
Coastal Land Use Plan.
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Packet Pg. 492 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption OC-1-38 ~ New Development and Coastal
Access.Require that new development
along the coastline provide public access
from the nearest public roadway to the
shoreline and along the coast, and be
designed to minimize impacts to public
coastal access and recreation. Ensure
that impacts are mitigated through the
dedication of access or trail easements or
the provision of improvements to other
public access points.
The City may grant exceptions to this
requirement where public access would pose
a safety risk or threat to fragile resources, or
where adequate access exists nearby.
OC-1-39 ~ Private Roads and Gates. Prohibit
gates and other barriers designed to
regulate or restrict access on private roads
· where such barriers have the potential to
impede access to public trails and recreational areas.
OC-1-40 ~ Maintenance of Public Coastal
Access. Require a public or private entity
to be responsible for required public
access ways. Until such an entity agrees
to be responsible for liability and maintenance of such access ways, they are not required to be open for public use.
Dedicated public access ways should
be designed to provide views as well as
access connections to or along the shore.
OC-1-41 . ~ Impediments to Public Access. Prohibit restrictions on public parking that would adversely affect public access to
beaches, trails, or other recreational lands
along the coast except where necessary
to protect public safety. Such restrictions
include the installation of "private beach"
and ''.private parking" signs, landscaping, and painting red curbs in the public right-of-way.
OC-1-42 ~ Structures on Public Beaches. Limit
structural development on public beaches
6-26 PACIFICA GENlRAL PLAN PUBLIC REV F.W DRAFT
to that which is necessary for public
access or safety, such as lifeguard towers,
waste receptacles, or wheelchair accessways. Such development shall be able to be removed or relocated, and shall be
sited and designed to minimize adverse
impacts on public access, recreation, and
coastal resources.
OC-1-43 i) Adjustment of Lateral Shoreline
Easements. Require that new lateral
shoreline easements, where required,
automatically adjust as needed to move
in response to changes to the shoreline
("rolling easements"). ..
New development must demonstrate that
Lateral access can be maintained for the
expected Life of the project, including
consideration of effects from sea Level rise.
Alternatively, the City may determine
that Lateral public access is not necessary
where public access would pose a safety
risk or threat to fragile resources, or where
adequate access exists nearby.
Alternatively, the Planning Director may
determine that Lateral public access is not
necessary.
OC-1-44 i) Temporary Events. Ensure that temporary events minimize impacts to public access, recreation, and coastal resources
through the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation special events permitting process.
Consistent with Coastal Commission
Guidelines, a Coastal Development Permit shall not be required unless the event · meets all of the following criteria:
• ls held between Memorial Day week..:
end and Labor Day; .
• It occupies all or part of a public sandy
beach area; and,
• It involves a charge for general public
admission or seating where no fee is
currently charged for use of the same
area (not including booth or entry
fees.)
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Packet Pg. 493 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 6 0
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The public has continuous access to the beach at Pacifica State Beach, and to other beaches in the City.
OC-1-45 Fees and Time Restrictions. Ensure OC-1-49 Beach Boulevard. Ensure that public that public beaches and parks in the access to the coast at the Promenade and Coastal Zone maintain free and lower- Pier (Points 9 and 10 on Figure 6-3) is cost user fees and parking fees, and mini- maintained and enhanced by redevelmize parking lot and beach curfews to opment at the City-owned 2212 Beach the extent feasible in order to maximize Boulevard site, including continuation of public access and recreation opportuni- public parking. ties. OC-1-50 ~ Rockaway Beach. Ensure that public
OC-1-46 ~ Northern Coastal Bluffs. Promote access to Rockaway Beach (from Points potential trail improvements by GGNRA 17 and 19 on Figure 6-3) is maintained. to create controlled public access to the OC-1-51 Rockaway Headlands. On the Headbluffs, while protecting Northern Coastal lands south of Rockaway Beach, create scrub and other vegetation. (See Points 1 public access to coastal views (Point 20 and 2 on Figure 6-3.) on Figure 6-3).
OC-1-47 ~ Esplanade Bluff. Develop a small OC-1-52 ~ Pedro Point Headlands. Extend public park or viewing area and a trail trails on Pedro Point Headlands to a on City-owned bluff top land along the coastal overlook point. (See Point 27 on 400-block of Esplanade Avenue (Point 5 Figure 6-3.)
on Figure 6-3), if such improvements are
feasible. OC-1-53 ~ Rockaway Quarry.Jf a safe public
OC-1-48 Coastal Access Point South of RV
route can be developed on the Quarry
Park. Complete planned improvements uplands, create coastal access along a new trail connecting Rockaway Beach with
to public access along the easement south Mori Point, as part of a conservation pro- of the RV Park (Point 7 on Figure 6-3), posal or new development. including trail improvements and natural restoration.
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-27
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Packet Pg. 494 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
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MILES
Figure 6-4:
Schools and Community Facilities
Schools
Public School
Private School
Emergency Services
- Police Station
Fire Station
Other Community Facilities
- Community Facility
City Limits
Planning Area
Source: City of Pacifica, 2020; San Mateo
County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
1.c
Packet Pg. 495 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 6A SCHOOLS AND
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Schools
Kindergarten through eighth grade students in Pacifica are served by Pacifica School District, while Jefferson Union High School District provides public schools for 9th through 12th grade students. The
City is also home to three private schools.
Facilities and Enrollment
PACIFICA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Pacifica School District (PSD) currently operates two K-5 elementary schools, Sunset Ridge and Ortega, three K-8 schools, Ocean Shore, Vallemar,
and Cabrillo, and one middle school, Ingrid B. Lacy.
The Linda Mar Education Center provides preschool and Kindergarten classes, special education, and support space for home-schooled children. See
Figure 6-4. PSD closed several schools in the 1980s
and 1990s, and currently has two school buildings
not being used as full school sites (Linda Mar, and
Oddstad). The PSD sold the former Fairmont Elementary School site to St. Ignatius College Preparatory in 2018 for use as athletic fields. ·st. Ignatius is in the process of demolishing the school building in
2021 . The PSD has identified the former Oddstad
Elementary School for redevelopment into workforce
housing.
·PSD enrollment increased from 2008-09 through
2012-13, then declined back to around the original enrollment by 2018-19. Overall, schools are at 91 percent of capacity (see Table 6-6). PSD offers opei-i
enrollment at all schools, allowing families to enroll
children at the school of their choice based on specific preference factors. This policy gives families the choice between sending children to a traditional elementary and middle school or to a K-8 school.
U ON H C' OOL 5 R rr
Jefferson Union High School District QUHSD)
enrolls just under 5,000 high school and highschool-equivalent students in Brisbane, Colma, Daly City, and Pacifica. The district has two high schools
in Pacifica: Terra Nova High School, with a 2018-
2019 enrollment of 812 students, and Oceana High
School, with 599 students in an alternative college
preparatory program. JUHSD offers open enrollment at all schools, allowing students to enroll at the school of their choice.
Both Oceana and Terra Nova high schools have large
campuses (56 acres and 43 acres, respectively) with
football and soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tracks,
tennis courts, and auditoriums. The facilities are
adequate to handle current enrollment, and excess
capacity exists at Oceana. JUHSD bond-funded
modernization projects include conversion of science
labs to new classrooms at Terra Nova; and improvements to existing buildings.
Projected Enrollment
According to the California Department of Finance,
school enrollment in San Mateo County is projected
to decrease over the planning period. PSD's Facilities
Master Plan indicates that enrollment District-wide
is expected to be generally flat or negative based on
population growth forecasts, though there is likely to
be period of overcapacity due to larger incoming kindergarten classes. Given the small projected enrollment gains overall and the flexibility provided by using standard or portable classrooms, existing facilities are adequate to meet future needs.
JUHSD projects enrollment growth based on school
enrollment in local_districts, and historic trends. The District's current facilities-with planned renovations- are sufficient to accommodate future need. 6 0
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-29
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Packet Pg. 496 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Private and Parochial Schools
There are three private schools in the Planning Area. Pacific Bay Christian School, in the Linda Mar neighborhood,
expanded to a second campus across Linda Mar Boulevard in the 1970s, and added a high school in the late 1980s. Good Shepherd School, in East Sharp Park, enrolls students in grades K-8. Montessori School of Linda Mar serves preschool- aged children.
Libraries
Pacifica is served by the San Mateo County Library
(SMCL), a system with 12 branch libraries. San Mateo
County Libraries is governed by the San Mateo
County Library Joint Powers Authority (Library
JPA). The Library JPAwas established in 1999 and is
comprised of the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, San Carlos, Woodside, and the unincorporated areas of the county. Per the Library JP A Agreement, members own and are
responsible for maintenance of library buildings and
the Library JPA is responsible for library operations
and maintaining minimum service levels.
Pacifica is the only member of the Library JPA
with two library branches. The Pacifica-Sharp Park
Library is located in West Sharp Park in the northern part of the City, while the Pacifica-Sanchez Library is adjacent to the Park Mall shopping center in the south (see Figure 6-4). Per the Library JPA Agreement the City of Pacifica is responsible for the
cost of maintaining Pacifica's two library facilities.
The Library JPA provides 60 hours of service hours
per week that are currently evenly divided between
the two Pacifica Libraries. Characteristics of Pacifica' s libraries are shown in Table 6-7.
Library Needs
Pacifica' s current libraries do not meet library standards for seating, public access computers, and selfhelp equipment, core parts of today's library service expectations. As Table 6-7 shows, Pacifica' s two existing libraries combined provide approximately 10,524 6-30 PACI ·ICA GENUAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
square feet, translating to 0.26 square feet per service area resident, considerably less than the average for the San Mateo system as a whole, and far below the one
square foot per resident recommended by the American Library Association. Pacifica's libraries also have unresolved problems related to layout, parking, acoustics, shelving space, study rooms, and computers.
Pacifica Library Modernization Project
The City of Pacifica has been working toward building modern library facilities to meet the community's needs for almost two decades. In November 2015 the City Council directed staff to take several
actions toward constructing a New Pacifica Public
Ortega Elementary School (left) and Vallemar Elementary School (right). As of 2012-2013, Pacifica School District enrolls about 3,260 students in kindergarten through 8th Grade. Enrollment has grown slowly in recent years.
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Packet Pg. 497 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Table 6-6: PACIFICA SCHOOLS BY ENROLLMENT AND CAPACITY
School (Grade Levels) 207!3.2-12.J Enrollment Capacity Enrollment as Percent of Capacity Pacifica School District
Ortega (K-5) 481 522 92%
Sunset Ridge (K-5) 539 568 95%
Cabrillo (K-8) 562 569 98%
Ocean Shore (K-8) 432 461 94%
Vallemar (K-8) 514 541 95%
Ingrid B. Lacy (6-8) 544 570 95%
Subtotal 3,120 3,378 92%
Jefferson Union High School District (Schools in Planning Area)1 Oceana (9-12) 619 1,000 65%
Terra Nova (9-12) 914 1,550 74%
SUBTOTAL 1,533 2,550 60%
1. JUHSD also operates three high schools in Daly City, enrolling 3,234 students in 2018-2019. Some Planning Area residents attend these schools.
Sources: California Dept. of Education, 2018-2019; Pacifica School District, 2019; Jefferson Union High School District, 2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
Library culminating with the formation of a Library
Advisory Committee (LAC) in July 2016, and placement of a construction funding bond measure on the November 2016 ballot, which did not receive a twothirds majority to pass.
In March 2017, City Council directed the LAC to
collect community input, conduct a needs assessment, revisit site options and analysis, and develop and analyze service model options. In January 2018,
Council selected a two-branch library system strategy, with one large full-service branch at Sharp Park,' and one smaller, self-service "open access" model
branch with Community Center Annex at Sanchez.
City Offices and Fadlities
Pacifica's City Hall and Municipal Services building
are located at Santa Maria Avenue and Francisco Boulevard in West Sharp Park, adjacent to the historic Little Brown Church. The City also uses the second floor of the former Sharp Park Wastewater Treatment Plant,
located a few blocks away at Palmetto and Montecito
Avenues,.for City Council and Commission meetings.
The City has temporarily relocated City Hall staff and
services to the Community Center as of August 2021
while renovations of the City Hall campus are undertaken.
Several City functions are spread across other sites.
The Engineering & Field Services Division of the
Public Works Department and the Corporation Yard
are located three-quarters of a mile north on Milagra
Drive in the East Edgemar-Pacific Manor neighborhood. The Police Department and Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department operate from their station and plant, respectively, on opposite
sides of Highway 1 north of Reina de! Mar Avenue.
The Senior Services division is housed in the Pacifica
Co~munity Center on Crespi Drive. See Figure 6-4.
Creating a New Civic Center
A new civic center could be a "one-stop" facility for
delivery of public services, while also helping to support "place-making" and a positive civic image. The current site at Francisco Boulevard could support a
new facility with a strong civic presence and reinforce public investment goals of the Sharp Park Specific Plan.
As noted above, the City ha§ t~mporarily .relocated
City Hall staff and services to the Community Center while renovations of the City Hall campus are undertaken. The renovations will restore historical
features of the City Hall building, a local historic
landmark, and will comprehensively update the exte6
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-31
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Packet Pg. 498 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption TABLE 6-7: CHARACTERISTICS OF PACIFICA LIBRARIES
Sanchez Branch Sharp Park Branch Pacifica Library JPA System Libraries Total Total
Collection Size 25,604 29,847 55,451 463,895
Library Space (square feet) 4,444 6,080 10,524 132,290
Library Space per Service Area Resident2 N/A N/A 0.26 0.44
1. Collection sizes are rounded.
2. Service area population was 41,208 for Pacifica, 278,388 for SMCL in 201(}7.
San Mateo County Library, 2017.
nor of the adjacent Planning and Parks, Beaches,
and Recreation Building ("P+P Building"). The
renovation will also include extensive alterations to
the interior floor plans of both buildings to improve
their flexible use and ability to provide high-quality public services. The renovation project will also involve consolidating Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Department staff at the Community Center and moving engineering services of the Public Works
Department to the P+P Building to better integrate
the City's development review and permitting processes, a step toward the "one-stop" facility concept for residents and other customers.
Services for Seniors, Youth and
Families
Pacifica Community Center
The Pacifica Community Center, located on Crespi
Drive, is a multi-purpose venue that hosts special
events, ongoing recreation classes, and daily programming for seniors, and provides meeting rooms for groups or public meetings. The center provides
a daily nutritious lunch at the Community Center
and serves 13,000 meals annually to seniors in Pacifica including the Meals-on-Wheels program. The Community Center also provides information and
referrals concerning such issues as health insurance
and legal assistance, and peer counseling. Funding
comes from federal and County grants, the City general fund, and private contributions, including volunteer hours. 6-32 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Pacifica Boys & Girls Club
Boys & Girls Clubs is a national organization that
provides a broad range of activities and aims to promote child development and well-being. Pacifica is home to a Boys & Girls Club on Yosemite Drive, as
well as school-based clubs at two schools. The clubs
are open eight to 11 hours a day during weekdays, and
six hours a day on weekends during the school year.
The cost to join is nominal, and program fees are low.
Pacifica Resource Center
Pacifica Resource Center provides assistance to chose
in need in the community from a space on Palmetto
Avenue in West Sharp Park. Its services include comprehensive needs assessment, emergency food and transportation, homelessness prevention services,
budget planning, infant needs, and other direct
_ and referral services. The Resource Center became
an independent organization in 2004 but receives
financial contributions from the City and San Mateo
County as well as private donations.
Cultural Facilities
Pacifica Center for the Arts
Pacifica Center for the Arts is located in the former
Sanchez elementary school on Linda Mar Boulevard,
and is comprised of studios, galleries, classroom
space and a performance venue. The Arts Center is
run by a non-profit funded by foundations, donations, and proceeds from classes, studio leases, and art sales. Art Guild of Pacifica, a 50-year old organization with 500 members, is based in the Pacificg
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Packet Pg. 499 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Center for the Arts, and members often exhibit their
work there. Pacifica Performances, the other main
partner in the Center, programs weekend concerts in a
175-seat hall.
Pacifica Spindrift Players
Pacifica Spindrift Players is a non-profit theater company using a City-owned building in Oddstad Park.
The Spindrift Schoof of the Performing Arts The
Spindrift School of the Performing Arts (SSPA) offers
classes for all ages and a youth summer camp
at a privately-owned building also located in Oddstad
Park, subject to a land lease from the City of Pacifica.
Pacifica's City Hall and Municipal Services building are undergoing a renovation to improve public serviccscou!d be replaced by a ne','i civic center (top). The Pacificfi Community Center on Crespi Drive is a multi-purpose venue that hosts special events, classes, and daily programming for seniors (bottom).
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
OC-G-11 Optimize Public Facilities. Ensure
that public facilities are adequate to
meet needs, and plan for opportunities
that help to meet goals of school
districts and the City.
OC-G-12 Community Services and Youth
Activities. Continue to provide services
to seniors and others in need, either
directly or through support to other
organizations, and provide expanded
options for youth in Pacifica.
OC-G-13 Cultural Facilities. Foster the
expansion and creation of programs
and facilities for the visual and
performing arts and the study and
appreciation of natural resources.
Implementing Policies
OC-1-54 High-Quality Schools. Support Pacifica School District (PSD) and Jefferson Union High School District
0UHSD) in maintaining high-quality
schools.
OC-1-55 School Site Reuse and Redevelopment.
Ide~tjfy appropriate future land uses for
unused school sites that are compatible
with existing neighborhoods.
OC-1-56 Linda Mar School. Encourage PSD to
maintain Linda Mar school site to meet
future needs and potential enrollment
growth.
OC-1-57 Oceana High School. Encourage
JUHSD to optimize the mission and
space needs of the Oceana High School
program.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-33
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Packet Pg. 500 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption OC-1-58 Civic Center. Periodically assess the
functionalitv of the renovatedContinue
to study the feasieility of dewloping a
tteW City Hall andCivic Center to
determine if they meet the City'spro'>·ide -
adequate space for long-term needs--.1-ft&-
enhance the City's image.
OC-1-59 Beach Boulevard Property. Continue to
pursue redevelopment of the City-owned
Beach Boulevard property, and include
arrangements for ongoing Council
Chambers facilities.
Any civic use here should be planned so that
it supports active corners along Palmetto
Avenue, and facilitates use of the west side
of the property, responding to and
enhancing the Beach Boulevard
Promenade:
OC-1-60 Library/Learning Center. Support San
Mateo County Library and local efforts
to create a single, library/learning center
that functions as a community gathering
place.
OC-1-61 Library Site Reuse and Redevelopment.
In the event that a new library is
developed, work with San Mateo County
Library to identify appropriate future land
uses for existing Library branch sites
compatible with surrounding
neighborhoods.
OC-1-62 Youth Programs. Continue to support the City's youth and teen programs and seek funding for new facilities or
enhancements to existing facilities to
provide a teen center or an indoor sports
facility in a highly-accessible location.
A teen center could be co-located with a
new Library/Learning Center or with the
existing Community Center, accessible by
all modes of transportation and adjacent to
other activities.
OC-1-63 Senior and Community Services. Continue to use available funding sources to maintain and enhance the City's Senior
6-34 PACl~ICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAfT
Services program, including meal
services, transportation, and counseling.
In addition, continue to support nonprofit service providers in offering other needed community services.
OC-1-64 Medical Services. Encourage Seton
Medical Center or other organization to
provide an outpatient clinic in Pacifica.
OC-1-65 New Cultural Facilities. Support the
location or relocation of cultural
facilities as part of redevelopment of the
Rocka- way Quarry site or in the West
Sharp Park neighborhood, where such
uses could generate economic benefits.
OC-1-66 Future Use of Civic Center
FacilitiesCity Hall. Explore the
possibility of attracting cultural uses !Q__
the renovated C ivic Center facilities-Ee--
the current City Hall (the former Sharp
Park schoolhoase), in coordination with
de,·elopment of a new City Hall.
New uses could be coordinated with
activities at the neighboring Little Brown
Church.
OC-1-A Year-Round Park Use. Study ways to ·
increase usability of City park facilities on
a year-round basis. Seek Parks, Beaches,
& Recreation Commission input in the
identification of preferred solutions.
OC-1-B Impediments to Public Access Outside of
Coastal Zone. Prohibit restrictions on
public parking that would adversely affect
public access to trail~ or other recreational
lands except where necessary to protect
public safety. Such restrictions include
the installation of "private parking" signs,
landscaping, and painting red curbs in the
public right-of-way near these facilities.
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Packet Pg. 501 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption This page le.ft intentionally blank.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-35
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Packet Pg. 502 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption This chapter provides policy guidance to conserve Pacifica's environmental, scenic, natural and cultural resources. Topics covered in this element include water resources; biological resources; forest, agricultural and soil resources; air quality; energy and greenhouse gases; and cultural and historic resources.
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Packet Pg. 503 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
7.1 WATER RESOURCES
Pacifica's water resources are unique and numerous, and they provide important benefits to the city, including wildlife habitat, scenic natural corridors,
and flood control. Careful management of urban
waterways ensures maintenance of water quality,
preservation of ecological functions, and · safety of
surrounding development. Understanding Pacifica's
surface water and groundwater resources provides a
context for policies for hydrology, water quality, and
management.
Surface Water
The Planning Area is located within all or part of
nine watersheds, shown on Figure 7-1, Hydrology. The Planning Area largely drains west towards the Pacific Ocean. From north to south, the major
watersheds are Milagra Creek, Sanchez Creek (also
known as Sharp Park Creek), Calera Creek, and San.
Pedro Creek. 1 A small portion of the Planning Area
drains to the east, contributing to the upper basin of
San Mateo Creek watershed.
Milagra Creek
Milagra Creek watershed drains approximately 460
acres. The drainage area has varied land cover types,
including undeveloped_portions of the GGNRA and
residential and commercial development along Highway 1. The lower reaches of Milagra Creek have been altered and the channel hardened between Highway
1 to the ocean.
1 Other watersheds shown on Figure 7-1 (North Globe, Big Inch, etc.) are not associated with specific creeks.
Sanchez Creek
Sanchez Creek watershed, located almost entirely
within the City, drains approximately 1,070 acres.
Most of the steep hillsides and higher elevations are
GGNRA-protected open space, while valley bottoms
and flatter portions of the hillsides include residential development, Highway 1, and Sharp Park Golf Course. Sanchez Creek has intermittent flow in most
years.
At its mouth within the Coastal Zone, Sanchez Creek flows through Horse Stable Pond and exchanges water with Laguna Salada within the
Sharp Park Golf Course. Creek flow is then conveyed
through a levee to the ocean via a system of pipes.
The discharge point of the pipe(s) is often buried in
beach sands and is occasionally excavated to allow
for free drainage. During high flows, water from the
golf course is pumped over the levee into the ocean.
There are also several depressional and formerly estuarine wetlands near the mouth of Sanchez Creek at Horse Stable Pond and Laguna Salada.
Calera Creek
Calera Creek drains 16,000 acres in the central portion of the City, flowing onto ~he north end of Rockaway Beach. Land use in the basin is dominated by residential neighborhoods with some businesses
along main roads. The contributing area of Calera
Creek is altered along the valley bottom and near the
mouth.
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The lower reach of Calera Creek was part of a significant restoration project involving the excavation of a new stream channel and habitat restoration. The site receives tertiary-treated wastewater from the City's new Water Recycling Plant. 7-2 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 504 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
0 c ea n
QUARRY
Water --+--+---
Treatment
Facility
E8
0 1/4 1/2
MILES
Figure 7-1: Hydrology
~ Watersheds
Creeks
Underground/Culvert/Ephemeral * Water Treatment Facility Q Stream Restoration Projects
City Limits
Planning Area
Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,National
Wetlands Inventory, 2019; FEMA,
2020; ESA, 2009; City of Pacifica,
2019; San Mateo County, 2019; Dyett
& Bhatia, 2019.
7-3
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Packet Pg. 505 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption The lower reach of Calera Creek was part of a significant restoration project implemented in 1997 and 1998, which included excavation of a new stream
channel and restoration of 16 acres of wetlands and
12 acres of uplands. The restoration site receives additional tertiary-treated wastewater from the Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant (CCWRP), adding
approximately 3.6 million gallons per day (mgd) to
the lower reach. The amount of flow generated by the
CCWRP varies with rainfall and usage. The creek
is now perennial in the lower reach due to the input
from the CCWRP. The creek was likely intermittent
in at least some years, and is still intermittent with
residual pools above the CCWRP discharge point.
Rockaway Creek
Rockaway Creek is south of Calera Creek in the
larger Calera Creek watershed. Rockaway Creek
parallels Rockaway Beach Avenue, and flows into
the southern end of Rockaway Beach. The upper
portions of the watershed are primarily open space,
while the valley bottom is comprised of a small residential area, which follows the creek.
San Pedro Creek
San Pedro Creek watershed is the largest within Pacifica, draining approximately 5,300 acres. The watershed extends north to Sweeney Ridge, east to Spring Valley Ridge, and south into the slopes of Montara
Mountain. San Pedro Creek has several tributaries
extending past the City boundaries. These tributaries
include the South Fork, Middle Fork, North Fork,
and Brooks/Sanchez Creek.
San Pedro Creek supports anadromous steelhead
trout, a federally-listed endangered species. This
creek also has one of the only functioning estuaries
between the Devils Slide area and the Golden Gate
Bridge. Wetlands along San Pedro Creek provide
habitat for the threatened California red-legged frog.
The upper watershed is largely undeveloped, while
the lower portion is highly developed with residential subdivisions and commercial shopping centers at Park Mall and near Highway 1. Alterations from
historical agriculture and more recent urban development have resulted in a deep channel with steep banks.
San Pedro Creek has undergone numerous restoration projects along its reach through the Planning Area, addressing fish passage, flood control, and water quality.
7-4 PACIFICA GENE.RAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 506 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Channel downcutting and erosion throughout the
reach has threatened roads and structures, as many
residential lots back up against the creek. In order to protect the banks, formal and informal bank stabilization techniques have been installed over the years.
The City and stakeholders (including the San Pedro
Creek Watershed Coalition, California Coastal
Conservancy, Go Native, the Pacifica Land Trust,
the California Department of Fish and Game, the
Army Corps of Engineers, the State Water Resources
Control Board, and the Pacific Beach Coalition)
have implemented restoration projects and clean-up
efforts along the creek resulting in reduced flooding
of homes and businesses, reduced erosion of Pacifica/
Linda Mar State Beach, and conservation of habitat
for steelhead trout.
Other creek restoration efforts included:
• Earthwork and planting completed in 2000
which established a more natural channel,
improved flood storage, and restored ecosystem
functioning.
• Installation of rock weirs in 2005 to stabilize
the degrading channel bed, smooth the longitudinal profile, and improve fish passage further upstream at the Capistrano bridge.
San Mateo Creek
A small portion of the Planning Area (600 acres)
drains east into the upper San Mateo Creek watershed. This area is within National Park Service and San F i-ancisco watershed lands and is undeveloped.
Groundwater
The 700-acre San Pedro Valley Groundwater Basin
lies within the City. Alluvial deposits consisting
primarily of clays, sands, silts, and some gravels are
found throughout the majority of the basin and are
the primary water-bearing formation in the Planning Area. 2 These deposits are approximately 150 feet thick or more. Water quality, groundwater level,
2 Department of Water Resources (DWR), 2004.
and groundwater storage data for the basin is minimal. The outflow of water from the aquifer occurs by evapotranspiration and seepage to streams, springs,
and the ocean. The water table fluctuates seasonally.
In a 1992 study, groundwater wells in the City were
monitored to determine the location of seasonally
shallow groundwater. The groundwater was mapped
for three depths below the ground surface: less than
1.5 feet; less than 3.0 feet; and less than 6.0 feet.
Communities with seasonally shallow groundwater
include Pedro Point, Park Pacifica, Vallemar, Fairway Park, Linda Mar, and Sharp Park.
Due to the existing development pattern in Pacifica where urbanized land uses are located in close proximity to creeks and streams, there are few areas
outside of the creekbeds and streambeds themselves
to establish groundwater recharge sites. Existing
flood corridors such as lower San Pedro Creek and
the surrounding riparian habitat have been designed
through previous flood control projects to manage
flood flows until water recedes, but have not been
designed to retain flood water for the purpose of
groundwater recharge. The sloping topography of
much of the City also presents challenges to identifying suitable areas for stormwater collection and recharge of groundwater storage areas. The largest
area of public land that may be topographically suitable to accommodate stormwater and floodwater for purposes of groundwater recharge and stormwater
management is the Sharp Park Golf Course, owned
and operated by the City and County of San Francisco. The Laguna Salada is an existing water feature with varying water levels throughout the year. However, the recreational uses of the remainder of the site preclude their function as a dedicated groundwater
recharge site. There are no rivers located in Pacifica.
Wetlands
The Coastal Act defines wetlands as "lands within
the coastal zone which may be covered periodically or
permanently with shallow water and include salrwater
marshes, freshwater marshes, open or closed brackish
water marshes, swamps, mudflats, and fens" (Section
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PACIF CA GENERAL PLAN PUB,.IC RfV'!:W DRAFT 7-5
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Packet Pg. 507 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 30121 ). Areas where the water table is at, near, or above the land surface at some time during each year may be
identified as wetlands. The criteria for wetland boundary determinations are detailed in California Code of Regulations section 13577(b).
Seasonal wetlands occur in smaller drainages and
localized depressions, forming ponds or flowing water,
and are underlain by saturated soils during the winter and spring. Seasonal wetlands also occur along the banks and sediments that accumulate in creeks.
Wetlands in Pacifica are found along riparian areas,
drainages, along the coast, and as fresh and brackish water marshes (such as on the Sharp Park Golf Course). The National Wetlands Inventory (USFWS,
2020) has identified different types of wetlands within the Planning Area (Cowardin et al., 1979). These
include estuarine and marine wetlands, freshwater
emergent wetlands, and freshwater pond.
Impaired Water Bodies
The federal Clean Water Act requires a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) be established for the pollutants identified as causing the impairment of surface water quality. TMDL refers to the maximum amount of
a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards. Generally, TMDL is the sum of
the loads of a single pollutant from point and nonpoint sources. In Pacifica, San Pedro Creek is listed as impaired by coliform bacteria, and San Mateo Creek and Pacifica
State Beach is listed as impaired by diazinon (insecticide) (see Table 7-1).
The Environmental Protection Agency approved the
TMDL for San Pedro Creek and Pacifica State Beach on
August 1, 2013.
Table 7-1: IMPAIRED WATER BODIES
Water body
San Pedro Creek
San Mateo Creek
Pollutant
Coliform bacteria
Diazinon
Stormwater
Pacifica's storm drainage system consists of a collection system and two pump stations. This drainage system acts to convey drainage to area creeks or the
ocean. Two areas in the City, Linda Mar and lower
Sharp Park, are too low to allow drainage to a creek
or the ocean, and are served by pump stations to
prevent street flooding. Overall, the City maintains
290,000 linear feet of storm drain pipes and 989
inlets.3
San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution
Prevention Program
The San Mateo County Water Pollution Prevention
Program (SMCWPPP) was established in 1990 with
the assistance of the San Mateo County City/ County
Association of Governments. The primary goal seeks
to reduce pollution carried by stormwater, and to
maintain compliance with the San Francisco Bay
Municipal Regional Stormwater National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
Participating agencies, including the City of Pacifica, must comply with the NPDES Permit by ensuring
that municipal operations, new development and
redevelopment, industrial and commercial site controls, and construction site controls mitigate water quality impacts to stormwater runoff during construction and operation phases of projects. As part of the NPDES permit requirement, the City of Pacifica completed a Green Infrastructure Plan in 2019, which describes how low impact development (LID)
drainage design will be incorporated into public arid
private streets, parking lots, building roofs and other 3 Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
(BA WSCA). BA WSCA Annual Survey-FY 2019-2020.
March 2019. Accessed ar hrcp://www.bawsca. org,
Potential Source
Urban runoff/storm sewers
Urban runoff/storm sewers
Status of TMDI
Preparation and approval1
Approved (2013)
Approved (2007)
1. The date of planned TMDL completion is provided in the 303(d) lists from the SWRCB.
Source: SWRCB, 2020
7-6 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 508 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption facilities to achieve water quality, flow reduction and other environmental and community benefits.
Stormwater Management and Site Planning
New development and redevelopment projects are subject to NP DES permit requirements, and are grouped into categories based on project type. Depending on
their category, projects are required to include stormwater controls, including site design measures, source controls, treatment measures, low impact development, hydromodiflcation management, and construction best management practices (BMPs).
Construction BMPs include scheduling grading and
excavation work in dry weather only; installing temporary erosion controls until vegetation is reestablished; effectively managing all run-off within the site and from off-site. Post-construction stormwater treatment measures that remove pollutants from stormwater during project operations include rain gardens, bioretention areas, and flow-through planters.
Potable Water Supply
The North Coast County Water District
(NCCWD), an independent water purveyor, supplies water to Pacifica and part of San Bruno. The district gets its water from the San Francisco Public
Utilities Commission (SFPUC) through the Hetch
Hetchy system. The District also has rights to a limited amount of surface water from the South Fork of San Pedro Creek for six months of the year. Paciflca' s water is pumped from San Andreas Lake and the Harry Tracey Water Treatment Plant in Millbrae via
a main distribution line under Skyline Boulevard, to
. the Milagra Ridge storage tank. From there, water
for northern Pacifica is pumped to the Christian Hill
tank on Skyline Boulevard and then distributed by
gravity to smaller tanks and to customers. Water for
southern Pacifica is piped from the Milagra Ridge
tank to the Royce tank, off Fassler Avenue, and
then to smaller tanks and to customers. Overall, the
system is divided into 31 pressure zones, each separated by pressure-reducing valves. 4 The NCCWD 4 Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BA WSCA), 2019. has adopted a 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
(UWMP) that describes its water supply and distribution system; past, current, and projected water use; and, water conservation targets, among other
water resource information.
Water Capacity and Usage
The NCCWD system's 11 storage tanks have a total
capacity of 18.3 million gallons, enough to supply
the service area with water for 5.8 days at the District's average daily usage rate of2.43 million gallons per day (mgd). 5The District's contract with SFPUC
allows for a maximum purchase of 3.84 mgd.
Water Conservation
Water use in the District has steadily declined in
recent years due to conservation programs and infrastructure repairs. Water conservation will continue to be important in coming years. In 2018, two laws
were passed to aid California in making water conservation a way of life: SB 606 and AB 1668. These two laws highlight water efficiency and conservation
and are meant to outline certain roles and actions
to be carried out by the California Department of
Water Resources, the State Water Resource Control
Board and water suppliers. Each urban water supplier, starting in November of 2023, will calculate its own objective based on the water needed in its
service area for efficient indoor residential water use, outdoor residential water use, commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) irrigation with dedicated meters and reasonable amounts of system water loss from leaks, the fact sheet states. In determining
their objectives, water . suppliers will also consider
other unique local uses and credits for potable water
reuse, based on standards adopted by the state water
board. A coordinated response by the City and the
NCCWD will help Pacifica meet the requirements
of this legislation in the future.
5 Ibid.
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Packet Pg. 509 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Infrastructure Modernization
Pacifica's water pipes and storage reservoirs are aging and in need of modernization. NCCWD's current
Capital Improvement Plan focuses on pursuing additional sources of supply, addressing water storage deficits by increasing tank size or adding new tanks, and pipe upgrades. Replacement of the pipeline on Palmetto Avenue was identified as the highest priority in the 2016 Long-Term Water Master Plan and was
completed as part of Phase I of the Palmetto Avenue
Streetscape improvements. Beyond these modernization efforts, Pacifica and NCCWD are dependent upon the safety and durability of the Hetch Hetchy
system.
Water Quality
SFPUC monitors water at the source and at local
water treatment plants for turbidity, organic and
inorganic chemicals, microbial quality, mineral
content, and radiological quality. NCCWD monitors water as it enters the District's system, and takes weekly water samples from various locations.
Pacifica's water is consistently high-quality and safe
to drink, meeting all standards set by the California Department of Health Services and the United Scates Environmental Protection Agency. 6
Wastewater
The City operates a wastewater treatment plant,
sewage lift stations, and stormwater pump stations,
as well as the citywide system of sewer mains and
lateral pipes that connect to homes and businesses.
Waste water flows through some lOq miles of main
pipes to five sewer pump stations, and on to the Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant. The City's topography prevents gravity flow to the plant, and requires pump stations at Rockaway Beach, Linda Mar and
Sharp Park.
6 NCCWD. Website http://www.nccwd.com, accessed June
2021. .
7-8 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant
The Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant (CCWRP),
located on the south flank of Mori Point, is a tertiary treatment plant, brought online in 2000 to replace the old Wastewater Treatment Plant in West
Sharp Park. The new plant uses ultraviolet disinfection, which allows effluent to be released to wetlands without residual chlorine. The plant has facilitated
the creation and restoration of wetlands along Calera Creek, bringing year-round flow to a naturalized stream channel. The NCCWD began receiving recycled water from the plant and has been delivering the tertiary recycled water to recreational and institutional customers for irrigation use since August 2013, and residential customers since 2015.
Testing at the Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant
indicates that discharges generally meet applicable
water quality standards, although there have been
some isolated instances of non-compliance.
Usage and Capacity
The CCWRP has a dry weather capacity of 4.0 million gallons per day (mgd), a peak hourly dry weather capacity of 7.0 mgd, and a peak hourly wee weather
capacity of 20 mgd.7 Because of Pacifica's projected
slow growth, the Plant will have adequate capacity
for the next 15 to 20 years.
The City's sanitary sewer collection system is subject
to infiltration and inflow (III) of e_xtraneous ground
water and storm water.
In May 2011, The City was issued a Cease and Desist
Order (CDO) by the Regional Water Quality Control Board and was ordered to eliminate insufficient capacity caused sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs)
from the sanitary sewer collection system by January 1, 2019. In response, rhe City developed the Wee Weather Equalization (EQ) Basin Project to reduce
SSOs, which required construction of a 2.1-milliongallon-capacity EQ basin at the Pacifica Community Center parking lot and underground conveyance ··
7 City of Pacifica. Accessed at https:/ /www.ciryofpacifica.org/ depts/pw/wwr/caleracreek/ default.asp, 2019. ·
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Packet Pg. 510 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption p1pmg along Linda Mar Boulevard and Arguello
Boulevard during high-flow storm events, completed
in 2019.
Planned Improvements
The City intends to undertake the following projects:
• Sharp Park Station Odor Control Upgrade, to
make the site compatible with future redevelopment;
• Upgrading the Sharp Park pump station;
• Relocation of the mainline and forcemain at the
Sharp Park pump station; and
• A feasibility study for an Ultraviolet (UV) treatment system at the CCWRP.
In 2021, the City completed Phase II of the Sewer
System Master Plan Update. An Inflow and Infiltration study determined improvement needs in the collection system at Crespi Drive, Linda Mar Boulevard, Fremont Avenue, and Catalina Avenue.
A new system of pipes for treated wastewater would allow Sharp Park Golf Course to be irrigated with recycled water from· the Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant (top). Low impact development techniques, such as permeable pavers, allow stormwater to filter into the earth on-site, minimizing runoff (middle left). Pacifica's potable water supply is stored and delivered via a system of tanks at high points throughout the city (bottom). 7 n
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Packet Pg. 511 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a Guiding Policies
CO-G-1 Water Quality. Support the improvement of Pacifica's water quality, including both surface water and groundwater, through Best Management Practices
(BMPs) for stormwater management,
stream restoration, and riparian habitat
restoration.
CO-G-2 Watershed Management. Recognize the interrelated nature of Pacifica' s hydrology system, its watersheds, and
development in the Planning Area, and
protect water resources through comprehensive management of entire watersheds.
CO-G-3 Maintain Creeks as a ·Resource.
Ensure both access to and ecological
functi~rnality of the creek system in Pacifica.
CO-G-4 ~ Retain Natural Processes. Enable
natural processes to occur on developed sites, and utilize these processes to enhance the built environment and users'
experiences of it.
CO-G-5 ~ Water Conservation. Work with
the NCCWD to meet water conservation objectives as required by State law.
Pacifica s water conservation efforts will
include water efficient landscaping requirements, incentives for water conservation, and development of a system to use recycled
wastewater.
CO-G-6 Wastewater Treatment. Ensure that
the City maintains adequate capacity
to handle wastewater, and continue to
expand wastewater recycling.
7-10 PAOFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Implementing Policies
Creeks, Wetlands, and Coastal Waters
C0-1-1 Creek Protection and Restoration.
Maintain, protect, and restore Pacifica' s
creeks, including San Pedro, Calera, Sanchez, and Milagra creeks, as environmental and aesthetic resources. Actions will include, but are not limited to:
• Continuing restoration efforts along San
Pedro Creek to improve conditions for
steelhead by removing obstacles to fish
passage, placing rock weirs to facilitate
fish passage, and by monitoring the
effectiveness of these projects;
• Partnering with local organizations,
such as the San Pedro Creek Watershed
Coalition, Go Native, the Pacifica Land
Trust, and others, on restoration efforts;
• Exploring opportunities to collaborate
with other agencies and organizations
on stream restoration and riparian habitat restoration along.Sanchez and Calera creeks;
• Enforcing restrictions on the planting of
invasive species near creek areas;
• Identifying and working with property
owners to take advantage of unique
opportunities where human active use
(e.g., through trail development) would
enhance creek appreciation without disrupting ecological function; • Requiring a minimum of 100-foot setbacks from the top of creek banks, or from the outer edge of riparian vegetation, where it exists, for development proposed adjacent to creeks, in keeping
with City regulations and Best Man1.c
Packet Pg. 512 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption agement Practices. Exceptions to such
buffer requirements should be supported
by a biological report demonstrating
that the adjusted buffer, in combination with incorporated siting, design or other mitigation measures, shall prevent
impacts that significantly degrade the
creek. Buffer adjustments should also be
limited to where the entire subject legal
lot is within the buffer or where it is
demonstrated that development outside
the buffer would have a greater impact
on the creek.
C0-1-2 Improvement oflmpaired Waterways. Strive to improve water quality in San Pedro Creek, which is listed on the
Clean Water Act 303(d) list of impaired
water bodies, and any other waterway
that may be listed as impaired in the
future.
C0-1-3 ~ Funding for Creek Maintenance.
Establish funding mechanism to require
property owners with land adjacent to
creeks to pay proportionate share of creek
improvement maintenance.
C0-1-4 t} Wetlands Preservation. Prohibit new
development in existing wetlands except
as allowed under the federal Clean Water
Act and the California Coastal Act. Continue to require formal delineations wetlands subject to State or federal regulations prior to any proposed development project in an area where potential wetlands have been identified. If impacts on wetlands are unavoidable, compensation
measure should be in line with the State's
no-net-loss goal regarding wetlands.
C0-1-5 t) Limitations on Diking, Filling or
Dredging. Only permit the diking, filling, or dredging of open coastal waters, wetlands, and lakes for the following
purposed where there is no feasible, less
environmentally damaging alternative,
and where feasible mitigation measures
have been provided to minimize adverse
environmental effects:
• New port, energy, and coastal-dependent industrial facilities, including commercial fishing facilities. • New boating facilities and the placement of structural pilings for public recreational piers that provide public access and recreational opportunities.
• Incidental public service purposes,
including, but not limited to, burying
cables and pipes or inspection of piers
and maintenance of existing intake and
outfall lines.
• Mineral extraction, including sand for
restoring beaches, except in environmentally sensitive areas. • Restoration activities;
• Nature study, aquaculture, or similar
resource-dependent activities.
C0-1-6 ~ Minimize Disruption of Dredging. Require any proposed dredging and spoils disposal to be planned and carried
out in a way that will avoid significant
disruption to marine and wildlife habitats.
C0-1-7 ~ Maintain Functional Capacity of
Wetlands. Ensure that any diking, filling, or dredging in existing wetlands maintains or enhances their functional
capacity.
Any alteration of coastal wetlands identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife or as defined by the Coastal Commission shall be limited to very minor incidental public facilities, restorative measures, or nature study.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 7-1 1
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Packet Pg. 513 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption CO-1-8 Continued Movement of Sediment
and Nutrients. Allow sediment removed
from erosion and flood control facilities
co be placed at appropriate points on the
shoreline, where environmental effects
will be minimal.
Stormwater Management
CO-1-9 Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program. Continue to participate in the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program.
The Program represents a collaborative
effort amongst the County and its municipalities, consisting of five major areas of water pollution preventi~n and control:
• Municipal maintenance activities
• Industrial and illicit discharge
• Public information and participation
• New development and construction
controls
• Watershed monitoring
CO-1-10 e) Stormwater Discharge. Ensure compliance with the Municipal Regional Permit, the Construction General Permit, and the Construction Dewatering Permit, which regulate stormwater discharge from new and existing development.
These permits are established by the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and administered by the Regional Water Quality Control
Board. They require that new development
incorporate Best Management Practices
(BMPs) and Green Infrastructure Plan
requirements in site design, construction,
and management to minimize storm water
runoff rates and volumes, control water
pollution, and maximize infiltration.
7-12 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
CO-1-11 Protect Water Quality through
Best Management Practices. Continue
to require the use of best management
practices to reduce water quality impacts
from construction and development.
Measures include:
• Site Design and Source Control. Ensure
chat all new development incorporates
site design and source control BMPs
into the project design in order to preserve the infiltration, purification, and retention functions of each site's natural drainage systems, and to prevent or minimize the runoff of pollutants,
sediments, waste, and pathogens from
the site.
• Construction Pollution Control.
Require all construction projects to
adopt measures to avoid when possible, or minimize erosion and runoff of pollutants and sediments from construction-related activities, and to limit activities chat result in the disturbance
of land or natural vegetation.
• Construction projects will be required
to use appropriate erosion prevention
techniques, sediment control measures, .
and best management practices in
accordance with City specifications and
the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program. • Treatment Control. Require .chat new
development implement treatment
control BMPs (or structural treatment
BMPs) where the combination of site
design and source control BMPs is not
sufficient to protect water quality and
comply with applicable water quality
permits.
Stormwater treatment systems must meet
the numeric sizing criteria established in
the NP DES Permit, and must be operated
and maintained in compliance with the
NPDES Permit.
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Packet Pg. 514 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption • Site Design and Source Control. Ensure
that all new development incorporates
site design and source control BMPs
into the project design in order to preserve the infiltration, purification, and retention functions of each site's natural drainage systems, and to prevent or minimize the runoff of pollutants,
sediments, waste, and pathogens from
the site.
C0-1-12 ~ Infrastructure and Water Quality.
Ensure that the design and construction of new infrastructure elements does not contribute to stream bank or hillside
erosion or creek or wetland siltation,
and incorporates site design and source
control BMPs, construction phase BMPs,
and treatment control BMPs to minimize
impacts to water quality, in compliance
with the NPDES Permit.
C0-1-13 ~ Erosion Control. Manage erosion
in the Planning Area, particularly in
watershed areas, though on-site erosion
control.
Construction projects will be required to
use appropriate erosion prevention techniques, sediment control measures, and best management practices in accordance with
City Specifications and Gene!'al Conditions
of Approval and the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program.
C0-1-14 ~ Minimize Site Disturbance. Require
use of best practices during development
design and construction to preserve natural resources, such as soil, trees, native plants, and permeable surfaces.
C0-1-15 ~ Reduce Impervious Surfaces. Enable
natural drainage by reducing the amount
of impervious surfaces on a development
site, whenever feasible.
Techniques that help accomplish this objective:
• Designing development projects to share
driveways;
• Placing parking lots under buildings,
whenever feasible; and
• Using permeable paving materials on
walkways and driveways, whenever feasible.
C0-1-16 ~ On-site Stormwater Management.
Continue to require all small projects
and detached single-family home projects, as defined under the NPDES Permit, to incorporate site design measures that facilitate groundwater recharge and
natural hydrological processes, allowing stormwater to infiltrate the ground on-site and/or be collected for reuse in
landscaping and designated to on-site
stormwater detention facilities.
Techniques for on-site stormwater management include use of • "Rain gardens" or bioretention areas in
yards, parks, and parking lots;
• Landscaped drainage swales along roadways;
• Green roofi;
• Permeable pavers for walkways and parking areas;
• .Rain barrels for harvesting runoff from
rooftops;
• Tree box filters for on-street filtration;
• Parking areas that allow stormwater flow
into vegetated areas;
• Grading that lengthens flow paths and
increases runoff travel time to reduce the
peak flow rate; and
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PACIFICA GtNERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 7-13
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Packet Pg. 515 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption • Cisterns or sub-suiface retention facilities
that capture rainwater for use in irrigation and non-potable uses.
CO-1-17 Prevent Contaminated Runoff.
CO-1-18
Ensure that new parking lots and commercial development incorporate BMPs designed to prevent or minimize runoff
of oil, grease, solvents battery acid, coolant, gasoline, sediments, trash, and other pollutants from the site.
Runoff from areas serving vehicle traf
fie, structures, landscaping, loading areas,
repair and maintenance bays, fueling areas,
vehicle/equipment wash areas, outdoor
material storage areas, and waste storage
areas should be prevented or minimized.
Oil and Hazardous Substance
Spills. Provide protection against the
spillage of crude oil, gas, petroleum products, or hazardous substances in relation to any development of transportation of
such materials.
For any accidental spills that do occur, the ·
· City will require effective containment and
cleanup facilities and procedures.
Water Supply and Conservation .
CO-1-19 ~ Water Supply. Support the Bay Area
Wat~r Supply & Conservation Agency in
advocating for reliable and fairly priced
water from the San Francisco regional
water system.
CO-1-20 ~ Incentives for Water Conservation.
Encourage the NCCWD to continue
and expand its water conservation incentive programs, including free waterefficient fixtures and rebates for waterefficient appliances.
CO-1-21 ~ Water Recycling. Continue to support implementation and expansion of NCCWD's water recycling project,
involving new pipes and pumping stations, to allow treated wastewater from 7-14 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
the Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant
to be used for irrigation of landscaped
areas.
The feasibility of expanding this project
to include other potential uses of recycled
water such as linkages with fire hydrants
will be evaluated.
CO-1-22 Water Storage. Support the
NCCWD in its efforts to provide
adequate emergency water storage in
Pacifica.
Wastewater Collection and Treatment
CO-1-23 Wastewater Treatment Capacity.
Continue to monitor wastewater generation rates so decision-makers are aware of the impacts on the treatment plant on
new develop~ent, and plan for additional capacity in advance of projected need.
CO-1-24 Sewer System Connections. Require
all new development to be connected to
the City's sewer system.
CO-1-25 e) Sanitary Sewer Discharge. Ensure
that discharges of treated wastewater
from the Calera Creek Wastewater Recycling Plant continue to comply with the Sanitary Sewer System Permit.
The City will manage the release of treated
wastewater as part of habitat restoration
along Calera Creek, and pursue the use of
recycled water for irrigation and other uses.
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Packet Pg. 516 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
0 c ea n
69 0 1/4
Coastal Mixed
Hardwood!
Oak Woodland
Hardwood!
Oak Woodland
1/2
MILES
Figure 7-2: Vegetation
CJ
[23] -
CJ
CJ -
Grassland/ Prairie
Coastal Bluff Scrub
Coastal Mixed
Hardwood/Oak Woodland
Eucalyptus
Northern Coastal Scrub
Monterey Cypress
- Riparian Mixed Hardwood
Willow Riparian Scrub
c=J Beach/Intertidal
CJ Urban
Creeks
- Wetlands*
Northern
Coastal Scrub
City Limits
Planning Area
Northern
Coastal Scrub
*Wetlands are shown as mapped in the
USFWS National Wetlands Inventory.
Site assessments is required to delineate
actual wetlands.
Source: California Department of Fish & Game, 1988,
2003; California Department of Forestry, 2005;
ESA, 2009; National Wetlands Inventory, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 2021; City of Pacifica,
2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
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Packet Pg. 517 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
7.2 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Pacifica contains some of the most natural habitat on the San Francisco Peninsula, providing for a wide variety of plant and animal species and natural
communities. Some of these species and communities, both plant and animal, have special legal status, having been listed under the federal or state Endangered Species Acts, or having been identified as sensitive in the California Natural Diversity Database.
Portions of the Planning Area have been noted for
high habitat values (providing important resources
to plants and wildlife), use as a migration corridor, or their potential to be designated an Environmentally
Sensitive Habitat Area (£SHA) under the California
Coastal Act. 8
Plant Communities And Wildlife
Habitats
Plant communities and habitats found in Pacifica are
briefly described below and depicted in Figure 7-2,
Vegetation. The General Plan £IR includes a more
detailed description ~f each of these communities
and habitats .. Species identified with various plant
communities or habitats are not necessarily present
in the Planning Area. Some of these communities
are recognized as· "special status communities," or
provide critical habitat for special status species.
Grasslands/Prairie
Grasslands in Pacifica Grasslands/Coastal Prairie
in Pacifica occur at Milagra Ridge, Sweeney Ridge,
Cattle Ridge, Mori Point, Aramai Point (formerly
Rockaway Headland), San Pedro Valley Park, the
San Pedro Mountain hills and Pedro Point Headlands and often grow in a mosaic with coastal scrubGrasslands attract reptiles and amphibians including several lizard species and the western rattlesnake.
Grasslands are important foraging grounds for bats
and other mammals such as coyote, black-tailed
deer, jackrabbits, and various rodents. Small rodents
attract riptors (birds of prey) including hawks, owls,
and turkey vultures. The grasslands in Pacifica are
8 Public Resources Code§ 30107.5.
7-16 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
of limited and highly disturbed nature, having been
damaged through unauthorized vehicle activity that
has created off-road trails on hillsides.
Over the past thirty years extensive work has been
accomplished to protect, preserve and restore native,
perennial grasses and forbs at Pedro Point Headlands (PPH), Aramai Point, Mori Point and Milagra Ridge. The Pedro Point Headlands restoration was
supported by a grant awarded by California State
Parks and Recreation Division to the Pacifica Land
Trust to repair off- highway vehicle damage. Grassland and prairie are being protected in other publicly managed lands as well. Unprotected grassland/ prairie remnants continue on Harmony 1, Rockaway
Rock, the Quarry, Cattle Hill, along Fassler, Esplanade, Palmetto, and Fish and Bowl.
SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES IN GRASSLAND HABITATS
Special-status species9 that have the potential to
occur in grassland habitats around Pacifica include
the Mission blue butterfly, San Bruno elfin butterfly,
Crystal Springs fountain thistle, Marin western flax,
San Mateo thorn-mint, white-rayed pentachaeta,
Crystal Springs lessingia, pappose tarplant, ;nd San
Francisco owl's clover. 10
9 "Special-status" plant and animal species are defined in . more derail in the Special-scams Species section of this chapter. Briefly, they are:
• Species listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, California Endangered Species Act, California Fish and Game Code, and the Native Plant Protection Act as
endangered, threatened, or depleted; species that are
candidates or proposed for listing; or species that are designated as rare or fully protected
• Locally rare species defined by CEQA Guidelines Sections, which may include species that are designated as sensitive, declining, rare, locally endemic, or as having limited or restricted distribution by various federal,
state, and local agencies, organizations, and watch lists. 10 John Northmore Roberts & Associates et al., 1992; State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, 1990.
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Packet Pg. 518 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Coastal Bluff Scrub
Coastal bluff scrub, found along Highway 1, consists
of a mosaic of open sand, native low growing shrubs
and herbaceous perennials. Native species present
include dwarf coyote brush, silver bush lupine, yellow bush lupine, seaside woolly sunflower, bunchgrass, buckhorn plantain, beach evening primrose, beach bur, yellow sand verbena, beach salcbush, and
beach morning glory. Other exotic species are Italian ryegrass, bull thistle, and fennel. 11Non-native iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis) New Zealand spinach
(Tetragonia tetragonioides) have been virtually eradicated and replaced with appropriate natives grown and planted by volunteers.
SPECIA -STAlu~ SPECIES IN COASTAL BLUFF SCRUB
HABITAT
Special-status species that may be found in this habitat around Pacifica are bumblebee scarab beetle, sandy beach tiger beetle, Hickman's cinquefoil, blue
coast gilia, coast yellow leptosiphon, coastal marsh
milk-vetch, coastal triquetrella, compact cobwebby
thistle, Franciscan thistle, Point Reyes horkelia, rose leptosiphon, San Francisco Bay spineflower, and
short-leaved evax. Bank swallows, double-crested
cormorants, and big free-tailed bats may use cliff
sides for nesting.
Northern Coastal Scrub
Northern coastal scrub habitat is found on undeveloped slopes, often in a mosaic with annual grasslands. Northern maritime chaparral, a special-status ·community, is included in this category. Northern
coastal scrub is dominated by either coyote brush
or California sagebrush, depending on slope aspect.
North facing slopes support a greater diversity of
shrub species and canopy cover than south facing
slopes. Coastal scrub habitat, often interspersed with
other habitats, provides foraging and nesting habitat for species that are attracted to edges of plant communities. These include various bird species,
including hummingbirds; small mammals including
11 State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, 1990; ESA surveys, 2008
skunks, rabbits, gophers, and rodents; larger predators such as fox, coyotes, bobcat and mountain lions; and small reptiles.12
SPECIAL-$ Alt.ls SPECIES IN NORTHERN COASTAL
RU1 HABITM
Special-status animals that may use northern coastal ·
scrub around Pacifica include merlins, dusky-footed
woodrat, Mission blue butterfly, and San Bruno elfin
butterflies. Special-status plants with the potential to occur include: Pacific manzanita, Presidio manzanita, San Bruno manzanita, San Francisco lessingia, Choris' popcorn-flower, Davidson's bush-mallow,
fragrant fritillary, Kellogg's horkelia, Montara manzanita, Oregon polemonium, pale yellow hayfield tarplant, San Francisco campion, San Francisco collinsia, and San Francisco gumplant.
Coastal Mixed Hardwood/Oak Woodland
This habitat type includes woodlands dominated by
coast live oak, black oak, blue oak, as well as other
hardwood species. In addition to birds, wildlife commonly associated with woodlands in general includes the ringneck snake, California newt, and California
slender salamander. Seeds and fruit provide food for
black-tailed deer, jays, and woodpeckers, while tree
branches and cavities can provide areas for nesting.
This community is not found in the Pacifica Coastal
Zone.
SPECIAL-STATUS SPfCIES IN COASTAL MIXED
1-1 T
Special-status species that are likely to use coastal
mixed hardwood/oak woodland habitat in Pacifica
are the hoary bat, San Mateo woolly, bent-flowered
fiddleneck, Diablo helianchella, Franciscan onion,
Hillsborough chocolate lily, and Indian Vall~y bushmallow.
Eucalyptus
This habitat type is dominated by planted Eucalyptus species, primarily blue-gum eucalyptus. Groves of eucalyptus are dense and form a closed canopy,
restricting other native overstory trees to clear12 John Northmore Roberts & Associates et al. , 1992 7 n
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PACIFICA GE\IERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 7-17
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Packet Pg. 519 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption San Pedro Creek is the only perennial stream in the planning area and provides important habitat for steelhead trout, a federally listed species.
ings. Eucalyptus trees have allelopathic properties,
releasing chemicals into the soil to reduce or inhibit
growth of other plants. In addition, they produce
extensive leaf and bark litter which further inhibits
the growth of understory plants. Eucalyptus trees
provide perching, roosting, and nesting sites for
larger birds, such as crows, ravens, red-tailed hawks,
red-shouldered hawks, and barn owls. The migratory
monarch butterfly frequently roosts in eucalyptus
trees in the winter.
Monterey Cypress
Small patches of Monterey cypress occur throughout the Planning Area in planted stands surrounded by a mosaic of scrub and grasslands. The largest
stand occurs at the north end of the Planning Area.
Although the small patches of Monterey cypress
found in Pacifica are unlikely to support significant
wildlife populations, they complement surrounding
habitats by providing nesting and roosting substrates
for birds as well as shelter for other animals.
Riparian Mixed Hardwood
Areas with riparian mixed hardwood habitat occur
Areas with riparian mixed hardwood habitat occur
along San Pedro Creek, Rockaway Creek, Calera
Creek, and Laguna Salada. Native trees that are
found include red alder, various willow species, and
7-18 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
creek dogwood. Riparian areas also host native herbs
and emergent vegetation, as well as various nonnative ivies, grasses, blackberry, and other plants.
Riparian areas provide foraging ground for birds and
small mammals, and habitat for small reptiles and
amphibians.
;:,PECIAL-STATUS SPECIES IN RIPARIAN MIXED HARDWOOD HABITAT Special-status wildlife that could be present in the
riparian corridor includes tricolored blackbirds, raptors such as Cooper's hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, and great blue heron.
Willow Riparian Scrub
Willow riparian scrub in Pacifica is dominated by
arroyo willow, with red willow and dogwood. This
habitat occurs in the upper reaches of San Pedro
Creek, in San Pedro Valley County Park. Where an
overstory is present it is dominated by non-native
trees. Species found in upper reaches of San Pedro
Creek are bluegum eucalyptus, Monterey pine, coast
redwood, French broom, cape ivy, common periwinkle, Algerian ivy, and wax myrtle. In San Pedro Valley County Park the species include arroyo and red willow, alder, coastal wood fern, lady fern, western
sword fern, and alumroot.
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Packet Pg. 520 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
0 c ea n
r ure 7 3- . . Sensitive
and
c~?tical Habitat~--
· J Env1ro . nmentally Potent1a Habitat Areas Sens1t1ve Critical Habitat
Steelhead
~ - California Red-I e gg edFrog
Other Sens1 Tve I Areas
High Habidta~ v;~~:~entation Threatene Y
-- t Corridor* - Wildlife Movemen
Urban Land
~ Urban and Non Habitat Value with Little or No
___ City Limits - Planning Area
. eded between
*100-400 foot wi~e ii~:~ Park/Sweeney I . -· dor ne R" dge Milagra Ridge an Threatened &
C "tical Habitat for W"ldlife Service, SOURCE: n ecies, U.S. Fish & ~t National_ Endange1;~d Sci Critical Habitat-) ~~~5; Califorma
2015; Stee ea_ s Service (NOAA : De t of Fish &
Marine Fishene 2005; Califorma Pl~nt Society,
Dept ofForesl! y,_ California Native_ itv of Pacifica,
& Wildlife, 20f 5,. al Survey, 2005, ~t & Bhatia, 2020. 2005; 2020; San US GMe~e~g~oun a
ty, 2020; Dye 7-19
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Packet Pg. 521 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Seasonal Wetlands and Ponds
Seasonal wetlands occur in smaller drainages and
localized depressions, forming ponds or flowing
water, and are underlain by saturated soils during
the winter and spring. Seasonal wetlands also occur
along the banks and sediments that accumulate in
creeks. Wetlands in Pacifica are found along riparian areas, drainages, along the coast, and as fresh and brackish water marshes (such as on the Sharp
Park Golf Course). Vegetation and wildlife found in
wetlands varies with water characteristics, inundation patterns, surrounding habitat, and level of disturbance.
SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES IN SEASONAL WETLANDS
AND PONDS
The California red-legged frog, San Francisco garter
snake, Leech's skyline diving beetle, San Francisco
forktail damselfly, T omales isopod, western pond
turtle, and bristly sedge are special-status species that may be found in wetlands around Pacifica. The wetlands in Sharp Park are also known to support saltmarsh common yellowthroat. Seasonal wetlands and ponds at Mori Point and Sharp Park Golf Course
support the California red-legged frog as well as the
San Francisco Garter Snake.
Streams
Streams are important habitat features in Pacifica as
they can function as movement corridors as well as
providing protective cover. Wildlife species that are
associated with stream habitat include river otters,
great blue heron, snowy egret, belted kingfisher,
dark-eyed junco, and black phoebe. Black-tailed
deer, raccoon, opossum, and grey fox may use the
creeks as movement corridors. Fish species P!esent
include the prickly sculpin, the Pacific lamprey, and
the threespine stickleback.
SPEGAL-STATUS SPECIES IN STREAMS
The federally threatened steelhead trout use parts of
San Pedro Creek for spav\'ning, including the main
portion parallel to Linda Mar Boulevard, as well as
the middle and south forks in San Pedro County
7-20 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Park. 13 This is the only stream with a steelhead population between the Golden Gate Bridge and Half Moon Bay. Lower Calera Creek on the Quarry site
supports the federally-threatened California redlegged frog and the Endangered San Francisco garter snake.
Beach/Intertidal
Significant expanses of continuous sandy shoreline
occur along the San Mateo coastline, including in
Pacifica. Beaches are dynamic systems that change
with wind and waves; generally, sand is eroded from
beaches in the winter and re-deposited in the summer, resulting in annual changes in beach slope and width.
Beach habitats can be divided into supratidal, intertidal, and subtidal. The supratidal tidal beach fauna consists of sand crabs, California beach flea, amphipods, polychaete worms, flies, and isopods that feed on detritus; these species in turn are fed on by a variety of birds. The by-the-wind sailor, a jellyfish-like colony of organisms, frequently washes up on the
upper beach areas. Exposed rocks or cobble, especially at the lower intertidal areas, can have attached algae, mussels, and barnacles. Intertidal areas are
home to the Pacific egg cockle and spiny mole crab.
The Subtidal zone is primarily inhabited by fish
such as surf perch, striped bass, salmon, anchovies,
sanddabs, California halibut, and the starry flounder.,.
SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES IN BEAC !/INTERTIDAL HABITAT
Some special-status species may be found in the shallow waters off of Pacifica. Harbor seals and sea lions haul out on isolated beaches and sands spits. The
endangered black abalone may be present in intertidal areas attached to rocks. The threatened green sturgeon may also forage in the shallow waters off of
Pacifica. Both the gray whale and southern sea otter
13 San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition, 2005
14 BLM, 1981; State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, 1990
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Packet Pg. 522 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Portions or all of the area around Moris Point and Sharp Park Golf Course supports the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake, and are a potential Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area under the California Coastal Act. use the nearshore waters, and the California brown
pelican is also frequently observed. Pacifica State
Beach in the 1970s hosted nesting Western Snowy
Plovers, a Federally listed threatened species. Since
2003 volunteers have regularly surveyed and monitored the plovers and have seen only wintering plovers in declining numbers. ESHA is required on the north half of the beach where plovers roost and feed.
Sensitive and Critical Habitat
The Planning Area hosts numerous areas of sensitive,
critical, and special-status habitats and natural communities. These areas are those with unique, rare, or sensitive biological characteristics and/or possess special legal status. 15 Critical Habitat
Critical habitat areas are for species listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act. These areas contain
features that are essential for the conservation of the species and may require special management and
protection.
Critical habitat for the California red-legged frog
has been designated in the southeast portion of the
Planning Area (see Figure 7-3, Sensitive and Critical Habitat). This area contains both aquatic and upland areas with suitable breeding and non-breeding habitat. A final ruling was issued in March 2010 to expand the critical habitat from 450,288 acres to
1,636,609 acres statewide, including additional parts
of. the Planning Area, including on Pedro Point
Headlands. 16
San Pedro Creek is known to support steelhead trout,
a federally listed threatened species. They spawn in
the main portion of the creek that runs parallel to
15 A "special-status natural community" is a natural habitat community that is unique in its constituent components, restricred in distriburion, supported by distinctive soil conditions, considered locally rare, potentially supporting special-status plant or wildlife species, and/ or that receives regulatory recognition from municipal, county, state, and/ or federal entities such as the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB).
16 Fish and Wildlife Service, 2010.
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Packet Pg. 523 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Linda Mar Boulevard, as well as the middle and
south forks in San Pedro County Park. 17 However,
conditions in parts of the creek limit its suitability
for steelhead habitat, including barriers to fish passage at main stem road crossings, low base flows, mobilization and accumulation of fine sediments in
the main stem, deterioration of water quality, disturbance, and exploitation.
N earshore marine areas off of Pacifica are part of the Green Sturgeon Critical Habitat. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that this, which includes Pacifica's shoreline, is of high
conservation value.
Special-Status Communities
The California Natural Diversity Database
(CNDDB) indicates that there is an area of northern maritime chaparral at the south end of the Planning Area, in San Pedro Valley County Park and on Whiting Ridge and Montara Mountain. This community is fairly open chaparral, with about 50-80 percent cover, and it is dominated by Manzanita or
Ceanothus species.
An area of coastal bluff scrub has been identified at
the north end of Pacifica. Coastal bluff scrub
communities are found on steep, exposed bluffs along
the ocean and are dominated by low shrubs and
ground-hugging herbaceous species. It is particularly
important for stabilizing sand dunes. Boch bluff and
17 San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition, 2002
northern coastal scrub habitat has been damaged by
unauthorized vehicle activity and pedestrian use.
Potential Environmentally Sensitive Habitat
Areas
Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas are defined
by the California Coastal Act as "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." These areas are to be protected against any significant disruption of habitat values, and only
uses dependent on those resources are to be allowed
within those areas. Development in areas adjacent to
environmentally sensitive habitat areas must be sited
and designed to prevent impacts which would significantly degrade those areas, and be compatible with the continuance of those habitat and recreation areas.
Figure 7-3 identifies potential ESHAs in the Planning Area. Potential ESHAs include all designated critical habitat for Endangered or Threatened Spe
cies; special status communities18 and areas designated as "ocher potential Environmentally Sensitive Habitat
Areas."
18 A "special-status natural community" is a natural
habitat community that is unique in its constituent components, restricted in distribution, supported by distinctive soil conditions, considered locally rare, potentially supporting special-status plant or wildlife species, and/or that receives regulatory recognition from municipal, county, state, and/ ·or federal entities such as the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB).
Mifagra Ridge provides high habitat value for endangered or threatened species, and is at risk of becoming fragmented by development, which would isolate its inhabitants from other populations of the same species. 7-22 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 524 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption While potential ESHAs, according co chis definition,
can be found throughout the Planning Area,
development in the Coastal Zone must comply with
the City's LCP and specific Coastal Ace policies
concerning ESHA. Areas around Mori Point and
Sharp Park Golf Course are likely to qualify as an
ESHA. Outside of the Coastal Zone, new
development in potentially sensitive areas must
comply with requirements of ocher federal and state
agencies in order co avoid negative impacts to
sensitive species and habitats.
Any proposed development on land designated on
the Sensitive and Critical Habitat map (Figure 7-3)
as having potential to include an £SHA requires a
site-specific evaluation by qualified biologists. The
site evaluation will determine the precise location
and extent of sensitive resources, if any, and establish appropriate development setbacks and standards to
ensure that resources are protected.
Wildlife Movement Corridors
Wildlife movement corridors link together areas of
suitable habitat that are otherwise separated by rugged terrain, changes in vegetation, or by areas of human disturbance or urban development. They
allow wildlife to access additional areas with food,
water, and other resources such as shelter chat would
otherwise be blocked by impenetrable barriers such
as highways. Topography and other natural factors
in combination with urbanization can fragment or
separate large open-space areas, · creating isolated
"islands" of vegetation chat may not provide sufficient area to accommodate sustainable populations of animals or plants. Movement corridors mitigate
the effects of fragmentation by allowing animals
to move between remaining habitats. This allows
depleted populations to be replenished and promotes
genetic exchange with separate populations.
Natural wildlife corridors in Pacifica include riparian corridors and drainages such as San Pedro Creek, canyons, ridgelines, and corridors across valley floors where impermeable barriers have not yet eliminated
options for wildlife movement. An area on the south
side of Sharp Park Road may function as a viable
corridor between Milagra and Sweeney Ridges. This
area has also been identified as part of the Mission
Blue butterfly migration corridor. 19
While a wildlife movement corridor is needed somewhere within the area designated on Figure 7-3, the entire area need not be designated as a wildlife movement corridor. Corridors typically range from 100 to 400 feet in width, within which habitat is continuous and suitable for wildlife movement. Other wildlife corridors could occur in areas of potentially
sensitive habitat, or areas threatened by habitat fragmentation, areas with high habitat value, or critical habitat areas,
Special-Status Species
Several species known to occur in the vicinity of the
Planning Area are accorded "special-status" because of
their recognized rarity or vulnerability to various causes of habitat loss or population decline. Some of these
receive specific protections defined in federal or state endangered species legislation. Others have been designated as "sensitive" by state resource agencies or organizations with acknowledged expertise. For purposes of this General Plan, special-status species include:
• Plant and animal species designated as rare,
threatened or endangered under the federal or
state endangered species acts (ESA);
• Species chat are candidates for listing under either
federal or state law;
• Species designated by the USFWS as species of
concern or species oflocal concern, or by CDFG
as species of special ·concern;
• Species protected by the federal Migratory Bird
Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703711);
• Bald and golden eagles protected by the federal
Bald Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668); and
• Species such as candidate species and CNPS List
1 and 2 species that may be considered rare or
19NPS, 2005
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Packet Pg. 525 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption endangered pursuant to Section 15380(b) of the
CEQA Guidelines.
Of particular interest are the Mission Blue Butterfly
and the San Francisco garter snake, federally listed as Endangered; the California red-legged frog and the
Central California Coast Steelhead trout, federally
listed as Threatened; the Western snowy plover, which
is federally listed as Threatened and a California Species of Special Concern; and Myrtle's Silverspot big free-tailed bat, a California Species of Special Concern. Known occurrences of these species have been identified and documented in California Natural
Diversity Database. A comprehensive list and description of species that are either known or presumed to be in the Planning Area based on suitable habitat is in the EIR.
Special-Status Wildlife Species
In addition to these species, additional migratory
birds, raptors, and common bat species are subject
to general protections provided by state and federal
regulations.
Special-Status Plant Species
The large number of special-status plants and the
severity of their population declines are reflective of the degree of habitat loss that has occurred throughout the San Francisco Peninsula. Outside of San Bruno Mountain, Pacifica encompasses the northernmost natural habitat on the peninsula. Due to extensive coastal development throughout neighboring counties, beach and bluff species have also become rare.
Of the special-status plant species listed in the EIR,
38 special-status plants have the potential to occur
within the Planning Area. These species have been
recorded in the vicinity and/or may be present in
suitable habitat on site.
Protected Trees
Certain trees within the city limits are also protected, including heritage trees and street trees. Heritage trees are currently defined as any trees in the 7-24 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City that have a trunk with a circumference of 50
inches or more, at 24 inches above grade, excluding
eucalyptus. The City Council may also designate any
tree or grove of trees, including eucalyptus, with historical, environmental, or aesthetic value, as Heritage Trees. Heritage Trees generally require special permits for removal, substantial trimming, or construction within its drip-line; in some cases, a Tree Protection Plan prepared by a qualified arborist, landscape architect, or horticulturalist may be required prior to project approval. The City is in the process of updating the Heritage Tree ordinance found at Chapter 12 of Title 4 of the Municipal Code.
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Packet Pg. 526 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a ~ -
Guiding Policies
CO-G-7 ~ Wildlife and Critical Habitat. Conserve and protect indigenous threatened, endangered, and other special status species by preserving critical habitat.
Habitat can be protected by aLLowing very
limited or no development, by identifying
habitat areas as top priorities for permanent conservation, and by managing public land to ensure species protection.
CO-G-8 ~ Coastal Environment and Special
Status Communities. Conserve and protect beaches, sand dunes, coastal bluffs, and special status communities, particularly the Coastal bluff scrub on the northern bluffs.
CO-G-9 ~ Creeks and Riparian Areas. Protect year-round creeks and their riparian habitats.
San Pedro Creek has been designated an
"impaired waterway" by the Regional
Water Quality Control Board and provides
critical habitat to a federally-Listed threatened species, the California coast population ofsteeLhead.
CO-G-10 i) Trees. Conserve trees and encourage
native forestation and planting of appropriate trees and vegetation.
CO-G-11 i) Other Environmentally Sensitive .
Areas. Protect other potential ESHAs,
high habitat value areas, and wildlife
movement corridors from development
that would significantly disrupt habitat
values.
Implementing Policies
C0-1-26 ~ Protection of Biological Resources
with New Development. Protect sensitive habitat areas and special-status species through implementation of the
following measures:
I) Discourage development and/or
buildout in critical habitat of special
status species during the development
review process.
2) Pre-construction plant and wildlife surveys: Project applicants shall engage a qualified biologist to conduct presence/absence biological surveys for sensitive plant and wildlife species prior to construction adjacent
to or within identified special status communities and other sensitive areas identified in Figure 7-3 of the
proposed General Plan. If special
status species are identified, the
qualified biologist shall consult with
the California Department of Fish
and Wildlife (CDFW) and establish no-disturbance buffers around avian nests, bat roosts, and sensitive
plants co avoid disturbance and direct
impacts to these resources during
construction. If no special status species are detected during surveys, then construction-related activities may
proceed. Nesting birds, in particular, are protected by two means; they receive protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and nesting raptors (in the order Falconiformes or
Strigiformes) are protected under the
State Fish and Game Code, §3503.5.
3) Require biological resource assessments be conducted prior to approval for any development within 300 feet
of creeks, wetlands, or other sensitive
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Packet Pg. 527 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption habitat areas shown on Figure 7-3 of
the proposed General Plan.
4) Require on-site monitoring of biological resources by a qualified biologist throughout the duration of construction activity.
5) Require compensatory mitigation by
means of habitat preservation, restoration, and enhancement; for the loss of any critical habitat and/or special
status communities.
The City will coordinate with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, National Marine
Fisheries Service, California Department
of Fish and Wildlife, and Regional Water
Quality Control Board in providing project
applicants with the best guidance to avoid
impacts to special status species and habitat
· areas including creeks, wetland features,
woodlands, or other sensitive natural features.
C0-1-27 Verification ofESHA. Prior to any
proposed development in an ESHA or
potential ESHA, require that a habitat survey be conducted by a qualified botanist or biologist. The habitat survey
will verify whether the site is an ESHA,
and document the extent of the sensitive
r_esources, document potential negative
impacts to the habitat, and recommend
appropriate mitigation measures. Verification of an ESHA shall be based on the following considerations:
• Presence of natural communities identified as rare by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (determined by a state rarity ranking of Sl to S3).
• Recorded or potential presence of plant
or animal species designated as rare,
threatened or endangered under State or
federal law.
• Recorded or potential presence of plant
or animal species for which there is
7-26 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
compelling evidence or rarity, such as
a designation of 1 B (rare or endangered
in California or elsewhere) or 2 (rare,
threatened, or endangered in California,
but more common elsewhere) by the
California Native Plant Society.
• Presence of coastal waterways.
• Integrity of the habitat and its connectivity to other natural areas.
C0-1-28 Management of ESHA. If the area
qualifies as an ESHA under the California Coastal Act, the following regulations apply:
• No new development shall be allowed
within primary habitat areas with the
exception of resource-dependent uses
that can be demonstrated to have no
significant adverse impact.
• Buffer areas shall be established around
all sensitive resources, providing a
minimum of I 00 feet, and varying as
needed to account for feeding, breeding,
nesting, and other habitat requirements.
New buildings in buffer areas shall be
allowed only if there are no other feasible development areas on the parcel.
Exceptions to such buffer requirements
should be supported by a biological
report demonstrating that the adjusted
buffer, in combination with incorpo-
_ rated siting, design or other mitigation
measures, will prevent impacts that
significantly degrade the ESHA and will
be compatible with the continuance of
the ESHA. Buffer adjustments should
also be limited to where the entire .
s~bject legal lot is within the buffer or
where it is demonstrated that development outside the buffer would have a greater impact on the ESHA. Development shall be sited and designed to prevent impacts that would degrade adjacent habitat areas, taking into account
1.c
Packet Pg. 528 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption drainage, vegetation, topography, and
other considerations.
• Alteration of landforms, removal of
vegetation, impervious surfaces, noise,
light, and glare shall be minimized.
CO-1-29 ~ Fencing. Any fencing or barriers
located within riparian ESHAs or wildlife corridors shall permit the free passage of wildlife.
CO-1-30 ~ Fuel Modification. Ensure that new
development is sited and designed to
minimize the need for fuel modification and vegetation clearance in order to avoid or minimize the disturbance
or destruction of habitat and existing hydrology while still providing for fire safety as necessitated by the North
County Fire Authority's Vegetation
Management Program. Prohibit new
development that would require fuel
modification within ESHAs.
CO-1-31 Habitat Preservation. Require a habitat
survey be prepared by a qualified botanist or biologist for any development proposed for the following areas, as shown in Figure 7-3'.
• Designated Critical Habitat for Endangered or Threatened Species; • Potential Environmentally Sensitive
Habitat Area (ESHA);
• High Habitat Value; and
• Wildlife Movement Corridor.
The survey will be used to determine the
exact location of habitat areas and to recommend mitigation measures that minimize potential impacts.
CO-1-32 ~ Monitoring Requirements. Require
a Restoration and Monitoring Proposal for any proposed habitat restoration or mitigation. The Proposal should describe the methods and practices to be
employed, and include:
• A clear statement of the goals of the
restoration or mitigation for all habitat
types;
• Sampling of reference habitat, with
reporting of resultant data;
• Designation of a qualified biologist as
the Restoration or Mitigation Manager
responsible for all phases of the restoration;
• A specific grading plan, if the topography must be altered; • A specific erosion control plan, if soil or
other substrate will be disturbed during
restoration;
• A weed eradication plan designed to
eradicate existing weeds and control
future invasion by exotic species;
• A planting plan based on the natural
habitat type;
• An irrigation plan that describes the
method and timing of watering and
ensures removal of watering infrastructure by the end of the monitoring period;
• An interim monitoring plan with performance goals, assessment methods, and a schedule; and
• A final monitoring plan to determine
whether the restoration has been successful.
CO-1-33 ~ Construction during Nesting
Season. If site work or construction
occurs during the nesting season (February 1 through August 31), then -preconstruction breeding bird surveys shall be performed by a qualified wildlife
biologist prior to any site disturbance to
ensure that no nests will be disturbed or
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Packet Pg. 529 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption destroyed during Project implementation. If an active nest is found sufficiencly close to work areas to be disturbed by
construction activities, then the biologist
shall create a no-disturbance buffer of
250 feet around passerine nests and a 500
foot buffer around raptor nests. Workfree buffer zones shall be maintained until after the breeding season or until
after the qualified biologist determines
the young have fledged ( usually late June
through mid-July).
Nests initiated during construction activities would be presumed to be unaffected by the activity, and a buffer zone around such
nests is not necessary. However, nests shall
be flagged and construction activity shall
avoid killing and/or injuring nesting birds.
C0-1-34 Pre-Construction Bat Surveys. Preconstruction surveys for special-status and non-listed bat species will be performed by a qualified biologist if large trees (>4 ft. diameter at breast height) are
to be removed or underutilized or vacant
buildings are to be demolished. A no-disturbance buffer of 100 feet shall be created around active bat roosts being used for maternity or hibernation purposes.
C0-1-35 t) Protection of the Californian RedLegged Frog and San Francisco Garter Snake during Cons~ruction. To minimize disturbance, require all grading activity within 100 feet of identified
aquatic habitat shall be conducted during
the dry season (May 1 and October 15)
to protect California red-legged frog and
San Francisco garter snake. A qualified
biologist shall conduct presence/absence
surveys for California red-legged frog
and San Francisco garter snake prior to
construction in or adjacent to riparian
areas, grasslands near ponds/wetlands, or
other sensitive habitat. Any individuals
identified shall be treated in consultation
7-28 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
with USFWS. Construction shall follow
accepted procedures for exclusion and
avoidance of California red-legged frog
and San Francisco garter snake and their
habitat. Additionally, the biologist shall
supervise the installation of exclusion
fencing along the boundaries of the work
area, shall conduct environmental awareness training for construction workers, and shall be present during initial vegetation clearing and ground-disturbing activities.
C0-1-36 Invasive Plant Species. Prohibit the
use of invasive plant species (i.e., any
California Invasive Plant Council (CalIPC)-listed species with a status of high or moderate, or identified such as locallythreatened under the limited, alert, or watch status).
C0-1-37 Beach Grooming. Work with the
State of California, GGNRA, and other
partners in the management of beaches
in Pacifica to ensure biological resources
are not adversely affected by beach
grooming. Specifically, protect beach
wrack (the piles of pla~t and animal
debris that wash ashore), which plays an
important role in the beach ecosystem.
C0-1-38 ~ Biological Productivity. Maintain- and where feasible, restore-the biological productivity and the quality of coastal waters, streams, wetlands, and lakes in order to maintain optimum
populations of marine organisms and to
prntect human health.
Techniques may include:
• Minimizing adverse effects of wastewater
discharge;
• Controlling runoff, preventing depletion
of ground water supplies and substantial
interference with suiface wateiflow;
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Packet Pg. 530 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption • Encouraging wastewater reclamation,
maintaining natural vegetation buffer
areas that protect riparian habitats; and
• Minimizing alteration of natural streams.
CO-1-39 Heritage Trees. Update the Heritage
Tree ordinance to improve ease of City
administration and clarity for applicants
and surrounding residents. Consider a
canopy goal for heritage and nonheritage trees as part of the Heritage Tree ordinance update or other updates
to the City's tree regul ations.
CO-1-40 t) Regulations and Incentives to Preserve Habitat. Ensure that sensitive or critical habitat is protected, maintained,
enhanced, or restored.
Possible techniques include:
• Zoning for very low density and clustered
development where appropriate;
• Requiring the preparation of a habitat
survey in certain areas; and
• Identifying appropriate "sending sites" in
the City's Transfer of Development Rights
program.
CO-1-41 ~ Protection by Land Acquisition
or Conservation Easements. Explore
opportunities for public acquisition of
land or conservation easements on parcels not currently designated for Conservation that have significant habitat value.
CO-1-42 t) Public Land Management. Coordinate with GGNRA, State and County Parks, and the City and County of San
Francisco to ensure that public open
space lands are managed to optimize
habitat protection for special status species while also providing for public access and other goals.
Key issues include maintaining viable habitat for the Mission Blue butterfly on Milagra and Sweeney ridges; for the California red-legged frog and San Francisco garter
snake populations associated with Mori Point
and Laguna Salada; and supporting
migrating Western snowy plover at Pacifica
State Beach.
CO-1-43 Management of Public Coastal
Access. Ensure regular public access,
determining locations on a site-specific
basis by considering:
• The capacity of the access way to sustain
use;
• The intensity of access that can be sustained;
• The fragility of the natural resources in
the accessing, and
• The proximity of the access to adjacent
residential uses.
Innovative access management techniques
include but are not limited to agreements
with private organizations that would
minimize management costs and the use of
volunteer programs.
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Packet Pg. 531 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 13 LAND AND SOIL
RESOURCES
Conservation of soils and other resources in the
earth, and conservation of agricultural and forestry
resources are the subject of this section.
Soils
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural
Resources Conservation Service has mapped soils in
the Planning Area. Soils are characterized according
to various properties and grouped into soil associations. These include the Barnabe-Candlestick complex, the Candlestick-Kron-Buriburi complex, Orthems Cut and Fill-Urban Land complex, and Candlestick-Barnabe Complex. In the upland regions these soils are generally shallow and found on slopes ranging from 30 to 75 percent. The Orthents and Urban Land complex soils are often located in the more
gentle slopes of O to 30 percent. Soils found in developed areas have generally been reworked to the point that most of the native soils are only found at depth,
if at all.
Hazards associated with soils, including erosion,
landslides and slope failure, subsidence, and liquefaction are discussed in Section 8.1, Geologic and Seismic Hazards.
Agriculture
While agricultural operations are not predominant,
approximately 360 acres currently have agriculturerelated uses, mainly as horse boarding. These include the Park Pacifica Stables at the southwestern edge
of Sweeney Ridge; Millwood Ranch, north of Terra
Nova High School; and Shamrock Ranch south of
the city limits. None of these properties are engaged
in commercial food production and no land in the
Planning Area is classified as farmland by the California Department of Conservation's Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program.
The San Pedro Creek restoration project involved augmenting the dunes at Pacifica State Beach, helping to reduce erosion. 7-30 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVJEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 532 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Forestry
A significant portion of the Pacifica Planning Area
is forested, including Eucalyptus, Coastal Mixed
Hardwood/Oak Woodland, Riparian Mixed Hardwood, and Monterey Cypress.' Logging
The City defines logging operations as any removal,
destruction or harvesting of 20 or more trees within
one year from any parcel or contiguous parcel in the
same ownership, and exhibits logging operations
unless one of the following conditions is met:
• Operations have received Planning Commission
and/or City Council approval;
• Operations are necessary immediately for the
safety oflife or property, as determined by the
Director of Public Works; or
• Operations occur on city-owned property and are
necessary to maintain public health and safety.
Mineral Resources
The Planning Area is a source of some mineral
resources, including limestone, which is used for
making cement. The Rockaway Quarry produced
limestone from the early 20th century until 1987.
Picardo Ranch (now Millwood Ranch) also produced limestone and chert for road construction, but the site is no longer operational. Other limestone
deposits found in the southern portion of the Planning Area, underlying development, are not mined.
Coastal Sediment
Coastal sediment, generally conststmg of sand,
grave1; silt, and clay, provides many benefits for
coastal communities, providing habitat for a variety of species, creating recreational opportunities for residents and tourists, and protecting shorelines and adjacent development. Coastal sediment occurs, accumulates, and moves via natural processes (precipitation, wind, landslides, stream flow, etc.). However, urban development and flood control can disrupt these processes and alter the quantity, quality, and location of coastal sediment deposition over time. Eventually, additional intervention (such as armoring, dredging, and other methods) is
required to stabilize the shoreline as the natural system is unable to do so. Such interventions often have adverse impacts on shoreline erosion downshore, and
may accelerate sand loss from beaches.
Pacifica participates in the Coastal Regional Sediment Management Plan (CRSMP) process for the San Francisco Littoral Cell (the stretch of coastline
in which Pacifica is included). The CRSMP will
establish policies for management of coastal sediment resources in the area, addressing:
• Shoreline erosion and coastal storm damage
reduction;
• Environmental restoration and protection,
including beach nourishment, sediment transportation, and natural sediment supply to the coast; • Sea level rise;
• Coastal access and recreation;
• Water quality along beaches; and
• Identification of beneficial uses for dredged sediment. 7 n
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Packet Pg. 533 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
CO-G-12 Preserve Agricultural Open Space.
Promote the preservation of agricultural
open space in the Planning Area.
Implementing Policies
C0-1-44 Regional Sediment Management.
Participate in regional approaches to pi:otecting, enhancing and restoring coastal beaches and watersheds through the California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup, with a goal of minimizing
coastal erosion.
This approach has been formally recommended by the Sharp Park Working Group, as part of the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department's Significant Natural Resource Areas Management Plan.
C0-1-45 Continuation of Agricultural arid
Related Uses. Where agricultural and
related uses exist, allow compatible uses
to continue.
C0-1-46 Mineral Resources. If significant mineral
resources are discovered with regional
agencies to determine a course of action
to protect the resources and, if applicable, .extract them in an environmentally sensitive manner.
C0-1-47 ~ Recreational Uses. Promote recreational uses, such as horse boarding and trail riding, which retain open space
character while contributing to a visitorbased economy. 7-32 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
1A AIR QUALITY
Protecting and improving air quality is important to
Pacifica and communities across California, as certain kinds of air pollutants are directly harmful to human health and the health of the natural environment, including water quality, plant and animal life.
Due to its position relative to wind flow patterns and
topography, air quality in Pacifica is better than it
is in the Bay Area overall. Still, pollutants emitted
locally have regional consequences. Since air quality
is a regional issue, this General Plan also has referred to Bay Area 2017 Clean Air Plan for guidance.
Climatic Conditions
Atmospheric conditions, such as wind speed, wind
direction, and air temperature interact with the phys-
.ical features of the landscape to determine the movement and dispersal of air pollutants. Pacifica lies in the northwestern portion of the Bay Area's peninsula
climatological sub-region within this sub-region, air
pollution potential is highest in the vicinity of Redwood City, the area most protected from high winds and most susceptible to pollution transported from
upwind urban areas. At Pacifica's location, winds
bring air from the ocean and are generally strong
enough to carry away local emissions.
Existing Air Quality
The Bay Area has attained Federal and state standards for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide but has not met Federal and state
standards for California's standards for annual concentrations of coarse (PM 10) and fine (PM 2.5) particulate matter, as well as the federal 24-hour standard for PM 2.5.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District
operates a regional monitoring network that measures six criteria pollutants. Since the closest monitoring station is approximately ten miles northeast of Pacifica on Arkansas Street in San Francisco,
air quality in Pacifica can be inferred but not precisely gauged from BAAQMD's measurements.
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Packet Pg. 534 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Table 7-2 Based on data in Table 7-2, there appears
to have been one violation of the state or national
ozone standard in San Francisco over the five years
between 2016 and 2020. Because ozone is a regional
pollutant and precursors can travel long distances
before they react to form ozone, local emissions of
reactive organic gases (ROG) and nitrogen oxides
(NOx) may contribute to regional ozone levels. The
regional monitoring network has recorded ozone levels exceeding the State standard for 15 days per year over the past five years, with fewer violations of the
national standards.
In general, particulate levels are relatively low near
the coast, and peak in dry, sheltered valleys. Therefore, Pacifica's air is generally less polluted than the region's, though local emissions play a role in the
region's air quality issues. Local PM2.5 concentrations have exceeded state 24-hour standards over four of the past five years, and federal 24-hour standards over three of the past five years.
The BMQMD maintains an Emissions Inventory,
which estimates the total volume of air pollutants
generated each day by approximately 100 "areawide"
sources, point sources such as . factories, gas stations and power plants, and mobile sources (primarily
vehicles). In general, the proportion of air pollution generated by different sources varies by pollutant. Cars, trucks, airplanes and boats are responsible for most of the smog-producing pollutants (nitrogen oxides and reactive organic gases) in the air and nearly all of the carbon monoxide. Areawide sources,
especially dust from roads, produce most of the particulate air pollutants. Ships account for virtually all of the sulfur dioxide emitted in San Mateo County.
While the region is in compliance for carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, concentrations of CO can still be a local concern. In Pacifica, congestion on Highway 1 has the potential to produce high concentrations, negatively impacting the healch of sensitive populations (children, the elderly, etc.).
Table 7-2: QUALITY DATA SUMMARY (2016-2020) FOR THE PLANNING AREA Monitoring Data by Year1
Pollutant Standard 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Ozone
Highest 1-hour average (ppm) 0.070 0.087 0.065 0.091 0.088 Days above state 1-Hour Std. 0.9 0 0 0 0
Highest 8-hour average ppm 0.057 0.053 0.049 0.073 0.055 Days above state 8-Hour Std. 0.07 0 0 0 0
Days above federal 8-Hour Std. 0.075 0 0 0 0 0
Carbon Monoxide
Highest 8-hour average ppm LlQ 1.40 1.60 0.90 1.60
Days above state 8-hour Std. 9.0 0 0 0 0 0
Days above federal 8-Hour Std. 9.0 Q Q Q 0 0
Fine Particulate Matter (PM-2.5)
Highest 24-hour average (µg/m3) 108.0 190.0 241.0 45.0 214.0 Estimated Days above state Std.2 50 1 9 18 0 20
Estimated Days above federal Std. 150 0 2 3 0 4
Annual Average 20 7.6 9.6 11.7 7.7 10.5
1. Data are from the Arkansas Street station in San Francisco.
2. Measurements are usually collected every six days. Estimated days over the standard represent the estimated number of days the standard would have been exceeded if measurements were collected every day.
Notes: ppm = parts per million; µglm3 = micrograms per cubic meter.
Source: Bay Area Air Quality Management District, https:llwww.baaqmd.gov/about-air-qualitylcurrent-air-qualitylair-monitoring-datal#I, 2020, accessed June 2021.
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Packet Pg. 535 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Sensitive Receptors
Some people are more sensitive to air pollution than
others. Heightened sensitivity may be caused by preexisting health problems, proximity to the emissions source, and duration of exposure to pollutants. Land
uses such as schools, children's day care centers, hospitals, and convalescent homes are more sensitive than the general public to poor air quality because
the population groups associated with these uses
have increased susceptibility to respiratory distress
and other air quality-related health problems. Persons engaged in strenuous work or exercise also have increased sensitivity to poor air quality.
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
CO-G-13 Improve Air Quality. Reduce emissions of ozone-producing pollutants and particulate matter to improve regional air
quality and protect the health of Pacifica
and Bay Area residents.
Implementing Policies
CO-1-48 Regional Cooperation. Cooperate with
the Bay Area Air Quality Management
District (BMQMD) and other public agencies iri implementing plans to achieve State and Federal Ambient Air
Quality Standards.
CO-1-49 Impact Guidelines. Use the BMQMD's
Air Quality Giiidelines, to determine and
mitigate project air quality impacts.
The City consults with the BAAQMD during CEQA review for projects that require air quality impact analysis and BAAQMD
is on the distribution list for CEQA documents.
7-34 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
CO-1-50 Sensitive Receptors. Work with
BMQMD to develop and implement
a Community Risk Reduction Plan to
address the exposure of sensitive populations to toxic air contaminant emissions in Pacifica.
CO-1-51 Construction Equipment. Require all
construction equipment to be maintained and tuned to meet appropriate EPA and CARB emission requirements.
CO-1-52 Dust Abatement. Require contractors to
use best management practices to reduce
particulate emissions and dust associated
with construction activities.
BMPs include, but are not limited to:
regular materials and vehicle tire watering;
covering of stockpiles; phasing or extension
of grading operations; suspension of grading
during high wind periods; and revegetation
of graded areas.
CO-1-53 Transportation Control Measures.
Ensure compliance with the most current
Bay Area Clean Air Plan by implementing the Plan's recommended Transportation Control Measures.
The 2017 Clean Air Plan identifies 17
TCMs aimed at reducing vehicle trips and
vehicle miles traveled; increasing access to
and support of alternative modes of transportation; promoting compact, walkable land use patterns; and increasing public
education and awareness.
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Packet Pg. 536 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 7 7.5 ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE GASES /"'I
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Like air quality, greenhouse gas emissions and potential effects of global climate change are environmental issues whose causes and impacts extend far beyond the boundaries of any one city. However,
given its coastal location and fragile environmental assets, the City is acutely aware of the impacts that global climate change may have, and actively
engaged in working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Planning Area and adapting to the changing physical environment.
Global Climate Change
Global climate change (GCC) refers to a change in
the average weather of the earth that may be measured by wind patterns, storms, precipitation, and temperature. Historically, the rate of temperature
change has typically been incremental, with warming and cooling occurring over the course of thousands of years. In the past 10,000 years the earth has experienced incremental warming as glaciers
retreated across the globe. However, scientists have
observed an unprecedented increase in the rate of
warming over the past 150 years, roughly coinciding
with the global industrial revolution.
Although GCC is now widely accepted as a concept,
the extent and spe~d of change to be expected, and
the exact contribution from human sources, remains
in debate. Nonetheless, the world's leading climate
scientists, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC), have reached consensus that global
climate change is "very likely" caused by humans,
and that hotter temperatures and rising sea levels will continue for centuries no matter how much humans
control their future emissions. 20
In its 2018 report, the IPCC predicted that global
warming is likely to reach 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit
between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at
the current rate. Crossing the 2.7 degree threshold
could expose tens of millions more people worldwide
20 IPCC, 2018
to life-threatening heat waves, water shortages and
coastal flooding. The same report projects a sea level
rise of seven to 23 inches by the end of the century,
with a greater rise possible depending on the rate of
polar ice sheet melting. Observations since then have
led to projections for more significant change.
Locally, a 2016 statewide vulnerability assessment
conducted by the California Coastal Commission
has projected a sea level rise of 39 to 55 inches along the California coast by 2100. 2 1 According to the California Climate Action Team (CCAT), accelerating GCC has the potential to cause a number of adverse
impacts in California, including but not limited to:
a shrinking Sierra snowpack that would threaten
the state's water supply; public health threats caused
by higher temperatures and more smog; damage to
agriculture and forests due to reduced water storage
capacity, rising temperatures, increasing salt water
intrusion, flooding, and pest infestations; critical
habitat modification and destruction; eroding coastlines; increased wildfire risk; and increased electricity demand. These impacts have and will continue to have considerable costs associated with them.
While all of these impacts may be felt to some extent
in Pacifica, of particular concern are coastal erosion, flooding, and habitat modification, as well as water
supply issues.
Greenhouse Gases
Gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere are
called greenhouse gases (GHGs). These gases play
a critical role in determining the Earth's surface
temperarure. Part of the solar radiation that enters
Earth's atmosphere from space is absorbed by the
Earth's surface. The Earth reflects this radiation back toward space, but GHGs absorb some of the radiation. As a result, radiation that otherwise would have escaped back into space is retained, resulting in
21 CCC,2016
0 2
PACIFICA GcNERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 7-35
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Packet Pg. 537 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption a warming of the atmosphere. This phenomenon is
known as the greenhouse effect.
There are many types of GHGs. The six that are
identified explicitly in California legislation as being of primary concern are:
• Carbon dioxide (CO2), emitted as a result of
fossil fuel combustion, with contributions from
cement manufacture;
• Methane (CH4), produced through the anaerobic
decomposition of waste in landfills, animal digestion, decomposition of animal wastes, production and distribution of natural gas and petroleum,
coal production, and incomplete fossil fuel combustion; • Nitrous oxide (N20), typically generated as a
result of soil cultivation practices, particularly the
use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion, nitric acid production, and biomass burning;
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), primarily used as
refrigerants;
• Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), originally introduced
as alternatives to ozone depleting substances and
typically emitted as by-products of industrial and
manufacturing processes; and
• Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), primarily used in electrical transmission and distribution systems.
GHGs have varying potentials to trap heat in the
atmosphere, known as global warming potential
(GWP), and atmospheric lifetimes. Ofte·n, GWP is
expressed in terms of "carbon dioxide equivalents",
or CO2e, which allows emissions of different gases to
be summed by a common metric. GWP ranges from
one (carbon dioxide) to 23,900 (sulfur hexafluoride).
GHG emissions with a higher GWP have a greater
global warming effect on a molecule-by-molecule
basis. For example, one ton of CH4 has the same
contribution to the greenhouse effect as approximately 21 tons of CO2. The parameter "atmospheric lifetime" describes how long it takes to restore the
system to equilibrium following an increase in the
concentration.of a GHG in the atmosphere. Atmospheric lifetimes of GHGs range from tens to thousands of years.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
According to the California Air Resources Board
emissions inventory reports for 2000 through 2019,
California's GHG emissions continue to decrease. In
2019, emissions from GHG emitting activities statewide were 418 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent. Per capita rates of emissions in the Bay
Area and San Mateo County are lower than the California average.
In 2019, the Climate Center completed a report
showing that the Bay Area's transportation sector is
the primary source of Bay Area greenhouse gas emissions, contributing about 50 percent of the region's CO2e, followed by natural gas usage (33 percent)
and electricity usage (14 percent.) Between 2014 and
2019, the Bay Area reduced its emissions by about
3.6 percent The region made meaningful progress in
reducing its electricity emissions, dropping them.52% . · . between 2014 and 2019. This has largely been driven TABLE 7-3: COMPARATIVE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
area Population emissions (C020) Per Capita Rate (metric tons/ year/ person San Mateo County (2019) 767,000 3.9 million
Bay Area (2019) 7,730,000 47.3 million
California (2019) 39,280,000 418.2 million
United States (2019) 328,300,000 5,130 million
Note: Emissions are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) Sources: Data for San Mateo County and Bay Area is from The Climate Center, 2020;. Emissions for California from California Air Resources Board; population U.S. Census Bureau, 2015-2019 American Community Survey. Emissions for the United States from U.S. Energy Administration, 2019, population U.S. Census Bureau, 2015-2019 American Community Survey. 7-36 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
5.7 6.1
10.6 15.6
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Packet Pg. 538 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption by Community Choice agencies coming online that
deliver low-carbon electricity and by a nearly decarbonized PG&E electricity supply in 2019 (due to Community Choice impacts).
In 2014, the City of Pacifica released a Climate
Action Plan, which provided a baseline inventory
of GHG emissions in 2005. For a similar year, San
Mateo County countywide CO2 emissions were
5.91 million metric tons in 2006, averaging 8.1 metric tons per capita. By contrast, emissions in Pacifica were estimated as 4.5 metric tons per capita (See Table 7-4).
Electricity and Gas
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) provides gas and
electric services to Pacifica homes and businesses.
With energy obtained from power plants, natural
gas fields, and renewable energy sources in northern
_ California. Peninsula Clean Energy is an alternative
renewable-energy electricity provider. Both provid- ·
ers offer clean energy options including significant
shares greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-free power
generation. The availability of electricity and gas setvices is not expected to become an issue during the planning horizon. However, electricity and natural gas use account for 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Pacifica. Thus, while supply is not anticipated to be an issue in Pacifica, reducing demand for these resources will help reduce carbon emissions.
California Green Building Standards
Green building refers to methods in the construction and operation of buildings intended to conserve natural resources, reduce waste from construction and demolition, increase energy efficiency and reduce operating costs, and promote healthy indoor
air quality.
The California Building Code (Title 24 of the State
Code of Regulations) includes the country's first
Green Building Standards (CalGreen), parts of
which became mandatory as of January 2011. Among
these are requirements to reduce water consumption,
divert construction waste from landfills, and install
low pollutant-emitting finish materials. Requirements vary for residential and nonresidential buildings.
The Green Building Standards are a key part of the
State's efforts to achieve the State's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Future updates are expected to continue to strengthen environmentally responsible building requirements as these practices become widely adopted. Local jurisdictions are responsible for
ensuring that State standards are met, at a minimum.
The 2019 Green Building Standards Code also establishes a system designed to give cities and counties the option of adopting local codes that go beyond
the minimum standards. Pacifica has adopted CalGreen as well as local "reach codes" that exceed the minimum requirements of CalGreen. 22
22 California Building Standards Commission, 2019.
Table 7-4: 2006 CO2 eMISSIONS IN SaN MaTeO COUNTY aND PaCIFICa San Mateo %of Total Pacifica % of Total
Transportation 3,165,800 60% 98,000 62%
Electricity 1,872,900,000 36% 25,000 35%
Natural gas 186,800,200 4% 4,000 3%
Solid Waste 24,900 0.4% 5,600 4%
Total 5,250,000 159,000
Per Capita CO2 emissions 8.1 4.5
Note: This inventory considers only CO2, and not CO2e emissions, as is reflected in the BAAQMD study.
Source: Sustainable San Mateo, U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survew 7 ("\
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PAClflCA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC R1.:VIEI/\I DRAFT 7-37
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Packet Pg. 539 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Solid Waste Collection and Recycling
Although solid waste accounts for just 2 percent of
Pacifica's carbon emissions, solid waste has the potential to be a much larger contributor to global warming overall because of methane produced byproducts.
Solid waste can be reduced i:hrough recycling, composting, and reduction and reuse of material goods.
Solid waste collection and recycling services in Pacifica are provided by Recology of the Coast, a division of Recology. Recology, based in San Francisco, operates a number of landfills, waste transfer and materials recovery facilities, including the recycling yard at 1046 Palmetto Avenue in Pacifica. Recology emphasizes waste reduction and diversion, and is the largest compost facility operator by volume in the United
States. In Pacifica, Recology of the Coast currently
provides curbside pick-up of garbage, recyclables,
and green waste for both residential and commercial
customers.
The City has enacted Ordinance No. 838-C.S. regulating plastic beverage straws, stirrers and cutlery, and polystyrene disposable food serviceware. Also,
both the City and San Mateo County have recycling
divisions that provide information to help residents
and businesses reduce and divert waste from landfills. The City has also adopted Ordinance No. 870- CS to comply with SB 1383, California's Short Lived
Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, to increase
organic waste recycling in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions·.
Sea Level Rise
Of the various potential effects of global climate
change, sea level rise is particularly relevant to Pacifica because of urban and infrastructure located near the coastline. Areas of the Sharp Park Golf Course,
the Rockaway Beach district, and the West Linda
Mar and West Sharp Park neighborhoods could be
vulnerable to inundation or coastal flooding. Coastal
erosion processes that have caused significant damage along the high bluffs of Pacifica' s northern coastal neighborhoods increase in magnitude. In
7-38 l>ACIFIC:A GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
addition to raising the average tide lines, sea level
rise has the potential to alter the frequency and magnitude of coastal flood events. The potential for sea level rise to exacerbate coastal flooding and erosion
in the Planning Area is discussed in more detail in
Chapter 8, Safety.
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
CO-G-14 Renewable Energy. Support the use
and development of renewable energy
through City purchasing, and facilitation
of local renewable energy generation.
CO-G-15 Energy Conservation. Support efforts to
reduce energy use by increasing energy
efficiency in buildings and promoting
awareness of energy use. ·
CO-G-16 Waste Reduction. Seek to reduce overall solid waste by limiting packaging, controlling construction and demolition
waste, and promoting composting and
recycling.
Implementing Policies
See Chapter 3, CommunityDesign; Chapter 4, Land
Use; and Chapter 5, Circulation for related policies
that seek to improve air quality and reduce emissions
through urba,n design, land use., and transportation
-strategies.
C0-1-54 Climate Action Plan for Greenhouse
Gas Reductions. Maintain and update
the Climate Action Plan that focuses
on feasible actions the City can take to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from
government, businesses, and residents in
Pacifica.
The CAP should:
• Establish a baseline inventory of all
known or reasonably discoverable sources
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Packet Pg. 540 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 7 of GHGs that currently exist in Pacifica CO-1-59 City Purchasing of Renewable Energy. ("\ 0 and that existed in 1990; Pursue opportunities for the City to z VI
lower the cost of purchasing and produc- m
Projected GHG emissions expected in 2030 ::JJ • <
under this General Plan and foreseeable - ing renewable energy, such as through ► Peninsula Clean Energy or other energy
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provider at the best value to the City. z
• Set a target for the reduction of GHG
emissions, in line with targets established CO-1-60 Waste Collection. Periodically evaluby the California Air Resources Board; ate the City's waste collection contract to ensure that Pacifica residents and
• Present a list of feasible- and to the great- businesses receive high-quality and cost est extent possible, quantifiable- GHG effective service. reduction measures to meet the reduction
target, in the areas of energy use (in all CO-1-61 Waste Reduction and Diversion. Seek sectors), transportation and land use, solid to continually reduce Pacifica' s output of waste, water, and education/outreach; and solid waste and increase the proportion of waste diverted from landfills, setting
• Establish an implementation plan, includ- targets and monitoring progress. ing strategies and funding for monitoring CO-1-62 Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings. and making improvements .. Prepare and implement a plan to increase CO-1-55 Green Building. Monitor the effective- energy efficiency in existing public buildness of the California Green Building ings.
Code in bringing about energy efficiency Measu res may include:
in architectural design and building construction. • Conduct energy audits for all municipal CO-1-56 Solar Orientation. When possible, facilities;
require buildings to be oriented such that • Retrofit municipal facilities for energy the use of passive and active solar strate- efficiency where feasible and when remodgies is maximized, in order to promote eling or replacing components, including energy efficiency. increased insulation, installing green or To achieve ideal solar orientation condi- reflective roofs, installing automated lighttions, the long axis of the building should ing controls, and retrofitting heating and be oriented east-west, within 15 degrees. cooling systems. • Require that any newly constructed, pur- CO-1-57 Encourage Solar Power Generation. chased, qr leased municipal space meet Promote use of passive and active solar minimum standards, such as exceeding devices such as solar collectors; solar Title 24 energy efficiency by 20 percent; cells, and solar heating systems in buildings and parking areas by incentive pro- . Educate employees on energy conservation . grams and streamlining review. CO-1-63 Wastewater and Water System EffiCO-1-58 Clean City Fleet. Establish City bud- ciency. Maximize the efficiency of Cityget for clean fuels and electric or hybrid operated wastewater treatment, water vehicles to replace and improve the exist- treatment, pumping, and distribution ing fleet of gasoline and diesel powered equipment.
vehicles.
PACIFICA GENE~AL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 7-39
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Packet Pg. 541 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption C0-1-64 Outdoor Lighting. Establish outdoor
lighting performance standards to minimize energy use while ensuring appropriate light levels. These can be met by :
• Greater use of photocells or astronomical time switches; • Directional and shielded LED lights;
• Security lights with motion detectors;
and
• Prohibitions against continuous allnight outdoor lighting unless needed for security reasons.
7-40 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
7.6 CULTURAL RESOURCES
AND HISTORIC
PRESERVATION
One objective of the General Plan is to protect community assets, including sites with historical and cultural significance. Cultural resources include prehistoric or archaeological sites, properties of cultural or historic significance, or paleontological sites. Pacifica has a rich history with regional and statewide significance, as it was home to several Native American villages as well
as the first sighting of the San Francisco Bay by nonindigenous people. The Sanchez Adobe Historical Site along San Pedro Creek features physical evidence of
several significant periods in California history.
Historic Context
Native Americans had an extensive presence in the
Planning Area. When Europeans arrived, ·the area
was home to persons who spoke the Ramaycush dialect of the San Francisco Bay Costanoan/Ohlone Language, and living in and around two villages: Pruristac, in San Pedro Valley, and Timigtac, in Calera Valley. The village at Timigtac is the Ramaycush Ohlone people's ancestral village of origin within the territorial boundaries of the Aramai, an i_ndependent tribe of the Ramaycush Ohlone peoples. In 1769, an expedition led by Gaspar de Portola, governor of the Spanish territory covering both Baja and Alta California, first sighted San Francisco Bay from a point on Pacifica's
Sweeney Ridge, and camped in San Pedro Valley. Noc
long after, Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission
Dolores in present-day San Francisco) was established,
a_nd in 1786 the Mission developed an outpost in San
Pedro Valley, alongside Pruristac. The Ohlone village
was significantly affected by disease in 1791. 23
Mexican independence from Spain was followed by a
"secularization" program, and in 1839 the Sa!J Pedro
mission outpost and its rancho, covering the majority
of the Planning Area, was granted to Francisco Sanchez, who built the adobe house chat stands today as the oldest structure in San Mateo County. Following
23 California Historical Resources Information System
(CHRIS), 2021
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Packet Pg. 542 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption his death, the land was divided and the area developed slowly.
In 1905 construction began on the Ocean Shore
Railway, which was to connect San Francisco with
Santa Cruz. The line was never completed, but
operated as far south as Half Moon Bay until 1921,
supporting a string of stops in present-day Pacifica including Tobin, Salada Beach, and Rockaway Beach. The communities surrounding the railway stops, including Edgemar, Sharp Park, Pacific Manor, Vallemar, Rockaway Beach, and San Pedro
Terrace-by-the-Sea, grew slowly until the building
boom following World War II. Pacifica incorporated as a City in 1957, as the union of these unincorporated neighborhoods.
Native American Cultural Resources
Five Native American archaeological resources have
been found and recorded in Pacifica, all classified as
habitation sites. Two additional resources contain
both Native American and historic-era archaeological value. The Sanchez Adobe, operated by the San Mateo County Historical Association as a historical
site, is listed as a State Historical Landmark and Point of Historical Interest as well as the National Register of Historic Places The Sanchez Adobe Park, site of
the Pruristac village and the San Pedro mission outpost or asistencia San Pedro y San Pablo of hfe.-.the Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission DQelores),
also is listed in the National- Register of Historic
Places and the California Register of Historical
Resources. The San Mateo County HistoricalAssociation recently dedicated in summer of 2021 a new building in Sanchez Adobe Park featuring the
history and lifeways of the local Aramai-Ohlone
who lived in the village of Pruristac. The facility is
specifically designed to accommodate tours of
school groups.
The Planning Area is rich with the types of environments where Native American cultural resources have been found: permanent and intermittent streams,
productive coastal environments, and sheltered locations for permanent habitations, as well as ridgelines, terraces, spurs and saddles. The Planning Area also
includes a significant amount of alluvial soil, which
In 1769, an expedition led by Gaspar de Portola sighted San Francisco Bay from a point on Pacifica's Sweeney Ridge (upper).
The Sanchez Adobe, built in 1842, is the oldest surviving structure in San Mateo County. The site was once the Oh/one village of Pruristac (lower).
in some cases is overlaid by artificial fill, increasing the probability for buried archaeological deposits. There
is considered to be a high likelihood that unrecorded
Native American cultural resources are present.
Contemporary Native American Resources
As part of the General Plan update process, the Native
American Heritage Commission (NAHC) conducted
. a record search of the sacred lands file in 2020. The search did not indicate the presence of additional
Native American cultural resources within the Planning Area. The NAHC response listed six tribes that may have historic ties to the Planning Area, and letters of inquiry were sent to the six tribal representatives; however, no responses were received.
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Packet Pg. 543 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Historic Resources
The Portola Expedition Camp at San Pedro Creek,
the Discovery Site, and the Sanchez Adobe are State
Historical Landmarks. Tobin Station, one of two
remaining structures from the Ocean Shore Railroad, is a State Point of Historical Interest.
A Master Plan for the Sanchez Adobe Historical
Site, completed in 2007 aims to increase visitation
and improve visitors' educational experience while
ensuring that the site is preserved for future generations. The new interpretive center was completed and opened to the public in October 2019.
The City has identified nine local historical landmarks: Sanchez Adobe; the Little Brown Church; the former San Pedro Schoolhouse (now City Hall); the
1907 Anderson's Store building on Paloma Avenue;
Table 7-5: HISTORIC SITES IN PACIFICA
Site
National Historic Landmarks
Little Brown Church
National Register of Historic Places
San Francisco Bay Discovery Site
California Historical Landmarks
Portola Expedition Camp at Pedro Creek
San Francisco Bay Discovery Site
Sanchez Adobe/ Pruristac / San Pedro y San Pablo
California Point of Historical Interest
Tobin Station-Ocean Shore Railroad
Local Landmarks Identified in Historic Preservation Ordinance Anderson's Store
Little Brown Church
San Pedro Schoolhouse
Sanchez Adobe/ Pruristac / San Pedro y San Pablo1
Sharp Park Golf Course and Clubhouse
Vallemar Station
Private residence
Private residence
Dollaradio Station (private residence)
the Sharp Park Golf Course club house, from 1932;
Vallemar Station; the former Dollaradio Station; and
two private residences (see Table 7-5).
In 2005, the Pacifica Historical Society began restoration of the Little Brown Church to establish it asinto the Pacifica Coastside Museum, which opened
in 2015. The Historical Society also owns the last
remaining car from the Ocean Shore Railroad, and
has stated its interest in moving the railcar to be close to the Little Brown Church, preferably in the parking lot at SAglada Avenue and Francisco Boulevard. the City is considering this as the potential location
of the railcar as part of a Civic Center master plan
discussed by City Council in 2021. Nine local historic landmarks in Pacifica are specifically designated in the Historic Preservation Ordinance of 1985. They
are listed below in TAble 7-5 and also shown in Figure 7-4. address
1850 Francisco Boulevard ---------
Sweeney Ridge
Southeast of SR 1 and Crespi Drive
Sweeney Ridge
1000 Linda Mar Boulevard
.Shoreside Drive, Pedro Point
220 Paloma Avenue
1850 Francisco Boulevard
170 Santa Maria Avenue
1000 Linda Mar Boulevard
Sharp Park Road & SR 1
2125 Coast Highway
165 Winona Avenue
185 Carmel Avenue
100 Palmetto Avenue
Year Constructed
1910
NA
NA
NA
1842
1907
1910
1914
1842
1932
1906
1908
1910
1926
Sources: California Historical Resources Information System, 2021, City of Pacifica, 2020. 7-42 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 544 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Dollaradio
Station
Anderson's Store
San Pedro Schoolhouse
Little Brown Church
Pacific
0 c ea n
Sharp Park
Golf Course
and Clubhouse
Portola Expedition Camp
at Pedro Creek
Tobin Station
Ocean Shore
Railroad
Sanchez Adobe/Pruristac
San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia
(National Register of Historic Places,
California Historical Landmark,
and Local Landmark)
0 1/4 1/2
MILES
~ I . ·"'
Sl111rp Pn r k
(
; · ~)__ ----------------
Figure 7-4: Historic and Cultural
Resources
-
-
-
National Historic
Landmark
National Register of
Historic Places
California Historical
Landmarks
California Point of
Historical Interest
Local Landmarks
City Limits
Planning Area
,-·, / 165 Winona Ave I \~;
_;, ...... ,. __ ,,r-\_r "').,,
', __ ..... _:_ .. ::'::.·:~
r-·
Swc;· n ey
Ridi:i!
( G~i'-:'RA J
l
San Francisco Bay __.. r,,c;:i;:;:;•;, Discovery Site \ rsr PucJ (Natiol'}~lrtistoric Landmark, Nationa·I,
Register of Histor.ic Places and ·---.
lfomla Hlsto,1,::;~m:_•kl
' frf <
t
l '
'v";. ,,.,.
2 \rr, />, /r., !u/lq c.,,,,,,,. ,,,,,4
Source: California Historical Resources
Informatio n System, 202 1; Northwest
Information Center, 202 1; City of
Pacifica, 20 19; San Mateo Cow1ty, 20 19;
Dyett & Bhatia, 20 19.
7-43
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Packet Pg. 545 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Historic Preservation Ordinance
The Historic Preservation Ordinance found at Chapter 7 of Title 9 of the City's Municipal Code protects structures and sites of historic significance in the City. The ordinance outlines procedures for designating historic landmarks, describes the permit process for the alteration, demolition, or relocating of any historic structure, and includes a section pertaining specifically to the Little Brown Church. It also acknowledges the role of the Pacifica Historical Society in designation of sites and the permit process. 7-44 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
CO-G-17 Historic and Cultural Sites. Conserve designated historic and cultural sites and structures that help define Pacifica' s identity and character and increase public awareness and appreciation of
them.
CO-G-18 Ensure Mitigation. Require mitigation for any new development that would adversely affect archaeological or paleontological resources.
Implementing Policies
C0-1-65 Historic Preservation Ordinance. Continue to evaluate development projects for their historical significance and preservation value, using the criteria in the Historic Preservation Ordinance.
C0-1-66 Integration of Historic and Cultural
Resources with City Identity. Incorporate historic and cultural resources into the City's marketing and branding
efforts. Specific initiatives might include:
• Identifying historic sites in the City's
wayfinding scheme;
• Giving priority to streetscape and public
realm improvements around historic
structures that are visitor destinations;
• Hosting/supporting events and educational programs that feature Pacifica's history and promote its relevance; and
• Linking related historical sites through
the City's open space and trail system.
C0-1-67 Public Agency Support for Local Historic Sites. Seek support from public agencies, such as GGNRA, for local
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Packet Pg. 546 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption historic preservation programs for designated sites.
Two documents have been prepared for San
Mateo County that should guide agency
involvement in Pacifica's historic resources:
the Sanchez Adobe Historical Site Master Plan (2007) and the Historic Resource Study for Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Mateo County (2010).
C0-1-68 e) Resource Impact Mitigation.
Ensure that new development analyzes
and avoids potential impacts to historic,
archaeological, and paleontological
resources by:
• Requiring a records review for development proposed in areas that are considered archaeologically or paleontologically sensitive; • Requiring pre-construction surveys and
monitoring during any ground disturbance for all development in areas of historic or archaeological sensitivity; and
• Implementing appropriate measures as
a condition of project approval- such
as avoidance, preservation in place,
and excavation,- to reduce or avoid
impacts.
In the event that historical, archaeological, or paleontological resources are accidentally discovered during construction, grading activity in the immediate area shall
cease and materials and their surroundings
shall not be altered or collected. A qualified
archaeologist or paleontologist must make an
immediate evaluation and avoidance measures or appropriate mitigation should be completed, according to CEQA Guidelines.
The State Office of Historic Preservation has
issued recommendations for the preparation
of Archaeological Resource Management
Reports that may be used as guidelines.
CO-1-69 Adaptive Reuse. Promote adaptive reuse
of historic structures- preserving their
original design and character-as an
option for preserving sites that are threatened with demolition or degradation.
CO-1-70 Native American Sites. Work with
local Native American tribes to protect
recorded and unrecorded cultural and
sacred sites, and educate developers and
the community-at-large about the connections between Native American history and the environmental features that characterize the local landscape.
Development on archaeologically sensitive
sites requires on-site monitoring by appropriate Native American consultant(s) and a qualified archaeologist of all grading, excavation, and site preparation activities that involve earth-moving operations.
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Packet Pg. 547 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
7.7 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US
EPA) defines environmental justice as:
"The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of
all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means chat no group of people should bear a disproportionate share
of the negative environmental consequences resulcing from industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or policies."
Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000), the Planning for Healthy
Communities Act, mandates that cities and counties
prepare an EJ Element or integrate EJ-related policies into other elements when both of the following conditions apply: The concurrent adoption or next
revision of two or more other General Plan elements,
and when a local jurisdiction identifies one or more
disadvantaged communities (DACs) within its General Plan planning area.
SB 1000 specifies the California Communities
Environmental Health Screening Tool 4.0 (CalEnviroScreen) as the primary screening method for identifying disadvantaged communities. Developed by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), CalEnviroScreen uses environmental, health, and socioeconomic information to produce scores for every census tract in the state,
thereby identifying communities that are most vulnerable to pollution's effects. The score assigned to each census tract is a product of exposure to pollution, adverse environmental effects caused by pollu- . tion, presence of sensitive populations (i.e. those with aschma,cardiovascular disease, or low birchweight
infants), and socioeconomic factors that increase
vulnerability (i.e. low household income, low educational attainment, and unemployment). A disadvantaged community is defined as one which scores in the top 25th percentile of CalEnviroScreen's cumulative score. 7-46 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Using these criteria, there are no census tracts within the Planning Area that are identified as disadvantaged communities. All Pacifica census tracts score in the bottom quartile for pollution burden. However, Census tract 6030, which includes east and west Sharp Park, ranks in a higher statewide percentile (42nd) for sensitive populations relative to ocher Pacifica census tracts, which rank, on average, in the
20th to 30th percentile statewide. These populations
could be most vulnerable to any exacerbated health
effects due to increased pollution burden or climate
change.
Although the City is not required by SB 1000 to prepare an EJ Element or integrate EJ-related policies into other elements, the General Plan does integrate
EJ related policies in this chapter.
Achieving environmental justice also includes
addressing procedural inequities and geographic
inequ1t1es. Procedural inequities might include
"stacking" commissions or committees with individuals who ignore the interests of minority and low-income residents, holding meetings at times and
places that minimize the ability of low-income residents to participate, using English-only communications when non-English speaking populations may be affected by land use decisions, and requiring lower
levels of mitigation for projects affecting low-income
and minority populations. Geographic inequities
might include providing fewer public services, transit
services, and parks for minority and low-income residents than for middle- and upper-income residents.
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Packet Pg. 548 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Guiding Policy
CO-G-19 Environmental Justice. Strive to implement processes and procedures that promote environmental justice in support of the Coastal Commission's environmental
justice policy.
Implementing Policies
C0-1-71 Inclusive Engagement. Expand notification efforts for major policy documents and projects within Pacifica's Coastal
Zone to underrepresented communities
outside of Pacifica.
C0-1-72 Removal of Barriers to Public Participation. Implement efforts to remove barriers that may prevent underrepresented communities from public participation
opportunities. Efforts should be made
to provide a welcoming, understandable
and respectful atmosphere, and to be
considerate of the timing, location, and
accessibility of any meeting to accommodate the underrepresented communities.
CO-I-A Wildlife Movement Corridor Study . . T he
City shall advocate fo r funding and
parti cipate in a regional or subregional
study to identify areas where wildlife
crossing structures would result in -the
largest benefit to rare, threatened, and
endangered special staws and non-specialstatus species for wildlife connectivity, to be led and conducted by an appropriate
agency.
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Packet Pg. 549 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption San Pedro Creek is the only perennial stream in the planning area and provides important habitat for steelhead trout, a federally listed species.
ings. Eucalyptus trees have allelopathic properties,
releasing chemicals into the soil to reduce or inhibit
growth of other plants. In addition, they produce
extensive leaf and bark litter which further inhibits
the growth of understory plants. Eucalyptus trees
provide perching, roosting, and nesting sites for
larger birds, such as crows, ravens, red-tailed hawks,
red-shouldered hawks, and barn owls. The migratory
monarch butterfly frequently roosts in eucalyptus
trees in the winter.
Monterey Cypress
Small patches of Monterey cypress occur throughout the Planning Area in planted stands surrounded by a mosaic of scrub and grasslands. The largest
stand occurs at the north end of the Planning Area.
Although the small patches of Monterey cypress
found in Pacifica are unlikely to support significant
wildlife populations, they complement surrounding
habitats by providing nesting and roosting substrates
for birds as well as shelter for other animals.
Riparian Mixed Hardwood
Areas with riparian mixed hardwood habitat occur
Areas with riparian mixed hardwood habitat occur
along San Pedro Creek, Rockaway Creek, Calera
Creek, and Laguna Salada. Native trees that are
found include red alder, various willow species, and
7-18 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
creek dogwood. Riparian areas also host native herbs
and emergent vegetation, as well as various nonnative ivies, grasses, blackberry, and other plants.
Riparian areas provide foraging ground for birds and
small mammals, and habitat for small reptiles and
amphibians.
;:,PECIAL-STATUS SPECIES IN RIPARIAN MIXED HARDWOOD HABITAT Special-status wildlife that could be present in the
riparian corridor includes tricolored blackbirds, raptors such as Cooper's hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, and great blue heron.
Willow Riparian Scrub
Willow riparian scrub in Pacifica is dominated by
arroyo willow, with red willow and dogwood. This
habitat occurs in the upper reaches of San Pedro
Creek, in San Pedro Valley County Park. Where an
overstory is present it is dominated by non-native
trees. Species found in upper reaches of San Pedro
Creek are bluegum eucalyptus, Monterey pine, coast
redwood, French broom, cape ivy, common periwinkle, Algerian ivy, and wax myrtle. In San Pedro Valley County Park the species include arroyo and red willow, alder, coastal wood fern, lady fern, western
sword fern, and alumroot.
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Packet Pg. 550 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
0 c ea n
r ure 7 3- . . Sensitive
and
c~?tical Habitat~--
· J Env1ro . nmentally Potent1a Habitat Areas Sens1t1ve Critical Habitat
Steelhead
~ - California Red-I e gg edFrog
Other Sens1 Tve I Areas
High Habidta~ v;~~:~entation Threatene Y
-- t Corridor* - Wildlife Movemen
Urban Land
~ Urban and Non Habitat Value with Little or No
___ City Limits - Planning Area
. eded between
*100-400 foot wi~e ii~:~ Park/Sweeney I . -· dor ne R" dge Milagra Ridge an Threatened &
C "tical Habitat for W"ldlife Service, SOURCE: n ecies, U.S. Fish & ~t National_ Endange1;~d Sci Critical Habitat-) ~~~5; Califorma
2015; Stee ea_ s Service (NOAA : De t of Fish &
Marine Fishene 2005; Califorma Pl~nt Society,
Dept ofForesl! y,_ California Native_ itv of Pacifica,
& Wildlife, 20f 5,. al Survey, 2005, ~t & Bhatia, 2020. 2005; 2020; San US GMe~e~g~oun a
ty, 2020; Dye 7-19
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Packet Pg. 551 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Seasonal Wetlands and Ponds
Seasonal wetlands occur in smaller drainages and
localized depressions, forming ponds or flowing
water, and are underlain by saturated soils during
the winter and spring. Seasonal wetlands also occur
along the banks and sediments that accumulate in
creeks. Wetlands in Pacifica are found along riparian areas, drainages, along the coast, and as fresh and brackish water marshes (such as on the Sharp
Park Golf Course). Vegetation and wildlife found in
wetlands varies with water characteristics, inundation patterns, surrounding habitat, and level of disturbance.
SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES IN SEASONAL WETLANDS
AND PONDS
The California red-legged frog, San Francisco garter
snake, Leech's skyline diving beetle, San Francisco
forktail damselfly, T omales isopod, western pond
turtle, and bristly sedge are special-status species that may be found in wetlands around Pacifica. The wetlands in Sharp Park are also known to support saltmarsh common yellowthroat. Seasonal wetlands and ponds at Mori Point and Sharp Park Golf Course
support the California red-legged frog as well as the
San Francisco Garter Snake.
Streams
Streams are important habitat features in Pacifica as
they can function as movement corridors as well as
providing protective cover. Wildlife species that are
associated with stream habitat include river otters,
great blue heron, snowy egret, belted kingfisher,
dark-eyed junco, and black phoebe. Black-tailed
deer, raccoon, opossum, and grey fox may use the
creeks as movement corridors. Fish species P!esent
include the prickly sculpin, the Pacific lamprey, and
the threespine stickleback.
SPEGAL-STATUS SPECIES IN STREAMS
The federally threatened steelhead trout use parts of
San Pedro Creek for spav\'ning, including the main
portion parallel to Linda Mar Boulevard, as well as
the middle and south forks in San Pedro County
7-20 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Park. 13 This is the only stream with a steelhead population between the Golden Gate Bridge and Half Moon Bay. Lower Calera Creek on the Quarry site
supports the federally-threatened California redlegged frog and the Endangered San Francisco garter snake.
Beach/Intertidal
Significant expanses of continuous sandy shoreline
occur along the San Mateo coastline, including in
Pacifica. Beaches are dynamic systems that change
with wind and waves; generally, sand is eroded from
beaches in the winter and re-deposited in the summer, resulting in annual changes in beach slope and width.
Beach habitats can be divided into supratidal, intertidal, and subtidal. The supratidal tidal beach fauna consists of sand crabs, California beach flea, amphipods, polychaete worms, flies, and isopods that feed on detritus; these species in turn are fed on by a variety of birds. The by-the-wind sailor, a jellyfish-like colony of organisms, frequently washes up on the
upper beach areas. Exposed rocks or cobble, especially at the lower intertidal areas, can have attached algae, mussels, and barnacles. Intertidal areas are
home to the Pacific egg cockle and spiny mole crab.
The Subtidal zone is primarily inhabited by fish
such as surf perch, striped bass, salmon, anchovies,
sanddabs, California halibut, and the starry flounder.,.
SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES IN BEAC !/INTERTIDAL HABITAT
Some special-status species may be found in the shallow waters off of Pacifica. Harbor seals and sea lions haul out on isolated beaches and sands spits. The
endangered black abalone may be present in intertidal areas attached to rocks. The threatened green sturgeon may also forage in the shallow waters off of
Pacifica. Both the gray whale and southern sea otter
13 San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition, 2005
14 BLM, 1981; State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, 1990
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Packet Pg. 552 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Portions or all of the area around Moris Point and Sharp Park Golf Course supports the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake, and are a potential Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area under the California Coastal Act. use the nearshore waters, and the California brown
pelican is also frequently observed. Pacifica State
Beach in the 1970s hosted nesting Western Snowy
Plovers, a Federally listed threatened species. Since
2003 volunteers have regularly surveyed and monitored the plovers and have seen only wintering plovers in declining numbers. ESHA is required on the north half of the beach where plovers roost and feed.
Sensitive and Critical Habitat
The Planning Area hosts numerous areas of sensitive,
critical, and special-status habitats and natural communities. These areas are those with unique, rare, or sensitive biological characteristics and/or possess special legal status. 15 Critical Habitat
Critical habitat areas are for species listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act. These areas contain
features that are essential for the conservation of the species and may require special management and
protection.
Critical habitat for the California red-legged frog
has been designated in the southeast portion of the
Planning Area (see Figure 7-3, Sensitive and Critical Habitat). This area contains both aquatic and upland areas with suitable breeding and non-breeding habitat. A final ruling was issued in March 2010 to expand the critical habitat from 450,288 acres to
1,636,609 acres statewide, including additional parts
of. the Planning Area, including on Pedro Point
Headlands. 16
San Pedro Creek is known to support steelhead trout,
a federally listed threatened species. They spawn in
the main portion of the creek that runs parallel to
15 A "special-status natural community" is a natural habitat community that is unique in its constituent components, restricred in distriburion, supported by distinctive soil conditions, considered locally rare, potentially supporting special-status plant or wildlife species, and/ or that receives regulatory recognition from municipal, county, state, and/ or federal entities such as the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB).
16 Fish and Wildlife Service, 2010.
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t'ACIFICA GENERA. PLAN PUBL C. REVIEW DRAFT 7-21
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Packet Pg. 553 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Linda Mar Boulevard, as well as the middle and
south forks in San Pedro County Park. 17 However,
conditions in parts of the creek limit its suitability
for steelhead habitat, including barriers to fish passage at main stem road crossings, low base flows, mobilization and accumulation of fine sediments in
the main stem, deterioration of water quality, disturbance, and exploitation.
N earshore marine areas off of Pacifica are part of the Green Sturgeon Critical Habitat. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that this, which includes Pacifica's shoreline, is of high
conservation value.
Special-Status Communities
The California Natural Diversity Database
(CNDDB) indicates that there is an area of northern maritime chaparral at the south end of the Planning Area, in San Pedro Valley County Park and on Whiting Ridge and Montara Mountain. This community is fairly open chaparral, with about 50-80 percent cover, and it is dominated by Manzanita or
Ceanothus species.
An area of coastal bluff scrub has been identified at
the north end of Pacifica. Coastal bluff scrub
communities are found on steep, exposed bluffs along
the ocean and are dominated by low shrubs and
ground-hugging herbaceous species. It is particularly
important for stabilizing sand dunes. Boch bluff and
17 San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition, 2002
northern coastal scrub habitat has been damaged by
unauthorized vehicle activity and pedestrian use.
Potential Environmentally Sensitive Habitat
Areas
Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas are defined
by the California Coastal Act as "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." These areas are to be protected against any significant disruption of habitat values, and only
uses dependent on those resources are to be allowed
within those areas. Development in areas adjacent to
environmentally sensitive habitat areas must be sited
and designed to prevent impacts which would significantly degrade those areas, and be compatible with the continuance of those habitat and recreation areas.
Figure 7-3 identifies potential ESHAs in the Planning Area. Potential ESHAs include all designated critical habitat for Endangered or Threatened Spe
cies; special status communities18 and areas designated as "ocher potential Environmentally Sensitive Habitat
Areas."
18 A "special-status natural community" is a natural
habitat community that is unique in its constituent components, restricted in distribution, supported by distinctive soil conditions, considered locally rare, potentially supporting special-status plant or wildlife species, and/or that receives regulatory recognition from municipal, county, state, and/ ·or federal entities such as the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB).
Mifagra Ridge provides high habitat value for endangered or threatened species, and is at risk of becoming fragmented by development, which would isolate its inhabitants from other populations of the same species. 7-22 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 554 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption While potential ESHAs, according co chis definition,
can be found throughout the Planning Area,
development in the Coastal Zone must comply with
the City's LCP and specific Coastal Ace policies
concerning ESHA. Areas around Mori Point and
Sharp Park Golf Course are likely to qualify as an
ESHA. Outside of the Coastal Zone, new
development in potentially sensitive areas must
comply with requirements of ocher federal and state
agencies in order co avoid negative impacts to
sensitive species and habitats.
Any proposed development on land designated on
the Sensitive and Critical Habitat map (Figure 7-3)
as having potential to include an £SHA requires a
site-specific evaluation by qualified biologists. The
site evaluation will determine the precise location
and extent of sensitive resources, if any, and establish appropriate development setbacks and standards to
ensure that resources are protected.
Wildlife Movement Corridors
Wildlife movement corridors link together areas of
suitable habitat that are otherwise separated by rugged terrain, changes in vegetation, or by areas of human disturbance or urban development. They
allow wildlife to access additional areas with food,
water, and other resources such as shelter chat would
otherwise be blocked by impenetrable barriers such
as highways. Topography and other natural factors
in combination with urbanization can fragment or
separate large open-space areas, · creating isolated
"islands" of vegetation chat may not provide sufficient area to accommodate sustainable populations of animals or plants. Movement corridors mitigate
the effects of fragmentation by allowing animals
to move between remaining habitats. This allows
depleted populations to be replenished and promotes
genetic exchange with separate populations.
Natural wildlife corridors in Pacifica include riparian corridors and drainages such as San Pedro Creek, canyons, ridgelines, and corridors across valley floors where impermeable barriers have not yet eliminated
options for wildlife movement. An area on the south
side of Sharp Park Road may function as a viable
corridor between Milagra and Sweeney Ridges. This
area has also been identified as part of the Mission
Blue butterfly migration corridor. 19
While a wildlife movement corridor is needed somewhere within the area designated on Figure 7-3, the entire area need not be designated as a wildlife movement corridor. Corridors typically range from 100 to 400 feet in width, within which habitat is continuous and suitable for wildlife movement. Other wildlife corridors could occur in areas of potentially
sensitive habitat, or areas threatened by habitat fragmentation, areas with high habitat value, or critical habitat areas,
Special-Status Species
Several species known to occur in the vicinity of the
Planning Area are accorded "special-status" because of
their recognized rarity or vulnerability to various causes of habitat loss or population decline. Some of these
receive specific protections defined in federal or state endangered species legislation. Others have been designated as "sensitive" by state resource agencies or organizations with acknowledged expertise. For purposes of this General Plan, special-status species include:
• Plant and animal species designated as rare,
threatened or endangered under the federal or
state endangered species acts (ESA);
• Species chat are candidates for listing under either
federal or state law;
• Species designated by the USFWS as species of
concern or species oflocal concern, or by CDFG
as species of special ·concern;
• Species protected by the federal Migratory Bird
Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703711);
• Bald and golden eagles protected by the federal
Bald Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668); and
• Species such as candidate species and CNPS List
1 and 2 species that may be considered rare or
19NPS, 2005
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Packet Pg. 555 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption endangered pursuant to Section 15380(b) of the
CEQA Guidelines.
Of particular interest are the Mission Blue Butterfly
and the San Francisco garter snake, federally listed as Endangered; the California red-legged frog and the
Central California Coast Steelhead trout, federally
listed as Threatened; the Western snowy plover, which
is federally listed as Threatened and a California Species of Special Concern; and Myrtle's Silverspot big free-tailed bat, a California Species of Special Concern. Known occurrences of these species have been identified and documented in California Natural
Diversity Database. A comprehensive list and description of species that are either known or presumed to be in the Planning Area based on suitable habitat is in the EIR.
Special-Status Wildlife Species
In addition to these species, additional migratory
birds, raptors, and common bat species are subject
to general protections provided by state and federal
regulations.
Special-Status Plant Species
The large number of special-status plants and the
severity of their population declines are reflective of the degree of habitat loss that has occurred throughout the San Francisco Peninsula. Outside of San Bruno Mountain, Pacifica encompasses the northernmost natural habitat on the peninsula. Due to extensive coastal development throughout neighboring counties, beach and bluff species have also become rare.
Of the special-status plant species listed in the EIR,
38 special-status plants have the potential to occur
within the Planning Area. These species have been
recorded in the vicinity and/or may be present in
suitable habitat on site.
Protected Trees
Certain trees within the city limits are also protected, including heritage trees and street trees. Heritage trees are currently defined as any trees in the 7-24 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City that have a trunk with a circumference of 50
inches or more, at 24 inches above grade, excluding
eucalyptus. The City Council may also designate any
tree or grove of trees, including eucalyptus, with historical, environmental, or aesthetic value, as Heritage Trees. Heritage Trees generally require special permits for removal, substantial trimming, or construction within its drip-line; in some cases, a Tree Protection Plan prepared by a qualified arborist, landscape architect, or horticulturalist may be required prior to project approval. The City is in the process of updating the Heritage Tree ordinance found at Chapter 12 of Title 4 of the Municipal Code.
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Packet Pg. 556 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a ~ -
Guiding Policies
CO-G-7 ~ Wildlife and Critical Habitat. Conserve and protect indigenous threatened, endangered, and other special status species by preserving critical habitat.
Habitat can be protected by aLLowing very
limited or no development, by identifying
habitat areas as top priorities for permanent conservation, and by managing public land to ensure species protection.
CO-G-8 ~ Coastal Environment and Special
Status Communities. Conserve and protect beaches, sand dunes, coastal bluffs, and special status communities, particularly the Coastal bluff scrub on the northern bluffs.
CO-G-9 ~ Creeks and Riparian Areas. Protect year-round creeks and their riparian habitats.
San Pedro Creek has been designated an
"impaired waterway" by the Regional
Water Quality Control Board and provides
critical habitat to a federally-Listed threatened species, the California coast population ofsteeLhead.
CO-G-10 i) Trees. Conserve trees and encourage
native forestation and planting of appropriate trees and vegetation.
CO-G-11 i) Other Environmentally Sensitive .
Areas. Protect other potential ESHAs,
high habitat value areas, and wildlife
movement corridors from development
that would significantly disrupt habitat
values.
Implementing Policies
C0-1-26 ~ Protection of Biological Resources
with New Development. Protect sensitive habitat areas and special-status species through implementation of the
following measures:
I) Discourage development and/or
buildout in critical habitat of special
status species during the development
review process.
2) Pre-construction plant and wildlife surveys: Project applicants shall engage a qualified biologist to conduct presence/absence biological surveys for sensitive plant and wildlife species prior to construction adjacent
to or within identified special status communities and other sensitive areas identified in Figure 7-3 of the
proposed General Plan. If special
status species are identified, the
qualified biologist shall consult with
the California Department of Fish
and Wildlife (CDFW) and establish no-disturbance buffers around avian nests, bat roosts, and sensitive
plants co avoid disturbance and direct
impacts to these resources during
construction. If no special status species are detected during surveys, then construction-related activities may
proceed. Nesting birds, in particular, are protected by two means; they receive protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and nesting raptors (in the order Falconiformes or
Strigiformes) are protected under the
State Fish and Game Code, §3503.5.
3) Require biological resource assessments be conducted prior to approval for any development within 300 feet
of creeks, wetlands, or other sensitive
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Packet Pg. 557 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption habitat areas shown on Figure 7-3 of
the proposed General Plan.
4) Require on-site monitoring of biological resources by a qualified biologist throughout the duration of construction activity.
5) Require compensatory mitigation by
means of habitat preservation, restoration, and enhancement; for the loss of any critical habitat and/or special
status communities.
The City will coordinate with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, National Marine
Fisheries Service, California Department
of Fish and Wildlife, and Regional Water
Quality Control Board in providing project
applicants with the best guidance to avoid
impacts to special status species and habitat
· areas including creeks, wetland features,
woodlands, or other sensitive natural features.
C0-1-27 Verification ofESHA. Prior to any
proposed development in an ESHA or
potential ESHA, require that a habitat survey be conducted by a qualified botanist or biologist. The habitat survey
will verify whether the site is an ESHA,
and document the extent of the sensitive
r_esources, document potential negative
impacts to the habitat, and recommend
appropriate mitigation measures. Verification of an ESHA shall be based on the following considerations:
• Presence of natural communities identified as rare by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (determined by a state rarity ranking of Sl to S3).
• Recorded or potential presence of plant
or animal species designated as rare,
threatened or endangered under State or
federal law.
• Recorded or potential presence of plant
or animal species for which there is
7-26 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
compelling evidence or rarity, such as
a designation of 1 B (rare or endangered
in California or elsewhere) or 2 (rare,
threatened, or endangered in California,
but more common elsewhere) by the
California Native Plant Society.
• Presence of coastal waterways.
• Integrity of the habitat and its connectivity to other natural areas.
C0-1-28 Management of ESHA. If the area
qualifies as an ESHA under the California Coastal Act, the following regulations apply:
• No new development shall be allowed
within primary habitat areas with the
exception of resource-dependent uses
that can be demonstrated to have no
significant adverse impact.
• Buffer areas shall be established around
all sensitive resources, providing a
minimum of I 00 feet, and varying as
needed to account for feeding, breeding,
nesting, and other habitat requirements.
New buildings in buffer areas shall be
allowed only if there are no other feasible development areas on the parcel.
Exceptions to such buffer requirements
should be supported by a biological
report demonstrating that the adjusted
buffer, in combination with incorpo-
_ rated siting, design or other mitigation
measures, will prevent impacts that
significantly degrade the ESHA and will
be compatible with the continuance of
the ESHA. Buffer adjustments should
also be limited to where the entire .
s~bject legal lot is within the buffer or
where it is demonstrated that development outside the buffer would have a greater impact on the ESHA. Development shall be sited and designed to prevent impacts that would degrade adjacent habitat areas, taking into account
1.c
Packet Pg. 558 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption drainage, vegetation, topography, and
other considerations.
• Alteration of landforms, removal of
vegetation, impervious surfaces, noise,
light, and glare shall be minimized.
CO-1-29 ~ Fencing. Any fencing or barriers
located within riparian ESHAs or wildlife corridors shall permit the free passage of wildlife.
CO-1-30 ~ Fuel Modification. Ensure that new
development is sited and designed to
minimize the need for fuel modification and vegetation clearance in order to avoid or minimize the disturbance
or destruction of habitat and existing hydrology while still providing for fire safety as necessitated by the North
County Fire Authority's Vegetation
Management Program. Prohibit new
development that would require fuel
modification within ESHAs.
CO-1-31 Habitat Preservation. Require a habitat
survey be prepared by a qualified botanist or biologist for any development proposed for the following areas, as shown in Figure 7-3'.
• Designated Critical Habitat for Endangered or Threatened Species; • Potential Environmentally Sensitive
Habitat Area (ESHA);
• High Habitat Value; and
• Wildlife Movement Corridor.
The survey will be used to determine the
exact location of habitat areas and to recommend mitigation measures that minimize potential impacts.
CO-1-32 ~ Monitoring Requirements. Require
a Restoration and Monitoring Proposal for any proposed habitat restoration or mitigation. The Proposal should describe the methods and practices to be
employed, and include:
• A clear statement of the goals of the
restoration or mitigation for all habitat
types;
• Sampling of reference habitat, with
reporting of resultant data;
• Designation of a qualified biologist as
the Restoration or Mitigation Manager
responsible for all phases of the restoration;
• A specific grading plan, if the topography must be altered; • A specific erosion control plan, if soil or
other substrate will be disturbed during
restoration;
• A weed eradication plan designed to
eradicate existing weeds and control
future invasion by exotic species;
• A planting plan based on the natural
habitat type;
• An irrigation plan that describes the
method and timing of watering and
ensures removal of watering infrastructure by the end of the monitoring period;
• An interim monitoring plan with performance goals, assessment methods, and a schedule; and
• A final monitoring plan to determine
whether the restoration has been successful.
CO-1-33 ~ Construction during Nesting
Season. If site work or construction
occurs during the nesting season (February 1 through August 31), then -preconstruction breeding bird surveys shall be performed by a qualified wildlife
biologist prior to any site disturbance to
ensure that no nests will be disturbed or
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Packet Pg. 559 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption destroyed during Project implementation. If an active nest is found sufficiencly close to work areas to be disturbed by
construction activities, then the biologist
shall create a no-disturbance buffer of
250 feet around passerine nests and a 500
foot buffer around raptor nests. Workfree buffer zones shall be maintained until after the breeding season or until
after the qualified biologist determines
the young have fledged ( usually late June
through mid-July).
Nests initiated during construction activities would be presumed to be unaffected by the activity, and a buffer zone around such
nests is not necessary. However, nests shall
be flagged and construction activity shall
avoid killing and/or injuring nesting birds.
C0-1-34 Pre-Construction Bat Surveys. Preconstruction surveys for special-status and non-listed bat species will be performed by a qualified biologist if large trees (>4 ft. diameter at breast height) are
to be removed or underutilized or vacant
buildings are to be demolished. A no-disturbance buffer of 100 feet shall be created around active bat roosts being used for maternity or hibernation purposes.
C0-1-35 t) Protection of the Californian RedLegged Frog and San Francisco Garter Snake during Cons~ruction. To minimize disturbance, require all grading activity within 100 feet of identified
aquatic habitat shall be conducted during
the dry season (May 1 and October 15)
to protect California red-legged frog and
San Francisco garter snake. A qualified
biologist shall conduct presence/absence
surveys for California red-legged frog
and San Francisco garter snake prior to
construction in or adjacent to riparian
areas, grasslands near ponds/wetlands, or
other sensitive habitat. Any individuals
identified shall be treated in consultation
7-28 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
with USFWS. Construction shall follow
accepted procedures for exclusion and
avoidance of California red-legged frog
and San Francisco garter snake and their
habitat. Additionally, the biologist shall
supervise the installation of exclusion
fencing along the boundaries of the work
area, shall conduct environmental awareness training for construction workers, and shall be present during initial vegetation clearing and ground-disturbing activities.
C0-1-36 Invasive Plant Species. Prohibit the
use of invasive plant species (i.e., any
California Invasive Plant Council (CalIPC)-listed species with a status of high or moderate, or identified such as locallythreatened under the limited, alert, or watch status).
C0-1-37 Beach Grooming. Work with the
State of California, GGNRA, and other
partners in the management of beaches
in Pacifica to ensure biological resources
are not adversely affected by beach
grooming. Specifically, protect beach
wrack (the piles of pla~t and animal
debris that wash ashore), which plays an
important role in the beach ecosystem.
C0-1-38 ~ Biological Productivity. Maintain- and where feasible, restore-the biological productivity and the quality of coastal waters, streams, wetlands, and lakes in order to maintain optimum
populations of marine organisms and to
prntect human health.
Techniques may include:
• Minimizing adverse effects of wastewater
discharge;
• Controlling runoff, preventing depletion
of ground water supplies and substantial
interference with suiface wateiflow;
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Packet Pg. 560 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption • Encouraging wastewater reclamation,
maintaining natural vegetation buffer
areas that protect riparian habitats; and
• Minimizing alteration of natural streams.
CO-1-39 Heritage Trees. Update the Heritage
Tree ordinance to improve ease of City
administration and clarity for applicants
and surrounding residents. Consider a
canopy goal for heritage and nonheritage trees as part of the Heritage Tree ordinance update or other updates
to the City's tree regul ations.
CO-1-40 t) Regulations and Incentives to Preserve Habitat. Ensure that sensitive or critical habitat is protected, maintained,
enhanced, or restored.
Possible techniques include:
• Zoning for very low density and clustered
development where appropriate;
• Requiring the preparation of a habitat
survey in certain areas; and
• Identifying appropriate "sending sites" in
the City's Transfer of Development Rights
program.
CO-1-41 ~ Protection by Land Acquisition
or Conservation Easements. Explore
opportunities for public acquisition of
land or conservation easements on parcels not currently designated for Conservation that have significant habitat value.
CO-1-42 t) Public Land Management. Coordinate with GGNRA, State and County Parks, and the City and County of San
Francisco to ensure that public open
space lands are managed to optimize
habitat protection for special status species while also providing for public access and other goals.
Key issues include maintaining viable habitat for the Mission Blue butterfly on Milagra and Sweeney ridges; for the California red-legged frog and San Francisco garter
snake populations associated with Mori Point
and Laguna Salada; and supporting
migrating Western snowy plover at Pacifica
State Beach.
CO-1-43 Management of Public Coastal
Access. Ensure regular public access,
determining locations on a site-specific
basis by considering:
• The capacity of the access way to sustain
use;
• The intensity of access that can be sustained;
• The fragility of the natural resources in
the accessing, and
• The proximity of the access to adjacent
residential uses.
Innovative access management techniques
include but are not limited to agreements
with private organizations that would
minimize management costs and the use of
volunteer programs.
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Packet Pg. 561 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 13 LAND AND SOIL
RESOURCES
Conservation of soils and other resources in the
earth, and conservation of agricultural and forestry
resources are the subject of this section.
Soils
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural
Resources Conservation Service has mapped soils in
the Planning Area. Soils are characterized according
to various properties and grouped into soil associations. These include the Barnabe-Candlestick complex, the Candlestick-Kron-Buriburi complex, Orthems Cut and Fill-Urban Land complex, and Candlestick-Barnabe Complex. In the upland regions these soils are generally shallow and found on slopes ranging from 30 to 75 percent. The Orthents and Urban Land complex soils are often located in the more
gentle slopes of O to 30 percent. Soils found in developed areas have generally been reworked to the point that most of the native soils are only found at depth,
if at all.
Hazards associated with soils, including erosion,
landslides and slope failure, subsidence, and liquefaction are discussed in Section 8.1, Geologic and Seismic Hazards.
Agriculture
While agricultural operations are not predominant,
approximately 360 acres currently have agriculturerelated uses, mainly as horse boarding. These include the Park Pacifica Stables at the southwestern edge
of Sweeney Ridge; Millwood Ranch, north of Terra
Nova High School; and Shamrock Ranch south of
the city limits. None of these properties are engaged
in commercial food production and no land in the
Planning Area is classified as farmland by the California Department of Conservation's Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program.
The San Pedro Creek restoration project involved augmenting the dunes at Pacifica State Beach, helping to reduce erosion. 7-30 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVJEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 562 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Forestry
A significant portion of the Pacifica Planning Area
is forested, including Eucalyptus, Coastal Mixed
Hardwood/Oak Woodland, Riparian Mixed Hardwood, and Monterey Cypress.' Logging
The City defines logging operations as any removal,
destruction or harvesting of 20 or more trees within
one year from any parcel or contiguous parcel in the
same ownership, and exhibits logging operations
unless one of the following conditions is met:
• Operations have received Planning Commission
and/or City Council approval;
• Operations are necessary immediately for the
safety oflife or property, as determined by the
Director of Public Works; or
• Operations occur on city-owned property and are
necessary to maintain public health and safety.
Mineral Resources
The Planning Area is a source of some mineral
resources, including limestone, which is used for
making cement. The Rockaway Quarry produced
limestone from the early 20th century until 1987.
Picardo Ranch (now Millwood Ranch) also produced limestone and chert for road construction, but the site is no longer operational. Other limestone
deposits found in the southern portion of the Planning Area, underlying development, are not mined.
Coastal Sediment
Coastal sediment, generally conststmg of sand,
grave1; silt, and clay, provides many benefits for
coastal communities, providing habitat for a variety of species, creating recreational opportunities for residents and tourists, and protecting shorelines and adjacent development. Coastal sediment occurs, accumulates, and moves via natural processes (precipitation, wind, landslides, stream flow, etc.). However, urban development and flood control can disrupt these processes and alter the quantity, quality, and location of coastal sediment deposition over time. Eventually, additional intervention (such as armoring, dredging, and other methods) is
required to stabilize the shoreline as the natural system is unable to do so. Such interventions often have adverse impacts on shoreline erosion downshore, and
may accelerate sand loss from beaches.
Pacifica participates in the Coastal Regional Sediment Management Plan (CRSMP) process for the San Francisco Littoral Cell (the stretch of coastline
in which Pacifica is included). The CRSMP will
establish policies for management of coastal sediment resources in the area, addressing:
• Shoreline erosion and coastal storm damage
reduction;
• Environmental restoration and protection,
including beach nourishment, sediment transportation, and natural sediment supply to the coast; • Sea level rise;
• Coastal access and recreation;
• Water quality along beaches; and
• Identification of beneficial uses for dredged sediment. 7 n
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Packet Pg. 563 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
CO-G-12 Preserve Agricultural Open Space.
Promote the preservation of agricultural
open space in the Planning Area.
Implementing Policies
C0-1-44 Regional Sediment Management.
Participate in regional approaches to pi:otecting, enhancing and restoring coastal beaches and watersheds through the California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup, with a goal of minimizing
coastal erosion.
This approach has been formally recommended by the Sharp Park Working Group, as part of the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department's Significant Natural Resource Areas Management Plan.
C0-1-45 Continuation of Agricultural arid
Related Uses. Where agricultural and
related uses exist, allow compatible uses
to continue.
C0-1-46 Mineral Resources. If significant mineral
resources are discovered with regional
agencies to determine a course of action
to protect the resources and, if applicable, .extract them in an environmentally sensitive manner.
C0-1-47 ~ Recreational Uses. Promote recreational uses, such as horse boarding and trail riding, which retain open space
character while contributing to a visitorbased economy. 7-32 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
1A AIR QUALITY
Protecting and improving air quality is important to
Pacifica and communities across California, as certain kinds of air pollutants are directly harmful to human health and the health of the natural environment, including water quality, plant and animal life.
Due to its position relative to wind flow patterns and
topography, air quality in Pacifica is better than it
is in the Bay Area overall. Still, pollutants emitted
locally have regional consequences. Since air quality
is a regional issue, this General Plan also has referred to Bay Area 2017 Clean Air Plan for guidance.
Climatic Conditions
Atmospheric conditions, such as wind speed, wind
direction, and air temperature interact with the phys-
.ical features of the landscape to determine the movement and dispersal of air pollutants. Pacifica lies in the northwestern portion of the Bay Area's peninsula
climatological sub-region within this sub-region, air
pollution potential is highest in the vicinity of Redwood City, the area most protected from high winds and most susceptible to pollution transported from
upwind urban areas. At Pacifica's location, winds
bring air from the ocean and are generally strong
enough to carry away local emissions.
Existing Air Quality
The Bay Area has attained Federal and state standards for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide but has not met Federal and state
standards for California's standards for annual concentrations of coarse (PM 10) and fine (PM 2.5) particulate matter, as well as the federal 24-hour standard for PM 2.5.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District
operates a regional monitoring network that measures six criteria pollutants. Since the closest monitoring station is approximately ten miles northeast of Pacifica on Arkansas Street in San Francisco,
air quality in Pacifica can be inferred but not precisely gauged from BAAQMD's measurements.
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Packet Pg. 564 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Table 7-2 Based on data in Table 7-2, there appears
to have been one violation of the state or national
ozone standard in San Francisco over the five years
between 2016 and 2020. Because ozone is a regional
pollutant and precursors can travel long distances
before they react to form ozone, local emissions of
reactive organic gases (ROG) and nitrogen oxides
(NOx) may contribute to regional ozone levels. The
regional monitoring network has recorded ozone levels exceeding the State standard for 15 days per year over the past five years, with fewer violations of the
national standards.
In general, particulate levels are relatively low near
the coast, and peak in dry, sheltered valleys. Therefore, Pacifica's air is generally less polluted than the region's, though local emissions play a role in the
region's air quality issues. Local PM2.5 concentrations have exceeded state 24-hour standards over four of the past five years, and federal 24-hour standards over three of the past five years.
The BMQMD maintains an Emissions Inventory,
which estimates the total volume of air pollutants
generated each day by approximately 100 "areawide"
sources, point sources such as . factories, gas stations and power plants, and mobile sources (primarily
vehicles). In general, the proportion of air pollution generated by different sources varies by pollutant. Cars, trucks, airplanes and boats are responsible for most of the smog-producing pollutants (nitrogen oxides and reactive organic gases) in the air and nearly all of the carbon monoxide. Areawide sources,
especially dust from roads, produce most of the particulate air pollutants. Ships account for virtually all of the sulfur dioxide emitted in San Mateo County.
While the region is in compliance for carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, concentrations of CO can still be a local concern. In Pacifica, congestion on Highway 1 has the potential to produce high concentrations, negatively impacting the healch of sensitive populations (children, the elderly, etc.).
Table 7-2: QUALITY DATA SUMMARY (2016-2020) FOR THE PLANNING AREA Monitoring Data by Year1
Pollutant Standard 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Ozone
Highest 1-hour average (ppm) 0.070 0.087 0.065 0.091 0.088 Days above state 1-Hour Std. 0.9 0 0 0 0
Highest 8-hour average ppm 0.057 0.053 0.049 0.073 0.055 Days above state 8-Hour Std. 0.07 0 0 0 0
Days above federal 8-Hour Std. 0.075 0 0 0 0 0
Carbon Monoxide
Highest 8-hour average ppm LlQ 1.40 1.60 0.90 1.60
Days above state 8-hour Std. 9.0 0 0 0 0 0
Days above federal 8-Hour Std. 9.0 Q Q Q 0 0
Fine Particulate Matter (PM-2.5)
Highest 24-hour average (µg/m3) 108.0 190.0 241.0 45.0 214.0 Estimated Days above state Std.2 50 1 9 18 0 20
Estimated Days above federal Std. 150 0 2 3 0 4
Annual Average 20 7.6 9.6 11.7 7.7 10.5
1. Data are from the Arkansas Street station in San Francisco.
2. Measurements are usually collected every six days. Estimated days over the standard represent the estimated number of days the standard would have been exceeded if measurements were collected every day.
Notes: ppm = parts per million; µglm3 = micrograms per cubic meter.
Source: Bay Area Air Quality Management District, https:llwww.baaqmd.gov/about-air-qualitylcurrent-air-qualitylair-monitoring-datal#I, 2020, accessed June 2021.
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Packet Pg. 565 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Sensitive Receptors
Some people are more sensitive to air pollution than
others. Heightened sensitivity may be caused by preexisting health problems, proximity to the emissions source, and duration of exposure to pollutants. Land
uses such as schools, children's day care centers, hospitals, and convalescent homes are more sensitive than the general public to poor air quality because
the population groups associated with these uses
have increased susceptibility to respiratory distress
and other air quality-related health problems. Persons engaged in strenuous work or exercise also have increased sensitivity to poor air quality.
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
CO-G-13 Improve Air Quality. Reduce emissions of ozone-producing pollutants and particulate matter to improve regional air
quality and protect the health of Pacifica
and Bay Area residents.
Implementing Policies
CO-1-48 Regional Cooperation. Cooperate with
the Bay Area Air Quality Management
District (BMQMD) and other public agencies iri implementing plans to achieve State and Federal Ambient Air
Quality Standards.
CO-1-49 Impact Guidelines. Use the BMQMD's
Air Quality Giiidelines, to determine and
mitigate project air quality impacts.
The City consults with the BAAQMD during CEQA review for projects that require air quality impact analysis and BAAQMD
is on the distribution list for CEQA documents.
7-34 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
CO-1-50 Sensitive Receptors. Work with
BMQMD to develop and implement
a Community Risk Reduction Plan to
address the exposure of sensitive populations to toxic air contaminant emissions in Pacifica.
CO-1-51 Construction Equipment. Require all
construction equipment to be maintained and tuned to meet appropriate EPA and CARB emission requirements.
CO-1-52 Dust Abatement. Require contractors to
use best management practices to reduce
particulate emissions and dust associated
with construction activities.
BMPs include, but are not limited to:
regular materials and vehicle tire watering;
covering of stockpiles; phasing or extension
of grading operations; suspension of grading
during high wind periods; and revegetation
of graded areas.
CO-1-53 Transportation Control Measures.
Ensure compliance with the most current
Bay Area Clean Air Plan by implementing the Plan's recommended Transportation Control Measures.
The 2017 Clean Air Plan identifies 17
TCMs aimed at reducing vehicle trips and
vehicle miles traveled; increasing access to
and support of alternative modes of transportation; promoting compact, walkable land use patterns; and increasing public
education and awareness.
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Packet Pg. 566 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 7 7.5 ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE GASES /"'I
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Like air quality, greenhouse gas emissions and potential effects of global climate change are environmental issues whose causes and impacts extend far beyond the boundaries of any one city. However,
given its coastal location and fragile environmental assets, the City is acutely aware of the impacts that global climate change may have, and actively
engaged in working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Planning Area and adapting to the changing physical environment.
Global Climate Change
Global climate change (GCC) refers to a change in
the average weather of the earth that may be measured by wind patterns, storms, precipitation, and temperature. Historically, the rate of temperature
change has typically been incremental, with warming and cooling occurring over the course of thousands of years. In the past 10,000 years the earth has experienced incremental warming as glaciers
retreated across the globe. However, scientists have
observed an unprecedented increase in the rate of
warming over the past 150 years, roughly coinciding
with the global industrial revolution.
Although GCC is now widely accepted as a concept,
the extent and spe~d of change to be expected, and
the exact contribution from human sources, remains
in debate. Nonetheless, the world's leading climate
scientists, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC), have reached consensus that global
climate change is "very likely" caused by humans,
and that hotter temperatures and rising sea levels will continue for centuries no matter how much humans
control their future emissions. 20
In its 2018 report, the IPCC predicted that global
warming is likely to reach 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit
between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at
the current rate. Crossing the 2.7 degree threshold
could expose tens of millions more people worldwide
20 IPCC, 2018
to life-threatening heat waves, water shortages and
coastal flooding. The same report projects a sea level
rise of seven to 23 inches by the end of the century,
with a greater rise possible depending on the rate of
polar ice sheet melting. Observations since then have
led to projections for more significant change.
Locally, a 2016 statewide vulnerability assessment
conducted by the California Coastal Commission
has projected a sea level rise of 39 to 55 inches along the California coast by 2100. 2 1 According to the California Climate Action Team (CCAT), accelerating GCC has the potential to cause a number of adverse
impacts in California, including but not limited to:
a shrinking Sierra snowpack that would threaten
the state's water supply; public health threats caused
by higher temperatures and more smog; damage to
agriculture and forests due to reduced water storage
capacity, rising temperatures, increasing salt water
intrusion, flooding, and pest infestations; critical
habitat modification and destruction; eroding coastlines; increased wildfire risk; and increased electricity demand. These impacts have and will continue to have considerable costs associated with them.
While all of these impacts may be felt to some extent
in Pacifica, of particular concern are coastal erosion, flooding, and habitat modification, as well as water
supply issues.
Greenhouse Gases
Gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere are
called greenhouse gases (GHGs). These gases play
a critical role in determining the Earth's surface
temperarure. Part of the solar radiation that enters
Earth's atmosphere from space is absorbed by the
Earth's surface. The Earth reflects this radiation back toward space, but GHGs absorb some of the radiation. As a result, radiation that otherwise would have escaped back into space is retained, resulting in
21 CCC,2016
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PACIFICA GcNERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 7-35
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Packet Pg. 567 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption a warming of the atmosphere. This phenomenon is
known as the greenhouse effect.
There are many types of GHGs. The six that are
identified explicitly in California legislation as being of primary concern are:
• Carbon dioxide (CO2), emitted as a result of
fossil fuel combustion, with contributions from
cement manufacture;
• Methane (CH4), produced through the anaerobic
decomposition of waste in landfills, animal digestion, decomposition of animal wastes, production and distribution of natural gas and petroleum,
coal production, and incomplete fossil fuel combustion; • Nitrous oxide (N20), typically generated as a
result of soil cultivation practices, particularly the
use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion, nitric acid production, and biomass burning;
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), primarily used as
refrigerants;
• Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), originally introduced
as alternatives to ozone depleting substances and
typically emitted as by-products of industrial and
manufacturing processes; and
• Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), primarily used in electrical transmission and distribution systems.
GHGs have varying potentials to trap heat in the
atmosphere, known as global warming potential
(GWP), and atmospheric lifetimes. Ofte·n, GWP is
expressed in terms of "carbon dioxide equivalents",
or CO2e, which allows emissions of different gases to
be summed by a common metric. GWP ranges from
one (carbon dioxide) to 23,900 (sulfur hexafluoride).
GHG emissions with a higher GWP have a greater
global warming effect on a molecule-by-molecule
basis. For example, one ton of CH4 has the same
contribution to the greenhouse effect as approximately 21 tons of CO2. The parameter "atmospheric lifetime" describes how long it takes to restore the
system to equilibrium following an increase in the
concentration.of a GHG in the atmosphere. Atmospheric lifetimes of GHGs range from tens to thousands of years.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
According to the California Air Resources Board
emissions inventory reports for 2000 through 2019,
California's GHG emissions continue to decrease. In
2019, emissions from GHG emitting activities statewide were 418 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent. Per capita rates of emissions in the Bay
Area and San Mateo County are lower than the California average.
In 2019, the Climate Center completed a report
showing that the Bay Area's transportation sector is
the primary source of Bay Area greenhouse gas emissions, contributing about 50 percent of the region's CO2e, followed by natural gas usage (33 percent)
and electricity usage (14 percent.) Between 2014 and
2019, the Bay Area reduced its emissions by about
3.6 percent The region made meaningful progress in
reducing its electricity emissions, dropping them.52% . · . between 2014 and 2019. This has largely been driven TABLE 7-3: COMPARATIVE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
area Population emissions (C020) Per Capita Rate (metric tons/ year/ person San Mateo County (2019) 767,000 3.9 million
Bay Area (2019) 7,730,000 47.3 million
California (2019) 39,280,000 418.2 million
United States (2019) 328,300,000 5,130 million
Note: Emissions are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) Sources: Data for San Mateo County and Bay Area is from The Climate Center, 2020;. Emissions for California from California Air Resources Board; population U.S. Census Bureau, 2015-2019 American Community Survey. Emissions for the United States from U.S. Energy Administration, 2019, population U.S. Census Bureau, 2015-2019 American Community Survey. 7-36 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
5.7 6.1
10.6 15.6
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Packet Pg. 568 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption by Community Choice agencies coming online that
deliver low-carbon electricity and by a nearly decarbonized PG&E electricity supply in 2019 (due to Community Choice impacts).
In 2014, the City of Pacifica released a Climate
Action Plan, which provided a baseline inventory
of GHG emissions in 2005. For a similar year, San
Mateo County countywide CO2 emissions were
5.91 million metric tons in 2006, averaging 8.1 metric tons per capita. By contrast, emissions in Pacifica were estimated as 4.5 metric tons per capita (See Table 7-4).
Electricity and Gas
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) provides gas and
electric services to Pacifica homes and businesses.
With energy obtained from power plants, natural
gas fields, and renewable energy sources in northern
_ California. Peninsula Clean Energy is an alternative
renewable-energy electricity provider. Both provid- ·
ers offer clean energy options including significant
shares greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-free power
generation. The availability of electricity and gas setvices is not expected to become an issue during the planning horizon. However, electricity and natural gas use account for 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Pacifica. Thus, while supply is not anticipated to be an issue in Pacifica, reducing demand for these resources will help reduce carbon emissions.
California Green Building Standards
Green building refers to methods in the construction and operation of buildings intended to conserve natural resources, reduce waste from construction and demolition, increase energy efficiency and reduce operating costs, and promote healthy indoor
air quality.
The California Building Code (Title 24 of the State
Code of Regulations) includes the country's first
Green Building Standards (CalGreen), parts of
which became mandatory as of January 2011. Among
these are requirements to reduce water consumption,
divert construction waste from landfills, and install
low pollutant-emitting finish materials. Requirements vary for residential and nonresidential buildings.
The Green Building Standards are a key part of the
State's efforts to achieve the State's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Future updates are expected to continue to strengthen environmentally responsible building requirements as these practices become widely adopted. Local jurisdictions are responsible for
ensuring that State standards are met, at a minimum.
The 2019 Green Building Standards Code also establishes a system designed to give cities and counties the option of adopting local codes that go beyond
the minimum standards. Pacifica has adopted CalGreen as well as local "reach codes" that exceed the minimum requirements of CalGreen. 22
22 California Building Standards Commission, 2019.
Table 7-4: 2006 CO2 eMISSIONS IN SaN MaTeO COUNTY aND PaCIFICa San Mateo %of Total Pacifica % of Total
Transportation 3,165,800 60% 98,000 62%
Electricity 1,872,900,000 36% 25,000 35%
Natural gas 186,800,200 4% 4,000 3%
Solid Waste 24,900 0.4% 5,600 4%
Total 5,250,000 159,000
Per Capita CO2 emissions 8.1 4.5
Note: This inventory considers only CO2, and not CO2e emissions, as is reflected in the BAAQMD study.
Source: Sustainable San Mateo, U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survew 7 ("\
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Packet Pg. 569 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Solid Waste Collection and Recycling
Although solid waste accounts for just 2 percent of
Pacifica's carbon emissions, solid waste has the potential to be a much larger contributor to global warming overall because of methane produced byproducts.
Solid waste can be reduced i:hrough recycling, composting, and reduction and reuse of material goods.
Solid waste collection and recycling services in Pacifica are provided by Recology of the Coast, a division of Recology. Recology, based in San Francisco, operates a number of landfills, waste transfer and materials recovery facilities, including the recycling yard at 1046 Palmetto Avenue in Pacifica. Recology emphasizes waste reduction and diversion, and is the largest compost facility operator by volume in the United
States. In Pacifica, Recology of the Coast currently
provides curbside pick-up of garbage, recyclables,
and green waste for both residential and commercial
customers.
The City has enacted Ordinance No. 838-C.S. regulating plastic beverage straws, stirrers and cutlery, and polystyrene disposable food serviceware. Also,
both the City and San Mateo County have recycling
divisions that provide information to help residents
and businesses reduce and divert waste from landfills. The City has also adopted Ordinance No. 870- CS to comply with SB 1383, California's Short Lived
Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, to increase
organic waste recycling in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions·.
Sea Level Rise
Of the various potential effects of global climate
change, sea level rise is particularly relevant to Pacifica because of urban and infrastructure located near the coastline. Areas of the Sharp Park Golf Course,
the Rockaway Beach district, and the West Linda
Mar and West Sharp Park neighborhoods could be
vulnerable to inundation or coastal flooding. Coastal
erosion processes that have caused significant damage along the high bluffs of Pacifica' s northern coastal neighborhoods increase in magnitude. In
7-38 l>ACIFIC:A GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
addition to raising the average tide lines, sea level
rise has the potential to alter the frequency and magnitude of coastal flood events. The potential for sea level rise to exacerbate coastal flooding and erosion
in the Planning Area is discussed in more detail in
Chapter 8, Safety.
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
CO-G-14 Renewable Energy. Support the use
and development of renewable energy
through City purchasing, and facilitation
of local renewable energy generation.
CO-G-15 Energy Conservation. Support efforts to
reduce energy use by increasing energy
efficiency in buildings and promoting
awareness of energy use. ·
CO-G-16 Waste Reduction. Seek to reduce overall solid waste by limiting packaging, controlling construction and demolition
waste, and promoting composting and
recycling.
Implementing Policies
See Chapter 3, CommunityDesign; Chapter 4, Land
Use; and Chapter 5, Circulation for related policies
that seek to improve air quality and reduce emissions
through urba,n design, land use., and transportation
-strategies.
C0-1-54 Climate Action Plan for Greenhouse
Gas Reductions. Maintain and update
the Climate Action Plan that focuses
on feasible actions the City can take to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from
government, businesses, and residents in
Pacifica.
The CAP should:
• Establish a baseline inventory of all
known or reasonably discoverable sources
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Packet Pg. 570 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 7 of GHGs that currently exist in Pacifica CO-1-59 City Purchasing of Renewable Energy. ("\ 0 and that existed in 1990; Pursue opportunities for the City to z VI
lower the cost of purchasing and produc- m
Projected GHG emissions expected in 2030 ::JJ • <
under this General Plan and foreseeable - ing renewable energy, such as through ► Peninsula Clean Energy or other energy
::::!
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provider at the best value to the City. z
• Set a target for the reduction of GHG
emissions, in line with targets established CO-1-60 Waste Collection. Periodically evaluby the California Air Resources Board; ate the City's waste collection contract to ensure that Pacifica residents and
• Present a list of feasible- and to the great- businesses receive high-quality and cost est extent possible, quantifiable- GHG effective service. reduction measures to meet the reduction
target, in the areas of energy use (in all CO-1-61 Waste Reduction and Diversion. Seek sectors), transportation and land use, solid to continually reduce Pacifica' s output of waste, water, and education/outreach; and solid waste and increase the proportion of waste diverted from landfills, setting
• Establish an implementation plan, includ- targets and monitoring progress. ing strategies and funding for monitoring CO-1-62 Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings. and making improvements .. Prepare and implement a plan to increase CO-1-55 Green Building. Monitor the effective- energy efficiency in existing public buildness of the California Green Building ings.
Code in bringing about energy efficiency Measu res may include:
in architectural design and building construction. • Conduct energy audits for all municipal CO-1-56 Solar Orientation. When possible, facilities;
require buildings to be oriented such that • Retrofit municipal facilities for energy the use of passive and active solar strate- efficiency where feasible and when remodgies is maximized, in order to promote eling or replacing components, including energy efficiency. increased insulation, installing green or To achieve ideal solar orientation condi- reflective roofs, installing automated lighttions, the long axis of the building should ing controls, and retrofitting heating and be oriented east-west, within 15 degrees. cooling systems. • Require that any newly constructed, pur- CO-1-57 Encourage Solar Power Generation. chased, qr leased municipal space meet Promote use of passive and active solar minimum standards, such as exceeding devices such as solar collectors; solar Title 24 energy efficiency by 20 percent; cells, and solar heating systems in buildings and parking areas by incentive pro- . Educate employees on energy conservation . grams and streamlining review. CO-1-63 Wastewater and Water System EffiCO-1-58 Clean City Fleet. Establish City bud- ciency. Maximize the efficiency of Cityget for clean fuels and electric or hybrid operated wastewater treatment, water vehicles to replace and improve the exist- treatment, pumping, and distribution ing fleet of gasoline and diesel powered equipment.
vehicles.
PACIFICA GENE~AL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 7-39
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Packet Pg. 571 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption C0-1-64 Outdoor Lighting. Establish outdoor
lighting performance standards to minimize energy use while ensuring appropriate light levels. These can be met by :
• Greater use of photocells or astronomical time switches; • Directional and shielded LED lights;
• Security lights with motion detectors;
and
• Prohibitions against continuous allnight outdoor lighting unless needed for security reasons.
7-40 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
7.6 CULTURAL RESOURCES
AND HISTORIC
PRESERVATION
One objective of the General Plan is to protect community assets, including sites with historical and cultural significance. Cultural resources include prehistoric or archaeological sites, properties of cultural or historic significance, or paleontological sites. Pacifica has a rich history with regional and statewide significance, as it was home to several Native American villages as well
as the first sighting of the San Francisco Bay by nonindigenous people. The Sanchez Adobe Historical Site along San Pedro Creek features physical evidence of
several significant periods in California history.
Historic Context
Native Americans had an extensive presence in the
Planning Area. When Europeans arrived, ·the area
was home to persons who spoke the Ramaycush dialect of the San Francisco Bay Costanoan/Ohlone Language, and living in and around two villages: Pruristac, in San Pedro Valley, and Timigtac, in Calera Valley. The village at Timigtac is the Ramaycush Ohlone people's ancestral village of origin within the territorial boundaries of the Aramai, an i_ndependent tribe of the Ramaycush Ohlone peoples. In 1769, an expedition led by Gaspar de Portola, governor of the Spanish territory covering both Baja and Alta California, first sighted San Francisco Bay from a point on Pacifica's
Sweeney Ridge, and camped in San Pedro Valley. Noc
long after, Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission
Dolores in present-day San Francisco) was established,
a_nd in 1786 the Mission developed an outpost in San
Pedro Valley, alongside Pruristac. The Ohlone village
was significantly affected by disease in 1791. 23
Mexican independence from Spain was followed by a
"secularization" program, and in 1839 the Sa!J Pedro
mission outpost and its rancho, covering the majority
of the Planning Area, was granted to Francisco Sanchez, who built the adobe house chat stands today as the oldest structure in San Mateo County. Following
23 California Historical Resources Information System
(CHRIS), 2021
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Packet Pg. 572 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption his death, the land was divided and the area developed slowly.
In 1905 construction began on the Ocean Shore
Railway, which was to connect San Francisco with
Santa Cruz. The line was never completed, but
operated as far south as Half Moon Bay until 1921,
supporting a string of stops in present-day Pacifica including Tobin, Salada Beach, and Rockaway Beach. The communities surrounding the railway stops, including Edgemar, Sharp Park, Pacific Manor, Vallemar, Rockaway Beach, and San Pedro
Terrace-by-the-Sea, grew slowly until the building
boom following World War II. Pacifica incorporated as a City in 1957, as the union of these unincorporated neighborhoods.
Native American Cultural Resources
Five Native American archaeological resources have
been found and recorded in Pacifica, all classified as
habitation sites. Two additional resources contain
both Native American and historic-era archaeological value. The Sanchez Adobe, operated by the San Mateo County Historical Association as a historical
site, is listed as a State Historical Landmark and Point of Historical Interest as well as the National Register of Historic Places The Sanchez Adobe Park, site of
the Pruristac village and the San Pedro mission outpost or asistencia San Pedro y San Pablo of hfe.-.the Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission DQelores),
also is listed in the National- Register of Historic
Places and the California Register of Historical
Resources. The San Mateo County HistoricalAssociation recently dedicated in summer of 2021 a new building in Sanchez Adobe Park featuring the
history and lifeways of the local Aramai-Ohlone
who lived in the village of Pruristac. The facility is
specifically designed to accommodate tours of
school groups.
The Planning Area is rich with the types of environments where Native American cultural resources have been found: permanent and intermittent streams,
productive coastal environments, and sheltered locations for permanent habitations, as well as ridgelines, terraces, spurs and saddles. The Planning Area also
includes a significant amount of alluvial soil, which
In 1769, an expedition led by Gaspar de Portola sighted San Francisco Bay from a point on Pacifica's Sweeney Ridge (upper).
The Sanchez Adobe, built in 1842, is the oldest surviving structure in San Mateo County. The site was once the Oh/one village of Pruristac (lower).
in some cases is overlaid by artificial fill, increasing the probability for buried archaeological deposits. There
is considered to be a high likelihood that unrecorded
Native American cultural resources are present.
Contemporary Native American Resources
As part of the General Plan update process, the Native
American Heritage Commission (NAHC) conducted
. a record search of the sacred lands file in 2020. The search did not indicate the presence of additional
Native American cultural resources within the Planning Area. The NAHC response listed six tribes that may have historic ties to the Planning Area, and letters of inquiry were sent to the six tribal representatives; however, no responses were received.
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Packet Pg. 573 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Historic Resources
The Portola Expedition Camp at San Pedro Creek,
the Discovery Site, and the Sanchez Adobe are State
Historical Landmarks. Tobin Station, one of two
remaining structures from the Ocean Shore Railroad, is a State Point of Historical Interest.
A Master Plan for the Sanchez Adobe Historical
Site, completed in 2007 aims to increase visitation
and improve visitors' educational experience while
ensuring that the site is preserved for future generations. The new interpretive center was completed and opened to the public in October 2019.
The City has identified nine local historical landmarks: Sanchez Adobe; the Little Brown Church; the former San Pedro Schoolhouse (now City Hall); the
1907 Anderson's Store building on Paloma Avenue;
Table 7-5: HISTORIC SITES IN PACIFICA
Site
National Historic Landmarks
Little Brown Church
National Register of Historic Places
San Francisco Bay Discovery Site
California Historical Landmarks
Portola Expedition Camp at Pedro Creek
San Francisco Bay Discovery Site
Sanchez Adobe/ Pruristac / San Pedro y San Pablo
California Point of Historical Interest
Tobin Station-Ocean Shore Railroad
Local Landmarks Identified in Historic Preservation Ordinance Anderson's Store
Little Brown Church
San Pedro Schoolhouse
Sanchez Adobe/ Pruristac / San Pedro y San Pablo1
Sharp Park Golf Course and Clubhouse
Vallemar Station
Private residence
Private residence
Dollaradio Station (private residence)
the Sharp Park Golf Course club house, from 1932;
Vallemar Station; the former Dollaradio Station; and
two private residences (see Table 7-5).
In 2005, the Pacifica Historical Society began restoration of the Little Brown Church to establish it asinto the Pacifica Coastside Museum, which opened
in 2015. The Historical Society also owns the last
remaining car from the Ocean Shore Railroad, and
has stated its interest in moving the railcar to be close to the Little Brown Church, preferably in the parking lot at SAglada Avenue and Francisco Boulevard. the City is considering this as the potential location
of the railcar as part of a Civic Center master plan
discussed by City Council in 2021. Nine local historic landmarks in Pacifica are specifically designated in the Historic Preservation Ordinance of 1985. They
are listed below in TAble 7-5 and also shown in Figure 7-4. address
1850 Francisco Boulevard ---------
Sweeney Ridge
Southeast of SR 1 and Crespi Drive
Sweeney Ridge
1000 Linda Mar Boulevard
.Shoreside Drive, Pedro Point
220 Paloma Avenue
1850 Francisco Boulevard
170 Santa Maria Avenue
1000 Linda Mar Boulevard
Sharp Park Road & SR 1
2125 Coast Highway
165 Winona Avenue
185 Carmel Avenue
100 Palmetto Avenue
Year Constructed
1910
NA
NA
NA
1842
1907
1910
1914
1842
1932
1906
1908
1910
1926
Sources: California Historical Resources Information System, 2021, City of Pacifica, 2020. 7-42 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 574 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Dollaradio
Station
Anderson's Store
San Pedro Schoolhouse
Little Brown Church
Pacific
0 c ea n
Sharp Park
Golf Course
and Clubhouse
Portola Expedition Camp
at Pedro Creek
Tobin Station
Ocean Shore
Railroad
Sanchez Adobe/Pruristac
San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia
(National Register of Historic Places,
California Historical Landmark,
and Local Landmark)
0 1/4 1/2
MILES
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Sl111rp Pn r k
(
; · ~)__ ----------------
Figure 7-4: Historic and Cultural
Resources
-
-
-
National Historic
Landmark
National Register of
Historic Places
California Historical
Landmarks
California Point of
Historical Interest
Local Landmarks
City Limits
Planning Area
,-·, / 165 Winona Ave I \~;
_;, ...... ,. __ ,,r-\_r "').,,
', __ ..... _:_ .. ::'::.·:~
r-·
Swc;· n ey
Ridi:i!
( G~i'-:'RA J
l
San Francisco Bay __.. r,,c;:i;:;:;•;, Discovery Site \ rsr PucJ (Natiol'}~lrtistoric Landmark, Nationa·I,
Register of Histor.ic Places and ·---.
lfomla Hlsto,1,::;~m:_•kl
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t
l '
'v";. ,,.,.
2 \rr, />, /r., !u/lq c.,,,,,,,. ,,,,,4
Source: California Historical Resources
Informatio n System, 202 1; Northwest
Information Center, 202 1; City of
Pacifica, 20 19; San Mateo Cow1ty, 20 19;
Dyett & Bhatia, 20 19.
7-43
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Packet Pg. 575 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Historic Preservation Ordinance
The Historic Preservation Ordinance found at Chapter 7 of Title 9 of the City's Municipal Code protects structures and sites of historic significance in the City. The ordinance outlines procedures for designating historic landmarks, describes the permit process for the alteration, demolition, or relocating of any historic structure, and includes a section pertaining specifically to the Little Brown Church. It also acknowledges the role of the Pacifica Historical Society in designation of sites and the permit process. 7-44 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
CO-G-17 Historic and Cultural Sites. Conserve designated historic and cultural sites and structures that help define Pacifica' s identity and character and increase public awareness and appreciation of
them.
CO-G-18 Ensure Mitigation. Require mitigation for any new development that would adversely affect archaeological or paleontological resources.
Implementing Policies
C0-1-65 Historic Preservation Ordinance. Continue to evaluate development projects for their historical significance and preservation value, using the criteria in the Historic Preservation Ordinance.
C0-1-66 Integration of Historic and Cultural
Resources with City Identity. Incorporate historic and cultural resources into the City's marketing and branding
efforts. Specific initiatives might include:
• Identifying historic sites in the City's
wayfinding scheme;
• Giving priority to streetscape and public
realm improvements around historic
structures that are visitor destinations;
• Hosting/supporting events and educational programs that feature Pacifica's history and promote its relevance; and
• Linking related historical sites through
the City's open space and trail system.
C0-1-67 Public Agency Support for Local Historic Sites. Seek support from public agencies, such as GGNRA, for local
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Packet Pg. 576 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption historic preservation programs for designated sites.
Two documents have been prepared for San
Mateo County that should guide agency
involvement in Pacifica's historic resources:
the Sanchez Adobe Historical Site Master Plan (2007) and the Historic Resource Study for Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Mateo County (2010).
C0-1-68 e) Resource Impact Mitigation.
Ensure that new development analyzes
and avoids potential impacts to historic,
archaeological, and paleontological
resources by:
• Requiring a records review for development proposed in areas that are considered archaeologically or paleontologically sensitive; • Requiring pre-construction surveys and
monitoring during any ground disturbance for all development in areas of historic or archaeological sensitivity; and
• Implementing appropriate measures as
a condition of project approval- such
as avoidance, preservation in place,
and excavation,- to reduce or avoid
impacts.
In the event that historical, archaeological, or paleontological resources are accidentally discovered during construction, grading activity in the immediate area shall
cease and materials and their surroundings
shall not be altered or collected. A qualified
archaeologist or paleontologist must make an
immediate evaluation and avoidance measures or appropriate mitigation should be completed, according to CEQA Guidelines.
The State Office of Historic Preservation has
issued recommendations for the preparation
of Archaeological Resource Management
Reports that may be used as guidelines.
CO-1-69 Adaptive Reuse. Promote adaptive reuse
of historic structures- preserving their
original design and character-as an
option for preserving sites that are threatened with demolition or degradation.
CO-1-70 Native American Sites. Work with
local Native American tribes to protect
recorded and unrecorded cultural and
sacred sites, and educate developers and
the community-at-large about the connections between Native American history and the environmental features that characterize the local landscape.
Development on archaeologically sensitive
sites requires on-site monitoring by appropriate Native American consultant(s) and a qualified archaeologist of all grading, excavation, and site preparation activities that involve earth-moving operations.
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7.7 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US
EPA) defines environmental justice as:
"The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of
all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means chat no group of people should bear a disproportionate share
of the negative environmental consequences resulcing from industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or policies."
Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000), the Planning for Healthy
Communities Act, mandates that cities and counties
prepare an EJ Element or integrate EJ-related policies into other elements when both of the following conditions apply: The concurrent adoption or next
revision of two or more other General Plan elements,
and when a local jurisdiction identifies one or more
disadvantaged communities (DACs) within its General Plan planning area.
SB 1000 specifies the California Communities
Environmental Health Screening Tool 4.0 (CalEnviroScreen) as the primary screening method for identifying disadvantaged communities. Developed by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), CalEnviroScreen uses environmental, health, and socioeconomic information to produce scores for every census tract in the state,
thereby identifying communities that are most vulnerable to pollution's effects. The score assigned to each census tract is a product of exposure to pollution, adverse environmental effects caused by pollu- . tion, presence of sensitive populations (i.e. those with aschma,cardiovascular disease, or low birchweight
infants), and socioeconomic factors that increase
vulnerability (i.e. low household income, low educational attainment, and unemployment). A disadvantaged community is defined as one which scores in the top 25th percentile of CalEnviroScreen's cumulative score. 7-46 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Using these criteria, there are no census tracts within the Planning Area that are identified as disadvantaged communities. All Pacifica census tracts score in the bottom quartile for pollution burden. However, Census tract 6030, which includes east and west Sharp Park, ranks in a higher statewide percentile (42nd) for sensitive populations relative to ocher Pacifica census tracts, which rank, on average, in the
20th to 30th percentile statewide. These populations
could be most vulnerable to any exacerbated health
effects due to increased pollution burden or climate
change.
Although the City is not required by SB 1000 to prepare an EJ Element or integrate EJ-related policies into other elements, the General Plan does integrate
EJ related policies in this chapter.
Achieving environmental justice also includes
addressing procedural inequities and geographic
inequ1t1es. Procedural inequities might include
"stacking" commissions or committees with individuals who ignore the interests of minority and low-income residents, holding meetings at times and
places that minimize the ability of low-income residents to participate, using English-only communications when non-English speaking populations may be affected by land use decisions, and requiring lower
levels of mitigation for projects affecting low-income
and minority populations. Geographic inequities
might include providing fewer public services, transit
services, and parks for minority and low-income residents than for middle- and upper-income residents.
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Packet Pg. 578 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Guiding Policy
CO-G-19 Environmental Justice. Strive to implement processes and procedures that promote environmental justice in support of the Coastal Commission's environmental
justice policy.
Implementing Policies
C0-1-71 Inclusive Engagement. Expand notification efforts for major policy documents and projects within Pacifica's Coastal
Zone to underrepresented communities
outside of Pacifica.
C0-1-72 Removal of Barriers to Public Participation. Implement efforts to remove barriers that may prevent underrepresented communities from public participation
opportunities. Efforts should be made
to provide a welcoming, understandable
and respectful atmosphere, and to be
considerate of the timing, location, and
accessibility of any meeting to accommodate the underrepresented communities.
CO-I-A Wildlife Movement Corridor Study . . T he
City shall advocate fo r funding and
parti cipate in a regional or subregional
study to identify areas where wildlife
crossing structures would result in -the
largest benefit to rare, threatened, and
endangered special staws and non-specialstatus species for wildlife connectivity, to be led and conducted by an appropriate
agency.
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Packet Pg. 579 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Ensuring the safety of community members through protection from hazards is an essential service of public agencies and a critical priority for maintaining community health and welfare. The purpose of the Safety Element is to establish goals and policies to mitigate the potential impacts from natural and man-made hazards that pose a threat to public health and safety. Specifically, this chapter addresses seismic and geologic hazards, flooding, fire, and other hazards, as well as related aspects of law enforcement, emergency preparedness, and coordinated response measures.
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Packet Pg. 580 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
8.1 SEISMIC AND GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
The Planning Area lies within the geologically complex region of California known as the Coast Range geomorphic province. Much of the Coast Range
province is composed of marine sedimentary deposits and volcanic rocks that form northwest trending mountain ridges and valleys, running subparallel to the San Andreas Fault Zone. West of the San Andreas Fault lies the Salinian Block, a granitic core
that extends from the southern end of the province
to north of the Farallon Islands.
Seismic Hazards
Earthquakes can cause surface rupture from faulting
or seismically induced effects, such as ground shaking and landslides. The challenge is to:
• Minimize Earthquake-Related Hazards, Liquefaction, and Landslides. The San Andreas Fault, which traverses the northeast corner of Pacifica, is
active and capable of causing a large earthquake.
Areas located on or immediately adjacent to the
mapped fault traces must be investigated prior
to any development to ensure that fault rupture
hazards be avoided or minimized.
Areas located within the alluvial valleys could
have a high potential for liquefaction. Site-specific geotechnical investigations can confirm the presence ofliquefiable materials and provide
foundation design criteria to mitigate the potentially damaging effects of liquefaction.
The Planning Area also includes slopes that are
susceptible to landslides, especially.areas with
greater than 50 percent inclines. Geotechnical
engineering can typically overcome the challenges
of development on steep terrain through drainage
improvements, anchoring foundations in deeper
materials, re-grading slopes, and other methods.
• Minimize Hazards Related to Winter Storms
and Coastal Erosion. Much of Pacifica's coastline
is subject to severe coastal erosion. Short term
erosion hazards are generally mitigated through
best management practices and use of soft stabi8-2 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT lization techniques. In areas that are experiencing
active coastal erosion, the most effective mitigation
is to relocate development. With sea level rise, there
is potential for more serious long-term coastal
erosion, which could be a critical challenge within
the Planning Area.
Modern seismic activity within the Coast Range
continues to be associated with movement along
the San Andreas system_ of faults. Regionally, this
fault system is the boundary between large sections,
or plates, of the earth's crust known as the North
American Plate and Pacific Plate. The Bay Area is
considered an area of high seismic activity, with an
estimated 72 percent probability of an earthquake of
magnitude 6.7 or higher occurring in the region over
the next 30 years. 1
The San Andreas Fault is the principal strike-slip
boundary between the Pacific plate to the west and
the North American plate to the east. Its main trace
trends northwest through the Santa Cruz Mountains
and the eastern side of the San Francisco Peninsula.
Between Pacifica and San Mateo, Crystal Springs
Reservoir and San Andreas Lake clearly mark the
rupture zone. The USGS Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities indicates there is a 22 percent likelihood of the San Andreas Fault generating earthquakes of M 6.7 or greater in the Bay Area
The Hayward Fault trends to the northwest within
the East Bay, extending from San Pablo Bay in Richmond, 60 miles south to San Jose. Although large earthquakes on the Hayward Fault have been rare
since 1868, there is a 33 percent chance a large earthquake could occur on the Hayward fault by 2043. 2 United States Geological Survey (USGS) Fact Sheet
2016-2030. Earthquake Ouclook for the San Francisco
Bay Region 2014- 2043 Accessed at https://pubs.usgs.
gov/fs/20l6/3020/fs20163020. pdf
2 Ibid.
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Packet Pg. 581 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption The Calaveras Fault, located in the eastern San
Francisco Bay region, trends along the eastern side of
the East Bay Hills, west of San Ramon Valley, down
into the western Oiablo Range, and eventually joining the San Andreas Fault Zone south of Hollister.
The Calaveras Fault has been the source of numerous
moderate magnitude earthquakes but the probability
of a large earthquake is lower (26 percent by 2043)
than on the San Andreas or Hayward faults. 3
Seismic Hazard Zones
The Seismic Hazards Mapping Act (SHMA) established the requirement to identify and map areas prone to earthquake hazards of liquefaction, earthquake-induced landslides and amplified ground shaking. The purpose of the SHMA is to reduce the
threat to public safety and to minimize the loss of
life and property by identifying and mitigating these
seismic hazards. The City is required to use the official California Geological Survey Seismic Hazard Zone Maps in their land use planning and building
permit processes. As shown in Figure 8-1, a majority
of the Planning Area is prone to either of these hazards, with liquefaction zones following the alluvial drainage zones and landslide zones following areas
with steep slopes. More information on liquefaction
and landslides can be found in later sections.
Fault Rupture
Faul,t rupture is the surface displacement of the
~arch's surface due to the movement along a fault
associated with an earthquake. Ground displacement
is generally experienced on or within the immediate
vicinity of the mapped fault trace. The Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act of 1972 established the requirement to regulate development within
Earthquake Fault zones associated with active faults.
Development is feasible but requires detailed geologic and seismic evaluations by certified professionals prior to approval of a building permit.
An Alquist-Priolo fault hazard zone associated with
the San Andreas Fault is located within the Plan3 Ibid. ning Area, as shown in Figure 8-1. According to the
City's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex, there
are approximately 952 single-family homes, 399 multiple-family units, 200 acres, and six miles of road within the Alquist-Priolo Study Zone.
Ground Shaking
Ground movement during an earthquake can vary
depending on the overall magnitude, distance to the
fault, focus of earthquake energy, and type of geologic material. The composition of underlying soils, even those relatively distant from faults, can intensify ground shaking. The strongest ground shaking anticipated to occur in Pacifica would come from the
San Andreas Fault, and could cause strong to very
violent ground shaking.
Liquefaction
Liquefaction is a transformation of soil from a solid
to a liquefied state during which saturated soil temporarily loses strength resulting from the buildup of excess pore water pressure, especially during earthquake-induced cyclic loading. Soil susceptible to liquefaction includes loose to medium dense sand and gravel, low-plasticity silt, and some low-plasticity clay deposits. Four kinds of ground failure commonly
result from liquefaction: lateral spread, flow failure, ground oscillation, and loss of bearing strength. Liquefaction and associated failures could damage foundations, roads, underground cables and pipelines, and disrupt utility service. The depth to groundwater influences the potential for liquefaction, in that sediments need to be saturated to have a potential for
liquefaction.
As shown in Figure 8-1, Liquefaction Zones identify where the stability of foundation soils must be investigated, and countermeasures undertaken in
the design and construction of buildings for human
occupancy. Statutes require that cities and counties
use these zones as part of their construction permitting process.
The Liquefaction map (Figure 8-2) shows further
detail. The majority of the Planning Area has a very
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Packet Pg. 582 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
0 c ea n
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0 1/4 1/2
8-4
2 MILES
Figure 8-1: Seismic Hazard Zones
San Andreas Fault
~ Alquist Priolo Zone
~ Landslide Zone
D Liquefaction Zone
City Limits
Planning Area
Source: California Department of Conservation,
2021; Ci
Ly of Pacifica, 2020; Dyell & Ilhatia, 2020.
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Packet Pg. 583 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption low potential to experience liquefaction, although
areas surrounding some of the alluvial drainages (i.e., San Pedro Creek Valley and Sanchez Creek Valley)
contain some areas of very high potential. Medium
liquefaction potential exists in many low-lying neighborhoods, including West Edgemar-Pacific Manor, West Sharp Park, Rockaway Beach and Quarry, and
parts of Pedro Point, as well as in the valley neighborhoods along San Pedro, Rockaway, and Calera creeks.4
Tsunami and Seiche
A tsunami is a wave generated by abrupt movement
of the seabed, which can occur as· an earthquake or
after a significant landslide. By contrast, seiche is a standing wave in an enclosed body of water. Within
Pacifica, only Laguna Salada might be subject to
seiche, but the potential for significant risk is low.
Dam Failure
There are no dams within or above Pacifica, and
therefore the city is not at risk froin a seismically
induced dam failure. However, water tanks located
in the hills above populated areas could burst and
inundate areas below due to a seismic event.
Slope Failure and Erosion
Slope Failure
Slope failures, commonly referred to as landslides,
include many phenomena that involve the downslope
displacement and movement of material, either triggered by static (i.e., gravity) or dynamic (i.e., earthquake) forces. The geology, structure, and amount of groundwater in the slope affect slope failure potential, as do external processes (i.e., climate, topography, slope geometry, and human activity). Slope failure may occur on slopes of 15 percent or less; however, the probability is greater on steeper slopes that exhibit old landslide features such as scarps, slanted
4 Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).
Liquefaction Susceptibility http:/ /www.abag.ca.gov/
bayarea/ eq maps/liq uefac/liq uefac. html. 200 3.
Devil's Slide has a long history of slope failures and rock slides that have resulted in the construction of a tunnel bypass. vegetation, and transverse ridges. Landslide-susceptible areas are characterized by steep slopes and downslope creep of surface materials, and are more
common in zones of active faulting.
Figure 8-1 shows seismically-induced landslide zones
in the Planning Area. Landslide Zones identify
where the stability of hillslopes must be evaluated,
and countermeasures undertaken in the design and
construction of buildings for human occupancy.
Statutes require that cities and counties use· these
zones as part of their construction permitting process.
Figure 8-3g shows a summary of the distribution of
rainfall-induced_ landslides evident in the landscape
of the San Francisco Bay Region. There are three
slope failure threat categories: Mostly Landslides,
Few Landslides, and Not Landslide Prone. 5 Areas
identified as "Mostly landslides" cover areas with the
largest and most concentrated landslides; "Few landslides" indicates smaller, more scattered landslides; and "Not Landslide Prone" indicates flat land or
other land unlikely to have a landslide event. Steep
slopes on Mori Point, Sweeney Ridge, Cattle Hill,
Gypsy Hill, and San Pedro Mountain are identified
as likely sites of slope failures, as are small portions . of areas in or near development in the Pedro Point
and Fairmont neighborhoods and along the west side
5 United States Geological Survey (USGS), Open File
Report 97-745, San Francisco Bay Landslide Folio,
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/l 997 /of97-745/. 199&8.
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Packet Pg. 584 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
0 c ea n
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Sha rp Par k
Figure 8-2: Liquefaction zo nes
Liquefaction p t 0 ential
Very Low
Low
Medium
- High - VeryHigh
City Limits
Planning A rea
~
·~ ·,
~
~
~
~
~
~
Pc ni11 s1l l!l l ~r_~} ~ tl(c/' ~ ·~
~
~
~
~
~ i!J;li1 ~~~~~ )
~
Source: MTC/ AB Susceptib/G Op
en Data Portal 20
2000 & 2o~i' ~nites States Geol~gi 2~;SLiquefaction
Zones, Cali6 • _qwst Priolo Earthqcak urvey, H orma Geolo · u e Fault D a:ds Program, 201/tal Survey, Seismic
y & Bhatia, 2020. • ity of Pacifica, 2020;
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Packet Pg. 585 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
Ocean
O 1/4 1/2
N11rtlr
Coll;
8/uJ (GGN
MILES
oo I
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Rt\ )
Figure 8-3a: Slope Failure and
Coastal Erosion
Slope Failure Threat
Mostly Landslides
Few Landslides
Not Landslide Prone
Shoreline Protective Structures
Seawall
=v•==·. Riprap, Other Revetments
500 foot Contours
- 100 foot Contours
............ Coastal Zone
imits
- Planning Area
Note:
Beach and cliff erosion are typical
of much of the Pacifica coastline.
~1' 1000
,(~)?!i'
~ u---::v----.. ..... ~ <\/<J ~ lY...,.__'.'ca\. r-',,__.,.- , { G, ~fil " \l -~ v'\
~~-'kr> ~ ~ \
2 ~ 00
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Source: Pacific lnslilute, 2009; FEM A Revised
DFIRM, 20 19; us Geological Survey, 1998;
ESA, 209; City of Pacifica, 2019; San Mate,o
County, 20 19; Dyett & Bhatia, 20 19.
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Packet Pg. 586 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption E9
0 1/4 1/2 2
MILES
Figure 8-3b: Debris-Flow Sources
• -
Approximate sources of
debris-flow triggered during
the storm of 1982
Principal predicted debris-flow
source
areas
Planning Area
City Limits
Source: USGS OPEN- FILE REPORT 97- 745 E, 1997;
City of Pacifica, 2021; San Mateo County, 2021;
Dyett & Bhatia, 2021.
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Packet Pg. 587 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption of Skyline Boulevard. Figure 8-36 shows areas of
past debris fl ows. and Figure 8-X shows where
landslides have previously occurred in the Planning
Area.
SUBSIDENCE
Subsidence- the sinking of a portion of the ground
surface- can occur from immediate settlement, consolidation, shrinkage of expansive soil, and liquefaction. Earthquakes could also cause subsidence and it can also occur due to excess extraction of groundwater.
Portions of Pacifica are underlain by relatively clean, poorly consolidated granular material, such as sand.
In places there are perched layers of groundwater
so that conditions may exist for liquefaction. Also,
where materials are poorly consolidated, there may
be ground subsidence or other forms of ground failure. Because the conditions at any particular site control the potential for any type of ground failure,
only specific geotechnical investigations, including
subsurface testing, can provide a basis for assessing
such hazards. ·
Soil Erosion -
Erosion is the wearing away of soil and rock by processes such as . mechanical or chemical weathering, mass wasting, and the action of waves, wind and
underground water. Excessive soil erosion can eventually lead to damage of building foundations and roadways. The parts of the Planning Area where
soils are most susceptible to erosion caused by wind
or rainfall include the northern slope of Mori Point;
upper Sharp Park; Shamrock Ranch; and along San
Pedro Creek in San Pedro Valley County Park.
Bluff erosion is commonplace along much of the
Pacifica coastline. In 2009-10, erosion on the northern coast of Pacifica resulted in the evacuation of two apartment buildings in the 300 block of Esplanade Avenue. Further severe weather in 2015 led to the City-mandated demolition of these buildings in
2016 to prevent their collapse onto the beach below.
The property owner demolished a 12-unit apartment
building at 330 Esplanade Avenue and City demolished two 20-unit apartment buildings in common ownership at 310 and 320 Esplanade Avenue. Shortterm erosion hazards are generally mitigated through best management practices and use of sofr stabilization techniques. With sea level rise, there is potential for more serious long-term coastal erosion, which could be a critical challenge within the Planning
Area. Policies supporting coastal resilience against
sea level rise impacts are provided later in this chapter.
Within the Coastal Zone, the City requires new
development to be set back from coastal bluffs
enough to accommodate a 100-year event, whether
caused by seismic, geotechnical, or storm conditions
(unless this limitation makes a property undevelopable). Areas determined by the study to be unsuitable for development shall be set aside for permanent environmental protection as part of any development.
Similarly, a site stability survey is required for any
new development proposed on or adjacent to coastal
bluffs or the coastline. New development that would
require the use of seawalls or other shoreline alterations for protection either now or in the future shall not be permitted unless this would make the
property undevelopable. New coastline alteration is
permitted only where necessary to protect existing
development or public resources, and must minimize
adverse impacts to natural coastal processes.
Increased Coastal Erosion from Potential Sea
Level Rise
The potential for increased coastal erosion from sea
level rise has serious implications for Pacifica. Areas of the Sharp Park Golf Course, the Rockaway Beach
district, and the West Linda Mar and West Sharp
Park neighborhoods could be inundated. Meanwhile, coastal erosion pr~cesses that have caused damage along the high bluffs of Pacifica' s northern
neighborhoods would likely increase in magnitude.
Sea level rise resulting from global climate change is
projected to cause more extensive erosion of beaches,
dunes, bluffs and cliffs. The 2009 Pacific Institute
study of the impacts of sea level rise on the California Coast developed erosion models for dune and cliff/
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-9
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Packet Pg. 588 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption bluff backshore environments. Mean lateral erosion
of dunes is estimated at 115 to 116 meters by 2025, 119 meters to 128 meters by 2050. Bluffs, meanwhile, are
projected to have eroded by 8 meters to 9 meters by
2025, with geology, wave exposure, and bluff toe elevation all playing important roles in producing variation.6 These models indicate that there could be new risks of erosion along the length of Pacifica's coastline in areas that are not currently exposed to wave action erosion, which could impact all of the coastal
neighborhoods and coastal habitats.
6 Heberger, M., H. Cooley, P. Herrera, P.H. Gleick, E.
Moore of Pacific Institute. The Impacts of Sea Level
Rise on the California Coast. A paper from the California Climate Change Center. May 2009.
New development in the Coastal Zone must not require the construction of riprap or other protective devices that would substantially alter natural landforms (top). New development is required to be set back from coastal bluffs enough to accommodate a 100-year event, whether caused by seismic, geotechnical, or storm conditions (bottom). 8-10 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REV1EW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 589 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a
Guiding Policies
SA-G-1 Reduce Risk. Minimize risks of property damage and personal injury posed by geologic and seismic hazards.
Implementing Policies
SA-1-1 Fault Zone. Continue to review projects
located in identified fault zones subject to the
Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone Act.
(See the Seismic Hazards map, Figure 8-1).
SA-1-2 Development in Hazardous Areas.
Prohibit development in areas of mostly
landslides or high or very high liquefaction
risk as shown in Figure 8-2, or on slopes
steeper than 35 percent, unless detailed
site investigations ensure that risks can be
reduced to acceptable levels and the structure will be protected for its design life.
SA-1-3 ~ Real Estate Disclosure. Require real
estate transactions, development approval
processes, and property titles to declare
known or suspected seismic or geologic
hazards on a property, including AlquistPriolo Fault Zon~s and areas suspected of high or very high risk ofliquefaction, subsidence, or landslide.
SA-1-4 .;} Code Enforcement. Continue to
maintain and enforce appropriate standards to ensure new development is designed to meet current safety standards
associated with seismic activity.
SA-1-5 Seismic Rehabilitation Flagging. Identify and catalogue structures that may be subject to serious structural damage in the
event of a major earthquake, and provide
information to property owners on ways to
pay for rehabilitation or retrofit of existing buildings to minimize the potential for damage from an earthquake.
SA-1-6 Restrictions on Mitigation Measures.
Prohibit mitigation measures for potential
geotechnical hazards if those measures
could adversely affect surrounding property, including the use of public rightsof-way or adversely affect public health, safety, and welfare.
SA-1-7 Erosion Prevention. Require erosion
prevention of hillside areas by revegetation
or other acceptable methods.
SA-1-8 Geotechnical Studies. Within the
Coastal Zone and hillside areas, continue
to require geotechnical site investigation for
proposed development on sites located in
any of the following areas, prior to allowing
site development:
• On slopes greater than 15 percent.
• In areas showing evidence of landslides
or landslide potential.
• In areas showing evidence of ground
shaking or earth movement
• Within 50 feet of a coastal bluff
• Within sand dune areas.
Geotechnical studies shall identify any geologic hazards affecting th~ proposed project site, any necessary mitigation measures, and
a statement of the sites suitability for the proposed development and whether or not it will be safe from geologic hazard for its expected
life. The study shall identify net developable
areas, if any, based on landslide or ground
shaking potential and/or erosion risk. Impacts
from the development, such as those resultingfrom increased water runoff, shall also be determined. Such studies must be signed
by a licensed Certified Engineering Geologist
or Geotechnical Engineer and are subject to
review and approval by City staff and/or contracted employees. As detailed in Policy SA-I8 VI
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Packet Pg. 590 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 2, further technical reports may be required
for applicable projects.
SA-1-9 i) Maintain Restrictions on Hazardous
Areas. Continue enforcing the existing
Coastal Zone Combing District and Hillside Preservation District regulations that restrict development in hazardous areas
where access is impractical and areas prone
to hillside and coastal erosion, landslides,
seismic shaking, tsunami inundation, or
flooding.
SA-1-10 i) Soil Study. Require any geotechnical
studies to include study of expansive and
creeping soils, as well as analysis of erosion,
seismic, tsunami, and other geotechnical
hazards and make recommendations, as
warranted.
SA-I-11 i) Grading and Drainage Plans. Continue to require a grading and drainage plan for proposed development requiring a
coastal development permit and a grading permit. The Plan should demonstrate how the project will maintain natural
surface drainage and existing vegetation
to the greatest extent feasible, by minimizing alteration of natural topography and removal of existing trees and vegetation;
stabilizing cut-and-fill surfaces with native
vegetation; restricting the movement of
heavy equipment and machinery; and
other means. Prohibit development-related
grading and vegetation clearance on slopes
steeper than 35 percent. Driveways and
utilities may be allowed in the case that
there is no. less environmentally damaging alternative for providing access to the building site.
SA-1-12 i) Bluff Drainage and Erosion. The City
will pursue feasible funding mechanisms to
investigate areas that may be significantly
contributing to groundwater flows to the
bluffs and determine whether improving
8-12 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIE'W DRAFT
drainage and/or reducing irrigation could
reduce bluff erosion. Measures to improve
drainage and reduce over-watering shall be
communicated to the public and property
owners as part of existing water conservation outreach programs, and included as conditions on new development where
applicable.
SA-1-13 Water Tank Rupture. Work with the
NCCWD to determine areas potentially
affected by flooding from ruptured water
tanks in the event of a seismic event and
inform property owners.
SA-1-14 i) Geologic Hazard Abatement District.
Amend the Municipal Code to include
provisions for formation of geologic hazards abatement district for coastal bluffs and hillside areas at risk of landslides
in Pacifica to enable cooperative efforts
among property owners for protection of
coastal bluffs from erosion and improvement and maintenance of drainage and protective infrastructure.
The Geologic Hazard Abatement District
(CHAD) is a potentially usefol tool to effectively abate a landslide hazard that crosses property boundaries. It is a mechanism that
responds to the physical realities of landslides,
and allows property owners to cooperate in
solving a common problem. It removes much
of the stigma of legal liabilities among adjacent landowners and allows them to cooperate rather than litigate. It also provides for a cost-effective solution, requiring only one
geotechnical engineeringfirm and one plan
to solve the problems of several landowners.
The City may require the establishment of
GHADs as a condition for new development
proposed in areas of known bluff erosion or
geologic hazard, such as areas identified in
Figure 8-3 of the proposed General Plan as
"mostly landslides. " The City may consider
identifying where GHADs are appropriate or
necessary.
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Packet Pg. 591 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption SA-1-15 New Development in Coastal Zone.
Continue to enforce provisions of the California Coastal Act requiring new development within the Coastal Zone to:
• Minimize risks to life and property in
areas of high geologic, flood, or fire
hazard;
• Assure stability and structural integrity,
and neither create nor contribute significantly to erosion, geologic instability, or destruction of the site or surrounding
area or in any way require the construction of protective devices that would substantially alter natural landforms
along bluffs and cliffs;
• Not accelerate the need for a shoreline
structure or increase the likelihood of
a future seawall beyond the existing
development's expected life; and
• Not violate required setback provisions.
Small improvement projects are exempt,
including improvements that would increase
height, bulk or floor area by less than ten
percent.
SA-1-16 e} Accessory Structures in Coastal
Zone. Amend the Zoning Ordinance to
require new accessory structures within
the Coastal Zone to be constructed so they
can be easily relocated should they become
threatened by·erosion.
8.2 FLOODING AND DRAINAGE
Flooding has been an ongoing issue for low-lying
areas of Pacifica, and likely will continue to be a challenge in the future, including possible inundation from a tsunami wave. Strategies to minimize flooding impacts will include limiting development in flood-prone areas and incorporating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines and suggested mitigation activities into the City's plans
and procedures for managing flood hazards.
Flood Zones
Flood hazards mapped by FEMA to support
the development of Flood Insurance Rate Maps
(FIRMs) generally identify areas of greater flood
risk (100- and 500-year events) in the lower reaches
of the main stream channels, and the risk of coastal
flooding along the shoreline. Flood zones based on
the FIRMs are shown in Figure 8-4. The FIRMs represent the best available maps of flood hazard areas in Pacifica. Additional maps of flood hazard areas
prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and
the California Department of Water Resources are
not available for the city. The City's annex to the
Multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
(MJ-LHMP) includes additional information on
past flooding events and actions to mitigate flooding
risk in Pacifica.
Areas of flood risk include:
• Broad flood inundation in several parts of Sharp
Park Golf Course, the Rockaway Beach district,
and in the Linda Mar neighborhood along San
Pedro Creek.
• More narrowly confined flood hazards along the
creeks; limiting potential flooding in these areas.
For example, along Milagra Creek mapped flood
hazards are typically within the active channel.
San Pedro Creek has a history of significant flooding
in the Linda Mar area. The low area of Linda Mar has
pump systems to provide drainage to the ocean, but
these systems can be overwhelmed during high flow/
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-13
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Packet Pg. 592 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption tide events. An area of West Linda Mar was removed
from high flood risk classification with the completion of the San Pedro Creek flood protection project.
Coastal Flooding
Pacifica can also experience flooding from coastal
sources, which occurs as some combination of high
tides, large wind-driven waves, storm surge, and/or
tsunami wave. Areas with the potential for coastal
flooding are the low lying areas along the coast,
including the Sharp Park Golf Course/Laguna Salada area and the residential and commercial area in West Linda Mar near the mouth of San Pedro Creek.
The only section of coastline protected by levees is
the Sharp Park Golf Course area. However, drainage from Sanchez Creek and Laguna Salada to the ocean can be insufficient to prevent lowland flooding
during high tide/high flow events. A seawall/revetment structure protects the area north of the Sharp Park Golf Course, generally along Beach Boulevard, including the Pacifica Pier. This structure has required maintenance to repair areas where beach
erosion has undermined it.
Shoreline Protection Programs
In the early 1990s, the City of Pacifica, the California Coastal Conservancy, and the Pacifica Land Trust
collaborated to improve steelhead trout habitat and
preserve the sandy beach at Pacifica/Linda Mar State
Beach, with the removal of vulnerable structures
along the shore. The stabilization methods were used
to expand and enhance the tidally influenced wetlands at the mouth of San Pedro Creek and restore more than 1900 feet of eroding creek banks. This restoration both enhanced sceelhead trout habitat and achieved 100-year flood protection for the nearby
community.
To address the remaining flood threat to homes and
businesses, the City also removed the most vulnerable structures. In 2002, the City partnered with the Pacifica Land Trust and the California Coastal Conservancy to purchase two homes and their surrounding acreage and delivered 4,000 cubic yards of sand 8-14 PAOFJCA GENERAL PLAN PUB UC REVIEW DRAI ~
to rebuild dunes and restore four acres of beach and
the nearby estuary.
In addition, the City is continuing to maintain and
improve the existing seawall and revetment originally
constructed in 1962 at Rockaway Beach. Repairs in
the past have consisted of retrieval of displaced riprap, importation of additional rip-rap, and repair of the revetment. Other revetments are placed along the
beaches of the Planning Area and a seawall has been
constructed at Beach Boulevard between Clarendon
Road and the northern terminus of Beach Boulevard.
Existing shoreline protection structures are shown on
the Slope Failure and Coastal Erosion map, shown in
Figure 8-3.
In fall 2020, the City of Pacifica initiated the Beach
Boulevard Infrastructure Resiliency Project, an infrastructure protection and improvement project chat aims replace the current seawall and outdated infrastructure while building climate resilience into the most vulnerable segment of the City of Pacifica's
shoreline. The project is considered critical to the
public health and safety of the citizens and visitors in and around the historic West Sharp Park neighborhood and serves to create a multi-benefit solution to protect public infrastructure, recreational activities, numerous homes, businesses, and the community at
large, from further impacts due to continued coastal
erosion.
Tsunam'i
A tsunami can occur after an earthquake significant landslide falling into the ocean. Coastal flooding, potentially severe damage, and threats to human health and safety can result from a tsunami. Recorded
tsunami runup magnitude is generally lower at Pacifica than other locations from San Francisco to Monterey, likely due to offshore bathymetry and shoreline alterations along the city. Tsunami evacuation zones
occur in the West Sharp Park neighborhood and
Sharp Park Golf Course/Laguna Salada area, Lower
Calera Creek and portions of Rockaway Beach, and
the residential and commercial area at Linda Mar
near the mouth of San Pedro Creek.
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Packet Pg. 593 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
0 c ea n
EB
0 1/4 1/2
MILES
Shar p Park
'-, ... , r--L _____________ _
2 Sweeney
Ridge
(GGNRA)
~
Figure 8-4: Flood Zones -
0.2% Annual Chance
Flood Zone
1 % Annual Chance
Flood Zone
1 % Annual Chance
Coastal Flood Zone
~),a Tsunami Evacuation Area
Planning Area
City Limits
I .
',.,-"\ I
\
I
I '>
,'
' I
\
I
I
I
1/
I
• ... \ Peninsula
Watershed
(SFPUC) \ ',,
' , ............. I
' I ,-'
\
I
,_ \ '-, , __ ,,
' / 'v . .&"
Source: National Flood Hazard Layer for San Mateo
County, FEMA, 2019; Tsunami Hazard Area for
San Mateo County, Department of
Conservation, State of California, 2021; CityS-15
of Pacifica, 2020; San Mateo County, 2020;
Dyett & Bhatia, 2021.
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Packet Pg. 594 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Tsunamis can reach Pacifica from several sources,
including 'far-field' sources throughout the Pacific
Ocean, a substantial earthquake along the Cascadia
Subduction Zone in northern California north to
Vancouver Island, movement along local fault lines,
and local coastal landslides. Travel times, the degree
of warning, and the magnitude of the wave will vary
depending on the source and initial strength of the
tsunami-generating event. Earthquakes along the
Cascadia Subduction Zone are likely the most hazardous to Pacifica because of the potential for very large wave generation, and a relatively short travel
-time (on the order of one to three hours). However,
smaller events along local faults could result in a
wave that reaches Pacifica with essentially no warning time.
San Mateo County has an established emergency
proposal for tsunamis. fu part of this program,
the City recently installed a tsunami warning system, consisting of three solar powered alarm towers. One is located in the Sharp Park neighborhood, the second is located in the Rockaway Beach neighbor. hood, and the third tower stands at Pacifica State Beach. This system links into a San Mateo County alert system that can reach email and cell
phones.
Increased Coastal Flooding from
Potential Sea Level Rise
Sea level rise resulting from global climate change
has the potential to alter the frequency and magnitude of coastal flood events in Pacifica. Estimates of sea level rise vary, so trends and potential increases
are typically reported in ranges. Present projections
used by the State of California are for between 40
and 55 inches by 2100, depending upon the emission
scenario used. 7
A 2009 report from the Pacific Institute funded by
a consortium of California state agencies has developed approximate mapping to indicate potential increases in the 1 percent annual chance of coastal
inundation, assuming a 55.1-inch rise in sea level
by 2100.8 This mapping suggests that areas of West
Linda Mar, lower Pedro Point, Rockaway Beach, and
West Sharp Park neighborhoods, as well as the Sharp
Park Golf Course, could be vulnerable to increased
coastal flooding.
7 Sea-Level Rise Task Force of the Coastal and Ocean
Working Group of the California Climate Action
Team, State of California Sea-Level Rise Interim
Guidance Document, October 20 I 0.
8 Pacific Institute, The Impacts of Sea Level Rise on the California Coast. A paper from the California Climate Change Center. Available online at: http:/ /www. pacinst.org/ reports/ sea_level_rise/. 2009.
Sharp Park Golf Course is protected by a levee. Drainage from Sanchez Creek and Laguna Salada to the ocean can be insufficient to prevent lowland flooding during high tide/high flow events. 8-16 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 595 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local
Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a ~ -
Guiding Policies
SA-G-2 Development in Hazardous Areas.
Protect new development in 100-year
floodplains and tsunami hazard zones with
flood damage prevention programs.
SA-G-3 Sea Level Rise Adaptation. Establish
policies to minimize the risk to persons
and property posed by potential sea level
rise.
Implementing Policies
SA-1-17 Floodplain Management. Continue to
manage floodplains through zoning, development requirements, and ordinances, and take other actions necessary, in order to
remain within the National Flood Insurance Program.
SA-1-18 Flood Map Review. Periodically
review maps prepared by FEMA and the
State Department of Water Resources
to identify changes in mapping of areas
subject to flooding and amend the General
Plan, Municipal Code or Local Coastal
Program as warranted.
SA-1-19 -~ NOPES Enforcement. Enforce
NP DES permits, as well as the San Mateo
Countywide Water Pollution Prevention
Program, to mitigate potential flooding
risks by slowing the release of stormwater
from development sites into drainage channels.
SA-1-20 ~ Flood Hazard Reduction. Continue to
comply with the Flood Damage Prevention
Ordinance in the Municipal Cod
SA-1-21 Flood Insurance. Inform households
and businesses located in flood-prone areas
about opportunities to purchase federal
flood insurance.
SA-1-22 Flood Control Maintenance. Regularly maintain flood control structures, including, but not limited to drainage
channels, pipes, culverts, and stream beds.
SA-1-23 Flood Control Structures. Require
flood control devices that alter streams to
incorporate best mitigation measures feasible, and only permit them where no other method for protecting existing structures
in the flood plain is feasible and where
such protection is necessary for public
safety or to protect existing development.
SA-1-24 Storm Drainage Impact Assessment.
Require developers to provide an assessment of a project's potential impacts on the local storm drainage system as part of the
development review process.
If development is found to have a negative
impact on storm drainage, the City should
require applicable and effective mitigation
measures, such as the creation of permanent
or temporary detention or retention basins,
provision of additional landscaped areas and
green roofs, installation of pump stations,
and the use of permeable paving in driveways, walkways and parking areas.
SA-1-25 ~ No Adverse Impact Approach. Update
the Flood Hazard Reduction regulations to
estabHsh a "No Adverse Impact" standard
to floodplain and coastal developm~nt.
In essence, NA! floodplain management takes
place when the actions of one property owner
are not allowed to adversely affect the rights
of other property owners. No building permits should be issued for projects that increase the potential for flooding or erosion on and
off site, degrade water quality, or increase
potential public service costs for things such as
emergency personnel and storm-water management, unless such projects are designed 8 VI
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-1 7
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Packet Pg. 596 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption SA-1-26
and completed in such a way that they will
not:
• Pose a threat to public safety; and
• Substantially increase flood or storm damage risk to public or private property.
Tsunami Evacuation Zone. For new
development in the tsunami evacuation
zone, require use of low impact engineering techniques, such as elevating structures above projected water levels, to mitigate
impacts to people and structures.
SA-1-27 ~ Critical Facilities Location. Site critical public facilities including hospital and healthcare facilities, emergency shelters,
police and fire stations, and emergency
communications facilities outside of the
tsunami evacuation zone and 100-year
flood plains.
A seawqf/lrevetment structure protects the West Sharp Park area. The structure has required maintenance to repair areas undermined by beach erosion (bottom).
8-18 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 597 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
8.3 COASTAL RESILIENCE
Sea level rise resulting from global climate change
has the potential to alter the frequency and magnitude of coastal hazards in Pacifica. Sea level rise increases the risk of flooding, coastal erosion, and
saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies, which,
if left unmanaged, have the potential to threaten
many of the resources that are integral to the California coast, including coastal development, coastal access and recreation, habitats (e.g., wetlands, coastal bluffs, dunes, and beaches), coastal agricultural
lands, water quality and supply, cultural resources,
community character, and scenic quality. Estimates
of sea level rise vary, so trends and potential increases are typically reported in ranges. Present projections
used by the State of California estimate between 40
and 55 inches by 2100, depending upon the emission
scenario used.
The City of Pacifica received a Local Assistance
Grant from the California Coastal Commission
(CCC) and California Coastal Conservancy in 2017.
The grant provided funding to the City of Pacifica
to hire a consultant to conduct technical analyses
for the CCC-recommended multi-step process to
develop sea level rise and adaptation policies to guide Pacifica in how to prepare for the challenges associated with sea level rise and to reduce risks to people and property.
In 2018, the City prepared a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment which focused on determining the potential exposure of assets to flooding and erosion hazard under six sea level rise scenarios selected for study. Because future projections of sea level rise along California's coastline are uncertain (due to
uncertainty associated with modeling and the trajectory of global emissions), it was recommended to consider a range of projections to understand the
consequences of various decisions, determine the tolerance for risk associated with those decisions, and to inform adaptation strategies necessary to prepare
for change in the face of uncertainty. The sea level
rise scenarios include no sea level rise (existing conditions) as well as state-recommended scenarios listed in Table 8-1.
The findings of the Vulnerability Assessment were
used to inform which adaptation strategies may be
appropriate to consider in each subarea and provide the background information for the subsequent study, the Adaptation Plan, a background document
that analyzed various adaptation strategies for each
subarea, including the costs and benefits of each
adaptation strategy, to inform future decisions on
adaptation policies. Policies and programs implement the near-term sea level rise adaptation priorities for each sub-area in Pacifica, and identify mid- and
long-term adaptation measures, subject to feasibility
and monitoring. The Vulnerability Assessment tabulated asset exposures within seven coastal sub-areas to facilitate more focused development of adaptation
strategies and policies. These coastal sub-areas represent geographical areas with varied types of development, including public recreation areas, ptthl-iE recreation areas, distinct residential neighborhoods,
visitor-serving and neighborhood commercial development, and-sensitive wildlife habitats. The sub-areas are shown in Figure 8-5.
TABLE 8-1: PROPOSED FUTURE SEA LEVEL RISE (SLR) AMOUNTS FOR VARIOUS SCENARIOS WITH ASSOCIATED PROBABILITY OF OCCURRENCE (CALNRA & OPC 2017) Year
2050
2100
Low (15% Chance
1 ft.
3 ft.
Med-High (0.5% Chance)
2 ft.
6 ft.
Extreme (Nia)
10 ft.*
*SLR of 6 ft. at 2075 was considered in place of 10 ft. at 2100 to assess potential impacts under the Extreme scenario. This was recommended by ESA because of the lack of erosion and flooding data for 10 ft. of SLR. 8 V,
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-19
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Packet Pg. 598 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Figure 8-5: Coastal Resilience Subareas
ocation Map e end S.t11r,..,, 1>00
□
Redwood City
8-20
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Packet Pg. 599 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption The Vulnerability Assessment analysis combines the
portion of the West Sharp Park neighborhood along
the public sea wall and retaining wall with the Sharp
Park Golf Course, West Fairway Park and Mori
Point subarea. This decision was made because this
entire stretch of shoreline is publicly owned and fully government owned shoreline may have different policy or funding considerations. An additional subarea identified in this planning effort is the West Linda
Mar neighborhood, which is not in the Coastal
Zone, but may be affected by sea level rise coastal
hazards.
Guiding Policies
SA-G-4 Key Coastal Act Policies. The City of
Pacifica adopts the following key policies
derived from the Coastal Act to address
coastal resilience:
• PRC 30235. Revetments, breakwaters,
groins, harbor channels, seawalls, cliff
retaining walls, and other such construction that alters natural shoreline processes shall be permitted when
required to serve coastal-dependent uses
or to protect existing structures or public beaches in danger from erosion, and when designed to eliminate or mitigate ·
adverse impacts on local shoreline sand
supply.
• PRC 30253. New development shall:
(l) minimize risks to life and property
in areas of high geologic, flood, and
fire hazard; and (2) assure stability and
structural integrity, and neither create
nor contribute significantly to erosion,
geologic instability, or destruction of
the site or surrounding area or in any
way require the construction of protective devices that would substantially alter natural landforms along bluffs and
cliffs; and,
• The Coastal Resilience policies adopted
herein are intended to achieve and are
consistent with these key policies, subjeer to periodic updates as resource and development monitoring and program
implementation may dictate.
SA-G-5 Sea Level Rise and Best Available Science. Planning and development reviews shall use, as applicable, the best available
science about projected sea level rise and
other climate change-related environmental changes when addressing coastal erosion, bluff failure, flooding, and other
coastal hazards.
Implementing Policies
SA-1-28 Vulnerability Identification and Mapping. The City's Coastal Vulnerability zones shall be mapped based on the best
available science about projected sea level
rise, erosion, flooding, and other coastal
hazards. Mapping shall be updated as
necessary to guide implementation of the
LCP's Coastal Resilience policies. Notwithstanding the Coastal Vulnerability · Zone Maps, site-specific hazard mapping
and assessment may be required as part of
the individual development review process
for properties within the City's Coastal
Vulnerability zones.
Coastal Resilience
SA-1-29 t) Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan. The
City shall implement its Sea Level Rise
Adaptation Plan as expressed in the general
and sub-area Coastal Resilience policies.
Adaptation alternatives evaluated in the
Adaptation Plan that are not specifically
expressed in these Coastal Resilience policies shall not be implemented without an amendment to the LCP, public notice, and
opportunity for public input. The City
shall monitor implementation and, consistent with Coastal Resilience Policy SA-1- 31, update the Sea Level Rise Adaptation
Plan to strengthen public safety, preserve
existing neighborhoods, assure local economic vitality, respond to climate change, 8 Vl
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-21
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Packet Pg. 600 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption promote environmental justice, implement
the Coastal Act, and protect the public
trust.
Development in Coastal Vulnerability
Zones may be approved consistent with the
sub-area policies in Section 6.6 if the following findings can be made:
• The proposed development is sited and
designed to avoid, and where unavoidable, to minimize coastal hazards and impacts to coastal resources to the
maximum extent feasible, consistent
with the Adaptation Plan;
• All project impacts on coastal resources
are mitigated to the maximum extent
feasible through the City's Shoreline
Mitigation Program (Coastal Resilience Policy SA-1-32) or consistent with Coastal Resilience Policy SA-1-85;
• The project will not pose unacceptable
risks to life or property or otherwise create a nuisance; and • The project will not encroach on public
trust lands
SA-I-30 ~ Monitoring Shoreline Change. The
City shall implement a monitoring program for sea level rise, beach width, bluff offset, flooding and storm damage, and
other potential measures or triggers for
guiding implementation of the Coastal
Resilience policies. The monitoring program shall include yearly (minimum) shoreline and bluff edge surveys and also
establish thresholds for reassessing the
City's Adaptation Plan.
SA-I-31 t) Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan
Update. The City shall reassess its Sea
Level Rise Adaptation Plan as expressed in
the general and sub-area Coastal Resilience policies every five years or sooner as required by the shoreline monitoring
program (Coastal Resilience Policy SA-I8-22 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 30). The reassessment shall consider the
following:
• Efficacy of Adaptation Plan and implemented measures. • Updated sea level rise projections and
risks.
• Potential need to revise adaptation
measures or implement new measures,
including review of emerging engineering, science, and technologies.
Funding needs and potential funding
sources. The draft findings of the City's
reassessment shall be disseminated to the
public for review and comment prior to
being finalized.
SA-I-32 ~ · Shorelin~ Mitigation Program.
Within three years of certification of the
LCP Land Use Plan update, the City shall
adopt a Shoreline Mitigation Program to
address the coastal resource impacts of
existing and future shoreline protection
projects in the City. Special emphasis shall
be placed on maintaining beaches and
public access to and along the shoreline.
The program will update the public access
inventory of the LCP as necessary, include
a coastal resource inventory and identify
priority improvements for maintaining
and enhancing coastal shoreline resources,
particularly public access and recreation.
The program will include enforceable measures to achieve proportional mitigation of resource impacts identified in shoreline
protection projects, including consideration of beach widths, sediment management plan actions, and monitoring. The program will identify potential funding
sources for implementation of identified
improvements. The program will include
provisions for monitoring implementation
and program updates as necessary. Until
the adoption of a Shoreline Mitigation
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Packet Pg. 601 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Program, coastal resource impacts shall be
mitigated in accordance with SA-1-86.
SA-1-33 Adaptation Funding. The City will
pursue feasible grant funding sources or
new funding mechanisms, such as the
formation of Geologic Hazard Abatement
Districts (GHADs) as supported by SA-1-
14, or securing FEMA and other federal
or state adaptation and hazard mitigation
funds, to finance adaptation strategies for
public infrastructure.
SA-1-34 Transfer of Development Rights. Use
the City's transfer of development rights
(TDR) ordinance to relocate development
rights from Coastal Vulnerability zones
(sending sites) to receiving sites outside
of Coastal Vulnerability zones. Identify
areas where densities and heights may be
increased using TDR credits, including to
facilitate affordable housing.
SA-1-35 Critical Transportation Infrastructure. The City will pursue opportunities to preserve, protect, or relocate critical local
transportation infrastructure, or provide
alternative access, to mitigate against isolation and economic loss, and to ensure public safety.
SA-1-36 ~ Hazard Prone Infrastructure. The
City will preserve, protect, or relocate hazard prone infrastructure to maintain critical services. Preservation/protection in situ with shoreline armoring shall be required
to meet the requirements of Policies SA-1-
82 and SA-1-83.
SA-1-37 ~ Business Outr~ach. The City's Economic Development Division .shall provide non-financial assistance to businesses in
evaluating options to promote business
resiliency. ·
SA-1-38 High Water Program. The City will
research and evaluate feasible new funding
mechanisms to implement a program to
8 record high water marks where feasible fol- V,
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lowing high-water events. -n
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SA-1-39 Flood Ordinance Consistency. The
City will review and amend as necessary
the flood damage prevention ordinance to
assure consistency with the updated polides and ordinances of the LCP.
SA-1-40 LHMP Alignment. The City will
coordinate its departments and programs
to align the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
(LHMP) with the LCP to ensure proactive, coordinated and streamlined adaptation efforts and response to future coastal hazards. The City shall leverage FEMA
funding opportunities for hazard mitigation and other related funding mechanisms to implement the Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan as expressed in the general and sub-area Coastal Resilience policies.
SA-1-41 Regional Sediment Management.
Participate in regional approaches to protecting, enhancing and restoring coastal beaches and watersheds through the
California Coastal Sediment Management
Workgroup, with a goal of minimizing
coastal erosion.
Fairmont West Subarea
SA-1-42 ~ Shoreline Protection Structures (0-1
foot SLR or 260-foot offset from bluff
toe to infrastructure). Shoreline protection structures shall be avoided except that the existing shoreline protection structures
may be maintained or new shoreline protection structures constructed to protect existing structures in danger from erosion
if found to be the least environmentallydamaging alternative, impacts are fully mitigated consistent with SA-1-32, and
compliant with any prior permit conditions and/or legal obligations pursuant to the California Coastal Act . Allow shoreline protection structures for the public road and sewer line existing structures
if necessary and consistent with Policies
PAOFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-23
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Packet Pg. 602 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption SA-1-82 and SA-1-83, other LCP policies,
and the Coastal Act. New development on
blufftops shall comply will-with all LCP
setback policies, including SA-1-71.
SA-1-43 e) Beach Nourishment (2 feet SLR or
260-foot offset from bluff toe to infrastructure). Evaluate the feasibility of using beach nourishment, in conjunction with
sand retention structures (see artificial
headlands concept in the Adaptation Plan)
as described in SA-1-48, to reduce shoreline
protection structure maintenance requirements and maintain beaches of at least I 00 feet in width on average. If feasible and
approved through a coastal development
permit, secure funding and implement
as soon as possible. Repeat as necessary.
Mitigate all adverse impacts and monitor
effectiveness over time.
SA-1-44 e) Transfer of Development Rights
(ongoing). Provide an option to private
landowners to voluntarily transfer development potential as supported by SA-1-61.
West Edgemar and Pacifica Manor Subarea
SA-1-45 .;> Shoreline Protection Structures (0-1
foot SLR or 220-foot offset from bluff toe
to infrastructure or development). Maintain existing or construct new shoreline protection structures to protect existing
public infrastructure structures, including
between Bill Drake Way and Manor Drive.
Allow private property owners to maintain existing or construct new shoreline protecdon structures if allowed pursuant
to Policies SA-1-82 and SA-1-83, and if consistent with prior permit conditions and/or legal obligations pursuant to the California Coastal Act, and require mitigation of beach, public access and recreation and
other coastal resource impacts, consistent
with SA-1-32 or SA-1-85, as necessary.
SA-1-46 ~ Beach Nourishment (0-1 foot SLR or
220-foot offset from bluff toe to infrastructure or development). Evaluate the 8·24 PAClrJCA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
feasibility of using beach nourishment, in
conjunction with sand retention structures
(artificial headlands concept) as described
in SA-1-81, to reduce shoreline protection
structure maintenance requirements and
maintain beaches of at least I 00 feet in
width on average. If feasible and approved
through a coastal development permit,
secure funding and implement as soon as
possible. Mitigate all adverse impacts and
monitor effectiveness over time.
Northwest Sharp Park Subarea
SA-1-47 ~ Shoreline Protection Structures (0-1
feet SLR or 70-foot offset from bluff toe
to development or infrastructure). Private
landowners may maintain, expand, or construct new shoreline protection structures to protect existing structures in danger
from erosion, consistent with SA-1-31 and
any prior permit conditions and/or legal
obligations pursuant to the California
Coastal Act.
SA-1-48 ~ Beach Nourishment (0-2 feet SLR
or 70-foot offset from bluff toe to development or infrastructure). Evaluate the feasibility of using beach nourishment, in
conjunction with sand retention structures
(artificial headlands concept), to reduce
shoreline protection structure maintenance requirements and maintain beaches of at least 100 feet in width on average. If
feasible and approved through a coastal
development permit, secure funding and
implement as soon as possible. Repeat as
necessary. Mitigate all adverse impacts and
monitor effectiveness over time.
SA-1-49 t}Flood Protection (I feet SLR). Enable
property owners to modify development
structures (e.g. , elevate a residence) to manage impacts of wave run-up and overtopping of bluff face.
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Packet Pg. 603 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Sharp Park, West Fairway Park, and Mori
Point Subarea
SA-1-50 Sharp Park Golf Course. Strongly
support the City and County of San
Francisco's maintenance of the Sharp Park
Golf Course berm and armoring, consistent with the Coastal Development Permit issued by the California Coastal Commission, including adaptation planning for the course, and protecting public access.
The City of Pacifica shall strongly support
the City and County of San Francisco's
ongoing maintenance of the berm even if
Coastal Commission termination of authorization is triggered by the conditions of approval, or require construction of flood
protection improvements by the City and
County of San Francisco.
SA-1-51 Shoreline Protection Structures (0
feet SLR). Maintain existing or construct
shoreline protection structures to protect
existing public infrastructure structures if
consistent with Policies SA-I-82 and SA-I83. Extend the Beach Boulevard seawall to the Sharp Park Golf Course berm if cons is-.
tent with Policies SA-1-82 and SA-I-83.
SA-1-52 ~ Structure Elevation (0-2 feet SLR).
Maintain existing or construct shoreline
protection structures if consistent with
Policies SA-1-82 and SA-I-83 to limit wave
overtopping unless beach nourishment
strategies are effective in reducing wave
run-up on the backshore. Elevate development structures if consistent with Policy SA-1-87 as necessary to mitigate flood
damage, consistent with height limitations.
Elevations of wave run-up and associated
development thresholds shall be determined via a site-specific study.
SA-1-53 Beach Nourishment (0;-1 feet SLR).
Pursue beach nourishment and sand retention structures to reduce shoreline protection structure maintenance requirements and provide beach resources. Encourage
the City and County of San Francisco
to nourish the beach fronting the Sharp
Park Golf Course berm to maintain beach
widths.
SA-1-54 Flood Protection (0 foot SLR).
Evaluate and construct appropriate flood
protection measures, which may include a ·
Clarendon Road stormwater basin, pump
station, and/or interior Sharp Park Golf
Course levee, to protect homes and businesses from existing fluvial storm flood hazard zone.
SA-1-55 Flood Protection (3 feet SLR). Evaluate the future need to construct a West Fairway Park stormwater basin, pump station, and interior Sharp Park Golf Course levee to protect western homes from future
coastal!fluvial flood hazard zone.
Rockaway Beach, Quarry and Headlands
Subarea
SA-1-56 Shoreline Protection Structure Shoreline Protection Structures (O feet SLR).
Maintain existing or construct new shoreline protection structures along the north cove for public safety and hazard reduction if consistent with Policies SA-1-82 and SA-I-83.
SA-1-57 ~ Shoreline Protection (2-3 feet SLR,
or when backshore toe is I 00 feet from
Highway 1). Coordinate with Cal trans to
evaluate the need for a revetment or other
appropriate shoreline protection for the
Highway 1 embankment.
SA-1-58 t) Public Access (0 feet SLR). Plan and
provide for enhanced public access, consistent with the City's Shoreline Mitigation Program (SA-I-32).
SA-1-59 Beach Nourishment/Public Access
(0 feet SLR). Plan and implement beach
nourishment for Rockaway Beach. Monitor and measure performance and any 8 VI
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-25
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Packet Pg. 604 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption reduction of shoreline protection structure
maintenance needs. Establish mechanisms
through the City's Shoreline Mitigation
Program (SA-1-32) to receive and use beach
impact mitigation funds from other subareas of the City.
SA-1-60 ~ Development Setbacks (ongoing).
Implement new development shoreline setbacks consistent with SA-1-71.
SA-1-61 ~ Transfer of Development Rights
(ongoing). Provide an option to the private
landowners of the Rockaway Headlands to
voluntarily transfer development potential
as supported by SA-1-34.
Pacifica State Beach and West Linda Mar
Subarea
SA-I-62 ~ Shoreline Protection (2 ft SLR or 100
foot offset from shoreline to infrastructure). Evaluate beach conditions and consider future shoreline protection to protect existing parking structures and the existing Linda Mar stormwater and wastewater pump station structures as necessary.
SA-1-63 ~ Highway One Protection. Coordinate
with Caltrans to evaluate options for protecting Highway 1, if necessary.
SA-1-64 ~ Beach Nourishment (2 ft SLR or
100 foot offset from shoreline to infrastructure). Evaluate beach conditions and implement beach nourishment as necessary to maintain a 100-foot buffer seaward of the sewer force main and/or Highway 1.
Repeat nourishments as needed.
SA-1-65 ~ Flood Protection (0 feet SLR). Analyze need for floodwall along commercial property to manage flooding from San Pedro Creek under existing conditions with sea level rise allowance. Future flood studies that include climate-driven
changes in precipitation should inform any
floodwall design. Floodproof Anza pump
station (stormwater) to mitigate existing
8-26 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
coastal storm flooding vulnerabilities to
wave run-up.
SA-1-66 e) Flood Protection (2 feet SLR or 100-
foot offset from shoreline to infrastructure). Floodproof the Linda Mar pump stations (sewer and stormwater) to mitigate
future coastal storm flooding vulnerabilities to wave run-up as necessary.
SA-1-67 e) Groundwater Management (0-2 feet
SLR). Begin groundwater monitoring to
determine needs for dewatering wells in
the lowest portions of the West Linda Mar
neighborhood.
Pedro Point and Shelter Cove Subarea
SA-1-68 e) Shoreline Protection Structure
Upgrades. Allow maintenance of existing or new shoreline protection structures to reduce hazards and resource impacts if
consistent with Policies SA-1-82 and SA-I83. Mitigate impacts consistent with the City's Shoreline Mitigation Program (SA-I32) or SA-1-85, as necessary.
SA-1-69 Allow private property owners to raise
homes and other development structures
above wave run-up hazards if consistent
with Policy SA-I-87, consistent with height
limitations.
New Shoreline Development
SA-1-70 ~ Technical Reports. Development
proposed on the shoreline shall include
coastal engineering, geomorphology and
other relevant technical reports unless onsite hazards already identified in a recent Coastal Vulnerability Zone Map or assessment approved within the last five years are adequate for evaluating and ensuring compliance with the LCP, _including through use of permit conditions to address any
uncertainty. Reports shall
• be prepared by a licensed civil engineer
or other suitably qualified professional;
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Packet Pg. 605 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption • use the best available science;
• consider the impacts from the med-high
projection (CalNRA & OPC 2018) of
sea-level rise for the anticipated duration
of the proposed development;
• demonstrate that the development will
avoid (or if unavoidable, minimize)
impacts from coastal hazards to the
maximum extent feasible; and
• evaluate the foreseeable effects that
the development will have on coastal
resources over time and mitigate the
impacts where they are unavoidable.
• Reports may be waived for temporary
events, temporary development structures or other minor, short-term development where it is clear there will be no significant hazard risks over the project's
life.
SA-1-71 e) Siting and Design. New development on vacant shoreline property shall be sited and designed to be safe from erosion,
bluff failure, wave run-up, flooding and
other coastal hazards for at least 100 years
without shoreline protection, considering
projected sea level rise and other climate
change effects to be determined from
best available science and current guidance at the time of approval of the proposed development. Permit approvals shall prohibit shoreline protection structures
for the authorized development, require
. the property owner to record an acknowledgement that the development does not qualify as an existing structure entitled
to construction of a shoreline protection
structure under Coastal Act Section 30235
and a waiver of any rights to such protection structures and where necessary require a removal and restoration plan, including
bonding for large projects, to avoid future
shoreline protection structures or project
failure.
SA-1-72 Assumption of Risk by Private Landowners. Permit approvals of development on the shoreline shall require the applicant
to record a deed restriction requiring the
owner to assume liability and indemnify
and hold the City harmless and make
other acknowledgments relating to the
risks of development on the property.
SA-1-73 MHTL and Avoidance of Public
Trust Lands. Applications for low-lying
development adjacent to coastal waters
shall include a Mean High Tide Line
(MHTL) survey of the development site
prepared by a licensed professional land
surveyor based on field data collected
within 12 months of the application submittal (may be based on City monitoring survey data if collected by a licensed professional land surveyor). The survey
shall be conducted in consultation with
and approved by the California State
Lands Commission (CSLC) staff Development shall be sited to avoid public trust lands for the approved duration of the
project, unless otherwise authorized by the
California State Lands Commission and
California Coastal Commission. The City
shall conduct new MHTL surveys every
ten years or within one year of a new tidal
datum epoch (an epoch is a 19-year tidal
cycle used to calculate datums), seismic
event in the project area greater than 5.5
magnitude, or significant relative rise in
annual local mean sea level records.
SA-I-7 4 e) Bluff Face Development. Shoreline
protection structures, grading, and landform alteration on bluff faces are prohibited, except for the following:
• Public access structures where no feasible alternative means of public access exists; and
• Shoreline protection structures if otherwise allowed by the LCP and the public 8 VI
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-27
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Packet Pg. 606 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption access and recreation policies of the
Coastal Act. Such shoreline protection
structures shall be designed and constructed to be visually compatible with the surrounding area to the maximum
extent feasible, to minimize effects on
erosion of the bluff face, and to avoid
(and where unavoidable to minimize and to mitigate) coastal resource impacts to the maximum extent feasible.
SA-1-75 ~ Minor Development in Shoreline
Areas. Minor and/or ancillary development, including public trails, benches, gazebos, patios, etc., may be located seaward of a bluff or shoreline setback line provided that development is otherwise
consistent with the LCP, does not create a
hazard, does not use a foundation that can
serve as a bluff retaining device, such as
caissons, or that requires landform alteration, and that the development is removed or relocated by the landowner when threatened or in the event that portions of the development fall to the bluffs, beach or
ocean.
SA-1-76 i) Substantial Modifications to Existing Structures. When a proposed physical improvement to an existing structure would constitute a Substantial Exterior
Structural Modification (SESM), as
defined, the portion of the project constituting a SESM shall be undertaken consis- - tent with the LCP and, if applicable, the
Coastal Act, including but not limited to
Policies SA-I-70 and SA-I-71. Any portion
of the existing structure that remains and
which is determined to be legally nonconforming with an LCP standard, including bluff setbacks or other hazard criteria, shall
not be modified to increase the degree of
nonconformity.
SA-1-77 ~ Protection of Private Property in
Hazardous Areas. Where full adherence with all LCP policies, including for 8-28 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
setbacks and other Coastal Resilience
and Natural Hazard avoidance measures,
would preclude a reasonable economic use
of the property as a whole, the City may
allow the minimum economic use and/or
development of the property necessary to
avoid an unconstitutional taking of private
property without just compensation. There
is no taking that needs to be avoided if the
proposed development constitutes a nuisance or is otherwise prohibited pursuant to other background principles of property
law (e.g., public trust doctrine). If development is allowed pursuant to this policy, it must_ be consistent with all LCP policies to
the maximum extent feasible.
SA-1-78 ~ Habitat Sea Level Rise Migration
Buffers. A sea level rise buffer area shall
be added to require new development
habitat buffers if necessary to allow for the
migration of wetlands and other coastal
habitats caused by sea level rise over the
anticipated duration (i.e., economic life)
of the development. l:{abitats include all
wetlands, riparian, intertidal/shoreline
and terrestrial environmentally sensitive
habitat areas (ESHAs) as defined by the
Coastal Act. The sea level rise projection
considered shall be determined for the
type of development from CalNRA and
0 PC (2018) guidance or the latest update.
Except for temporary uses, as described
below, uses and development within sea
level rise buffer areas shall be limited to
minor passive recreational uses, with fencing, de-siltation or erosion control facilities, or other improvements deemed necessary to protect the habitat, to be located in the upper (upland) half of the buffer area.
Water quality features such as drainage
swales required to support new development shall not be constructed in wetland buffers. Temporary uses may also be placed
in the sea level rise buffer area until such
time as sea level rise causes the wetlands or
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Packet Pg. 607 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption other coastal habitat to migrate to within
100 feet of the temporary uses, at which
time, they shall be removed. All habitat
and buffers identified shall be permanently
conserved or protected through a deed
restriction, open space easement, or other
suitable device.
SA-1-79 Stormwater and Dry Weather Flows.
New development shall provide adequate
drainage and erosion control facilities that
convey site drainage in a non-erosive manner to minimize hazards resulting from increased runoff and erosion. Runoff shall
be directed inland to the storm drain system or to an existing outfall, when feasible.
If no storm drain system or existing outfall
is present, blufftop runoff shall not be
channelized or directed over bluffs and/or
to the beach or the ocean.
SA-1-80 Subdivision Limitations. Update the
Zoning Ordinance to prohibit the division
of shoreline property that creates hazardous or unbuildable parcels due to erosion, bluff failure, wave run-up, flooding and
other coastal hazards for at least l 00 years
without shoreline protection, considering
projected sea level rise and other climate
change effects to be determined from best
availabl~ science and current guidance
at the time of a,pproval of the proposed
development. Only allow new lots to be
created if they can be developed without
ever requiring shoreline protection for the
development.
Shoreline Protection Structures
SA-1-81 ~ Soft Shoreline Protection. Encourage
the use of soft or natural shoreline protection methods, such as dune restoration and beach/sand nourishment as alternatives co
hard shoreline protection structures, such
as revetments or sea walls. Soft shoreline
protection devices shall be fully evaluated
for coastal resource impacts, and shall only
be approved if found consistent with the
LCP and Coastal Act policies related to
shoreline protection. Consider combining
beach replenishment with groin construction to maintain beaches and protect development (see subarea policies).
SA-1-82 Beach Nourishment. In coordination
with the California Coastal Commission
and other permitting agencies (e.g., State
Lands Commission, U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers), the City shall evaluate a
beach nourishment program in conjunction with sand retention structures to assist in maintaining beach width and
elevations, consistent with sub-area policies. The beach nourishment program will include measures to protect water quality
and to avoid (and where unavoidable to
minimize and mitigate) potential adverse
coastal resource impacts, including biological resource impacts, from deposition of material, including measures such as sand
compatibility specifications, restrictions on
volume of deposition, timing or seasonal
restrictions, and identification of environmentally preferred locations for deposits.
The City will also consider developing ari
opportunistic sand program and evaluate
how replenishment options may need to
change over time with sea level rise.
SA-1-83 ~ Existing Shoreline Protection Structures. Except as may be otherwise provided in the LCP sub-area policies, legally permitted shoreline protection structures
may be repaired and maintained, as supported by Section 30235 of the Coastal Act, subject to all coastal development permit
requirements (including those associated
with the construction of the structure and/
or prior repair and maintenance episodes)
until the development they are protecting
is removed or no longer requires shoreline protection structures, at which time the shoreline protection structure shall
be reevaluated for consistency with the
LCP and removed if no longer necessary.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-29
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Packet Pg. 608 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Activities considered "repair and maintenance" shall not result in any enlargement or extension of the shoreline protection
structure, or any seaward encroachment
or impairment of public trust resources,
and shall provide mitigation for any new
coastal resource impacts not previously or
otherwise mitigated, including through the
City's Shoreline Mitigation Program (SA1-32) and/or Policy SA-1-85. Other modifications to existing shoreline protection structures which fall within the limitations
of an exclusion contained in the definition
of Substantial Exterior Structural Modification shall be considered to be an existing shoreline protection structure. This policy shall not be applied to justify the
removal of a shoreline protection structure
which protects any structure authorized to
be constructed pursuant to an exclusion
contained in the definition of Substantial
Exterior Structural Modification.
SA-1-84 ~ New Shoreline Protection Structures.
Shoreline protection structures, including
revetments, breakwaters, groins, seawalls,
cliff retaining walls, deep piers and caissons, and ocher such construction chat alters natural shoreline processes shall
be permitted consistent Section 30235 of
the Coastal Act and with the LCP's subarea policies only when required to serve coastal-dependent uses or protect existing structures or public beaches in danger from erosion, when designed 'to eliminate
or mitigate adverse impacts on local shoreline sand supply.
SA-1-85 ~ Authorization Limits of Shoreline
Protection Structures. Shoreline protection structures shall only be authorized until the time when the existing structure protected by such shoreline protection structure: 1) is/are no longer present, or 2) no longer require(s) armoring. This
policy shall not be applied to justify the
removal of a shoreline protection structure
8-30 PACIFICA GEMRAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
which protects any structure authorized to
be constructed pursuant to an exclusion
contained in the definition of Substantial
Exterior Structural Modification.
· SA-1-86 Mitigating Impacts of New Shoreline
Protection Structures. New or reconstructed shoreline protection structures shall be sited and designed to avoid sensitive resources to the maximum extent feasible. Adverse coastal resource impacts
shall be avoided, and where unavoidable
shall be minimized and fully mitigated,
including impacts on sand supply, beach
area, public access (vertical access to the
shore and horizontal access along the shore
and blufftop) and recreational use (surfing,
fishing, hiking, etc.), public trust lands and
values, ecological function, water quality,
shoreline aesthetics, and cultural resources.
At a minimum, new shoreline protection
structures shall:
• blend with the natural environment;
• avoid significant habitat areas;
• minimize encroachment/footprint;
• protect, and where feasible, provide public access; and • control erosion from surface and
groundwater flows.
Mitigation options shall include consideration of providing equivalent new public access, recreation, habitat or other coastal
resources in the vicinity of the project, or if
such options are not feasible, proportional
in-lieu fees that consider and reflect, to the
maximum extent practicable, the full value
of impacted and/or lost resources for the
authorization period of the project. Any
fees shall be deposited in an interest-bearing account held by the City of Pacifica for use within the City Limits for mitigation of the specific impact identified in the
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Packet Pg. 609 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption project approval. This policy may be met
through compliance with the City's Shoreline Mitigation Program (SA-I-32) SA-1-87 Monitoring Plan for New Shoreline
Protection Structures. Proposals for new,
redeveloped/augmented or repaired shoreline protection structures shall include a monitoring plan that evaluates the condition of the shoreline protection structure, conditions at the site and surrounding
area, and whether the shoreline protection
structure is still needed for protection. The
plan shall require an inspection at least
every five years to identify:
• Any structural damage and need for
repair;
• Environmental impacts, including
excessive scour, impacts to shoreline
processes and beach width (at the project site and the broader area and/or littoral cell as feasible), and impacts to
public access and the availability of public trust lands for public use; and • The status of the existing structure
being protected.
• The monitoring plan shall also be
updated to at a minimum include any
specific requirements associated with
coastal permit approval.
At least every 15 years the landowner
shall submit a new Mean High Tide Line
(MHTL) survey of the subject property
based on field data collected within 12
months of the date submitted. Surveys
shall comply with Coastal Resilience Policy
SA-I-73.
Coastal Flooding and other Hazards
SA-1-88 Flood Risk Reduction. The City
should, when appropriate, evaluate and
pursue, floodproofing of infrastructure and
other development in danger from projected flooding by 2050. Allow and facilitate (if feasible) private owners to floodproof development structures, consistent with other LCP policies.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-31
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Packet Pg. 610 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
8.4 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
AND OPERATIONS
A material is considered hazardous if it appears on a
list of hazardous materials prepared by a federal, state, or local agency, or if it has characteristics defined as hazardous by such an agency. The California Code of
Regulation defines a hazardous material as a substance
that, because of physical or chemical properties, quantity, concentration, or other characteristics, may either (I) cause an increase in mortality or an increase in serious, irreversible, or incapacitating, illness or (2) pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or environment when improperly treated, stored, transported or disposed of, or otherwise managed. Hazardous materials have been and are commonly used in commercial, agricultural, and industrial applications
and, to a limited extent, in residential areas.
Hazardous wastes are defined in the same manner.
Hazardous wastes are hazardous materials that no
longer have practical use, such as substances that have been discarded, discharged, spilled, contaminated, or
are being stored prior to proper disposal. Hazardous
materials and hazardous wastes are classified according to four properties: toxic (causes human health effects), ignitable (has the ability to burn), corrosive Table 8-2: CONTAMINATED SITES IN PACIFICA
Map
(causes severe burns or damage to materials), and reactive (causes explosions or generates toxic gases).
Pacifica currently has sites undergoing remediation
for contamination with hazardous materials. Some
contaminated sites are on vacant parcels or properties with the potential to redevelop. Contamination does not render these sites unusable, but may require
time and funding for cleanup.
Hazardous Materials Sites
Releases, leaks, or disposal of chemical compounds,
such as petroleum hydrocarbons, on or below the
ground surface can lead to contamination of underlying soil and groundwater. Disturbance of a previously contaminated area through grading or excavation operations could expose the public to health hazards from physical contact with contaminated
materials or hazardous vapors. Improper handling
or storage of contaminated soil and groundwater can
further expose the public to these hazards, or potentially spread contamination through surface water runoff or air-borne dust. In addition, contaminated
groundwater can spread downgradient ( the direction
that grnundwater flows), potentially contaminating
subsurface areas of surrounding properties.
ID Site Name address Site Type
Potential
Contaminants Cleanup Status
Sites Identified by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control 1 Sharp Park Rifle Range . Rifle Range Rd. Voluntary Cleanup Lead Sites Identified by the State Water Resources Board
1 Sharp Park Rifle Range Rifle Range Rd.
2 3
4 Olympic Sharp Park
Sunset Garage
Arco #433
1518 Francisco Blvd.
2251 Oceana Blvd.
498 Palmetto Ave.
Cleanup Program Lead
Site
LUST Cleanup Site Gasoline
LUST Cleanup Site Gasoline
LUST Cleanup Site Benzene, Toluene,
Xylene, MTBE/TBA/
Other Fuel Oxygenates,
Gasoline
Certified/ Operation
and maintenance as of
6/30/2011
Open-Site
Assessment
Open - Eligible for
Closure
Open - Verification
Monitoring
Open - Eligible for
Closure
Sources: California Department of Toxic Substances Control; California Environmental Protection Agency; State Water Resources Control Board, 2020.
8-32 PAOFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 611 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
0 c ea n
EB
0 1/4 1/2
Nortlum1
Coastal
8/ujf,
(GGNRA)
MILES
Sharp Park
CD
2 i
Figure 8-6: Contaminated Sites
Clean Up Status
0 Open - Site Assessment
0 Open - Verification Monitoring
0 OpenEligible for Closure
0 Completed - Case Closed
Planning Area
City Limits
Site numbers correspond to
Table 8-
1: Contaminated Sites in Pacifica
Pcni 11 st1l11 \Va1ers/1cd
(S f P UC)
_,&_,&.
_,&_,&_,& • .&
Source: Department of Toxic Substances
Control, 2020; California State Water
Resources Control Board, 2020; City of
Pacifica, 2019; San Mateo County, 2019; Dyett
& Bhatia, 2019.
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Packet Pg. 612 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Areas with known or suspected release of hazardous
materials to soil and groundwater, and where current clean-up activities monitored by the State Wat~r Quality Control Board or the California Department of Toxic Substances are active, are shown in Figure 8-6 and listed in Table 8-2.
Three of the four active cleanup sites in Pacifica are
classified as Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
(LUSTs); most are associated with gasoline. Most
of the identified sites are automobile-related: gas
stations and auto body or repair shops. The former
Sharp Park Rifle Range, identified by both the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the State Water Resources Board, is undergoing a
voluntary cleanup of residual lead from past activities.
Regulation and Enforcement
Various State and federal agencies govern the proper
storage, handling, and transport of hazardous materials. San Mateo County handles hazardous waste, organizing both curbside pickup of certain household wastes ~nd appointments at hazardous waste collection events for other items. The County is also
responsible for issuing permits for the storage of hazardous waste. The County's Health System also has a Hazardous Waste Generator Program, authorized
by the Department of Toxic Substances Control
(DTSC) to inspect and regulate non-permitted hazardous waste generators.
San Mateo County's Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program provides a team of trained Hazardous_ Materials specialists who respond to
and manage Hazardous Materials emergencies and
potential bio-terrorism threats throughout San
Mateo County on a seven-day, 24-hour basis.
REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Various State and federal agencies govern the proper
storage, handling, and transport of hazardous materials. San Mateo County handles hazardous waste, organizing both curbside pickup of certain household wastes and appointments at hazardous waste 8-34 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
collection events for other items. The County is also
responsible for issuing permits for the storage of hazardous waste. The County's Health System also has a Hazardous Waste Generator Program, authorized
by the Department of Toxic Substances Control
(DTSC) to inspect and regulate non-permitted hazardous waste generators.
San Mateo County's Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program provides a team of trained Hazardous Materials specialists who respond to
and manage Hazardous Materials emergencies and
potential bio-terrorism threats throughout San
Mateo County on a seven-day, 24-hour basis.
POLICIES
Guiding Policies
SA-G-6 Contaminated Sites. Facilitate clean-up
programs at contaminated sites, particularly on properties with the potential to develop or be reused for public purposes.
SA-G-7 Safe Disposal. Continue to promote the
reduction, recycling, and safe disposal of
household and business hazardous wastes
through public education and awareness.
Implementing Policies
SA-1-89 Cleanup of Contamination. Require
applicants for development in a potentially
contaminated location to perform inspection and cleanup if the site is found to be contaminated with hazardous substances.
The City will require a project applicant to
have the site inspected by a registered Environmental Assessor. Reports detailing the results must be submitted for City review,
and level of remediation and cleanup must be
in compliance with federal and State standards.
SA-1-90 Regional Support. Continue to support
the hazardous waste collection, management, and inspection efforts of San Mateo County, the State, and the Water
Resources Control Board.
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Packet Pg. 613 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
8.5 FIRE HAZARDS
Fire hazards in Pacifica include both urban and wildland fires. Urban fires involve the uncontrolled burning of built structures due to human-made causes; wildland fires affect grassland, forest, and brush (and the structures on them), and can result from either
human or natural causes. The City's main challenges
regarding these hazards are:
• Actively Managing the Urban-Wildland Interface. Pacifica's residents enjoy close contact with open ridges and woodlands. This brings with it
the risk of proximity to wildland fires. Preparedness is essential, and the North County Fire Authority's fire prevention activities, especially its
Vegetation Management Program, are important.
• Maintaining and Enhancing Evacuation Routes.
It is critical that road capacity exists for local residents, workers, and visitors to e~acuate in case of an environmental disaster, including fire.
Urban Fires
Urban fires are fires that begin in~ buiJding in urban
centers. They are typically localized but have the
potential to spread to an adjoining building. The risk
of urban fires is highest where single-family homes,
multifamily residences and business facilities are clustered close together, increasing the possibility of rapid spread to an adjoining building. The risk to life and
property can be reduced by adopting and funding
adequate levels of fire protection and ensuring new
buildings are built to include fire resistive features
which conform to mqdern fire and building codes.
Wildland Fires
Wildland fires are fires that start in a wooded
or undeveloped area. Their potential for damage is dependent on the extent and type of vegetation, known as surface fuels, as well as weather and wind conditions. Wildland fires occur infrequently
but typically cause more damage than urban fires.
About two thirds of Pacifica is undeveloped, and
nearly half is protected open space. This undeveloped
land is mainly on the rugged ridges that form the
City's eastern and southern edge and descend down
to the ocean between Pacifica's valley communities.
Coastal scrub is the predominant vegetation type,
interspersed with annual grassland. Significant areas
of eucalyptus forest and mixed woodland are present in eastern Sharp Park and on Cattle Hill and San Pedro Mountain. In California, most wildfire damage occurs in wildland urban interface areas, where homes and woodland vegetation are directly adjacent. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has designated Fire Hazard
Severity Zones (FHSZs) throughout the state based
on factors such as fuel, slope, and weather to indicate varying degrees of fire hazard (i.e., moderate, high,
and very high). FHSZ maps evaluate physical conditions that create a likelihood chat an area will burn over a 30- to 50-year period.
CAL FIRE also designates land as either a Federal,
State, or Local Responsibility Area (FRA, SRA,
and LRA, respectively), based on population density, land use, and land ownership. Portions of the Planning Area within the SOI are designated State
Responsibility Areas (SRA), where the State of California is financially responsible for the prevention and suppression of wildfires, while the NCFA has
primary responsibility for Local Responsibility Areas
(LRA) within the Clty limit.
The interface between wild and urban land in Pacifica presents a potential fire threat. A Vely' High Fire Hazard Severity Zone has been designated on parts of Sweeney Ridge, Cattle Hill, and Montara Mountain.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-35
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Packet Pg. 614 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
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2 San Ped ro Valley Cou,ity Pa rk
Figure 8-7: Fire Hazards and Public
Safety Services
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
in State Responsibility Area
1111 Very High
1111 High - Public Safety Facilities
Fire Protection CJ Responsibility Area
LRA Local (LRA)
SRA State (SRA)
FRA Federal (FRA)
City Limits
Planning Area
Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection, 2020; City of Pacifica, 2019; San
Mateo County, 2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2019.
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Packet Pg. 615 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Lands in Pacifica owned by the federal government
and the County, including GGNRA lands,are designated as a State Responsibility Area (SRAFRA) within the Pacifica LRA.
Some areas shown on Figure 8-7 along the southwestern perimeter within the Sphere of Influence are designated as Very High FHSZs. Most of this land
in the Very High FHSZ zone is an urban reserve or
park or other designations where extremely low densities of residential development may be permitted.
Land adjacent to these areas that is within city limits is low- and very-low density residential development.
To address this risk, the City cooperates with CAL
FIRE and the North County Fire Authority (NCFA)
through cooperative fire protection agreements.
CAL FIRE tracks the deadliest, largest, and most
destructive wildfires that have occurred in the state,
with the lists last updated in late March 2021. San
Mateo County is not included in any of these lists.
However, according to the San Mateo County Multijurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJLHMP), it is likely that the risk of wildfires will continue to occur in San Mateo County. Wildfires
are influenced by both weather and human activities. Based on its history of past events, San Mateo County has a high chance of a wildfire in any given
year.
The most common causes of wildfires, based on past
events, will be "undetermined," equipment use, miscellaneous, and power line/electric power. However, the approximately 86,000-acre CZU Lightning Complex wildfire that ignited in August 2020, affecting various locations in San Mateo and Santa
Cruz counties, is believed to have been caused by
lightning.9
Fire and Emergency Services
The cities of Brisbane, Daly City, and Pacifica are
contributing members of the North County Fire
Authority (NCFA), a Joint Powers Authority estab
9 County of San Mateo. Multijurisdictional Local
Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2021.
lished in 2003. The Fire Authority provides both
emergency response and non-emergency public safety
services to the three cities and their 185,000 people in its service area. Two of the Authority's 10 stations are in Pacifica. Fire Station 71, at 616 Edgemar Avenue,
serves the north end of Pacifica, while Fire Station 72, at 1100 Linda Mar Boulevard, serves the south end.
These locations are shown on Figure 8-5.
Fire and Emergency Response
NCFA has established the following service ratio and
response time standards:
• Response time standards for fire service: Fourminute travel time to 90 percent of calls for fire service, and eight-minute travel time for all apparatus on-scene for fire calls for service. • Response time standard for Emergency Medical
Services (EMS): Under seven-minute travel time
(6:59) for first response to 90 percent of calls.
Pacifica's long and narrow geography and its reliance on Highway 1 as the single north-south access route makes the City a challenge for fire response. A
2008 study determined that the Vallemar, West and
East Fairway Park, Rockaway Beach, and Rockaway
neighborhoods in central Pacifica are beyond fourminute travel distance from northern San Mateo County fire stations, corresponding with the standard response time for first-due fire apparatus. The full assignment response time standard cannot be
met in Pacifica from Vallemar south.10
NCFA's EMS standard is for 90 percent of calls to
be reached in less than seven minutes. This standard
is met for 97 percent of calls in the zone, including
approximately 93 percent of calls in Pacifica.
The NCFA needs additional facilities to meet its fire
response standards for V allemar and areas to the
south. A third, mid-point station in Pacifica with a
truck and engine company has been discussed for
some time. The area that currently does not meet first10 Emergency Services Consulting, 2008. 8 Vl
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-37
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Packet Pg. 616 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption -response time standards has a low density of
development, and so it has fewer persons and structures threatened by fire. A new station would be needed if the central part of Pacifica were to experience significant new development, for example at the Quarry site.
Pacifica has an ISO11 rating of 4. The City's rating
is unlikely to be affected by population growth, but
population will increase existing deficiencies in service delivery.
Fire Prevention
The NCFA's Fire Services Prevention Bureau manages code enforcement, plan review and construction inspection, fire investigations, and public education.
A key part of the Bureau's code enforcement activities is the annual safety inspection of every commercial business and multi-family residential property in its service area. The NCFA also conducts a Vegetation Management Program, promoting compliance with vegetation standards to reduce the threat of fire
in the urban/wildland interface. The NCFA implements the Vegetation Management Program through public education and by pursuing grant funding to
undertake fuel reduction projects.
Fire Access Standards
Clear emergency vehicle access to buildings is critical for public safety. Such access is regulated by the adopted and amended California Fire Code and
Pacifica City Standard Engineering Plans. Under the
current California Fire Code (CFC), all portions of a
building shall be within 150 feet of a serviceable fire access road, with limited exceptions. The City has
adopted the CFC with amendments to address local
fire hazard concerns.
Building Signage Standards and
Regulations
Pacifica has adopted the latest edition of the CFC,
11 Insurance Service Office (ISO), a private company,
has a system for determining the price of fire insurance in a community through a 1-to-10 classification system, with 1 being the highest level of service.
8-38 PACfflCA G~~ERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
with all appendices, and amended it to address local
concerns. The NCFA reviews plans for structures
and buildings citywide, including fire-prone areas.
Checklists are used to address fire code requirements, including but not limited to street and building signage, water supply, water infrastructure, fire sprinkler requirements, building requirements (fire
sprinklers, smoke detectors, roofing, etc.), access
roads, and vegetation management, among others.
The City enforces uniform building address and
street sign letters as found in the CFC and California
Building Code, which establishes requirements for
the design and display of approved address numbers,
building numbers, or approved building identification on new and existing buildings to ensure legibility and visibility from the street or road fronting the property.
The J\i] LHMPMulti-[urisdictional Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (MJ-LHMP, see Section 8.6)
identifies several mitigation actions for wildland fires in Pacifica, including update of its Emergency
Operations Plan; pursuing opportunities to preserve
and protect critical transportation infra- structure;
and developing and delivering business programs
and public outreach programs to promote resiliency
and community preparedness.
State Requirements
In 2005, the California Building Code was amended
to require that all new buildings located in any Fire
Hazard Severity Zone in SRAs, or any Very High
Fire Hazard Severity Zone in LRAs, must use building materials approved for use in wildland/urban interface areas. The code now specifies certain roof
coverings, fire resistive wall and ceiling-floor assemblies, wall finish materials, hardware, insulation, and other building materials for use in high fire hazard
areas. Also in 2005, the Public Resources Code was
amended to expand the defensible space clearance
requirement around buildings from 30 feet to 100
feet in any SRA. Building owners must minimize
potential fuel around structures, to minimize the
risk of loss, and to improve firefighter safety.
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Packet Pg. 617 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 8 POLICIES V,
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Policies included in both the General Plan and Local Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a "T1
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Guiding Policy
SA-G-8 Fire Prevention. Protect Pacifica residents and businesses from potential wildland fire hazards.
Implementing Policies
SA-1-91 Response Time. Support efforts by
NCFA to meet its response time standards
throughout the City.
This effort may include construction of a
third fire station in the central part of Pacifica, near the police station or the Quarry site. The City cou/,d provide land or shared
facilities.
SA-1-92 Adequate Peak Load Water Supply.
Work with the North Coast County Water
District to maintain adequate water supply
for firefighting, including capacity for peak
load under a reasonable worst case wildland fire scenario, to be determined by the · NCFA.
SA-1-93 ~ Water Storage Locations. In evaluating sites for new water storage facilities, place a priority on locations least subject to
impacts from seismic activity and landsliding.
SA-1-94 ~ Development Review. Review development proposals to ensure that they incorporate appropriate fire-mitigation
measures, including adequate provisions
for evacuation and access by emergency
responders, and vegetation clearances that
do not impact ESHAs or wetlands.
SA-1-95 Plan Review in Fire-Prone Areas.
Continue to request the North County
Fire Authority participation in plan review
of new buildings in potentially fire-prone
areas.
SA-1-96 Fire Prevention Inspections. Continue
to require a fire prevention inspection of
every permitted business and multi-family
development covered by the North County
Fire Authority.
SA-1-97 Fire Prevention Education. Continue
educating the public about local fire hazard
prevention programs. Work cooperatively
with the North County Fire Authority to
promote public awareness of fire safety and
emergency life support.
SA-1-98 Vegetation Management. Promote and
support the North County Fire Authority's Vegetation Management Program to reduce urban/wildland interface fire
hazards through public education and fuel
reduction projects.
SA-1-99 Multi-jurisdictional approach. Participate in State or regional efforts to develop a clear legislative and regulatory framework
to manage the wildland-urban interface,
including implementation of the MJLHMP.
SA-1-100 ~ Rockaway Quarry service. Ensure that
any new development at the Rockaway
Quarry site is adequately served by public
infrastructure, including fire and police
services.
The City will work with the North County Fire Authority toward development of a third fire station in the central part of Pacifica.
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 8-39
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Packet Pg. 618 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
8.6 PUBLIC SAFETY
AND EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
The City's public safety and emergency management
functions cover several roles that address the time
before and during a hazardous event: emergency
planning including evacuation routes and emergency response.
Emergency Planning
The California Emergency Services Act requires cities to prepare and maintain an Emergency Plan for natural, man made, or war-caused emergencies that
result in conditions of disaster or in extreme peril to life. The City's Emergency Preparedness and Safety
Commission is responsible for disaster preparedness training in Pacifica, and the N CF A offers Community Emergency Response Team training. San Mateo County's Area Office of Emergency Services
provides planning, preparedness, public information, training, and Federal/State intergovernmental emergency services coordination for the cities and
unincorporated areas within the county. Pacifica has
a member on the Emergency Services Council.
Pacifica Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 2 "Emergency Services" establishes a Director Emergency Services and Emergency Services Council for the
purpose of preparing and carrying out plans for
the protection of persons and property within the
City in the event of an emergency. This PMC provision empowers the City Manager as the Director of Emergency Services to perform various functions
to plan for and respond to emergencies in the City,
including but not limited to fire emergencies.
Local Hazard Mitigation Planning
The purpose of an LHMP is to reduce or eliminate
long term risk to human life and property resulting from hazards, by identifying risks before they occur and putting together resources, information,
and strategies for emergency response. An LHMP is
required of all cities by federal law. Pacifica's LHMP
8-40 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
is an annex to a regional plan led by the County of
San Mateo Emergency Services, known as the MultiJurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJLHMP) for San Mateo County. The LHMP, originally adopted in 2005 and updated in 2016 and
2021, identifies specific actions the City is taking to mmgate impacts from flooding, earthquakes,
wildfires, and other emergency events.
The MJ-LHMP identifies transportation isolation
and accessibility as an evacuation vulnerability in
case of emergency, including vulnerabilities along
arterials, bridges over highways, and single-entty
neighborhoods. In the south, Pacifica is connected to
the next community via a bridge and a tunnel. In the
north, Pacifica is connected to the City of Daly City
by Interstate 280 (I-280). The other access points into or out of Pacifica are Manor Drive, Hickey Boulevard, and Sharp Park Road, all of which connect with California State Route 35 (CA-35). There are
areas of Highway One which may be susceptible to
landslides due to the steep grade. There have been
some minor rock slides in the area. If areas of Highway 1 were blocked due to a landslide, the City may be severely limited to access equipment, parts, and
materials to fix infrastructure.
Emergency Response
The City of Pacifica Evacuation Operations Plan
provides an overview o·f steps for necessary evacuation events. Day-to-day emergency responses within the City of Pacifica are governed by the Incident
Command System (ICS) and the operational plans
and protocols of the responding agencies. Should
an emergency go beyond day-to-day response capability, the North County Fire Authority will invoke protocols that allow for the use of automatic-aid and
mutual-aid resources within the City: This same process is managed within the Police Department. The fire and police departments will carry out centralized emergency management (Unified Command) to ensure the successful coordination of the response
and the initiation of recovery operations.
During a wildland fire response, the Unified Command (Fire and Police) establishes evacuation deci1.c Packet Pg. 619 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Pacific
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Figure 8-8: Pacifica Neighborhoods
with Fewer than Two Evacuation
Routes
ii
Evacuation Routes
Freeway/Highway
- Arterial
Collector
-
Existing Residential Areas
Areas with Less Than
Two Evacuation Routes
Local Roads
City Limits
Planning Area
(SF PUC)
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Source: City of Pacifica. 2020; San Mateo County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
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Packet Pg. 620 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption 8-42
sion points which will be executed with the assistance of law enforcement. The City of Pacifica has been divided into zones for purposes of evacuations.
Several zones, including those encompassing Pedro
Point, inland Rockaway Beach, and the Vallemar
neighborhoods have less than tWetwo evacuation
routes, as shown in Figure 8-8. The City's evacuation
routes in Figure 8-8 would become highly congested
during a mass evacuation of the City but would
have capacity for an efficient evacuation of smaller
portions of neighborhoods. During the event of an
evacuation, key intersections would be managed by
the Police Department to permit flow of emergency
vehicles into the zone and for residential evacuation.
Service standards for fire, police, and emergency
response times are generally met or exceeded. However, the city's geography and circulation system, combined with the current locations of fire stations,
mean that neighborhoods in central Pacifica are
beyond the NCFA's standard for response time. This
can be resolved, as noted previously with a third,
mid-point station with a truck and engine company.
Police Services
The Pacifica Police Department responds to public
safety calls, provides traffic safety and security for
public events, and handles calls for assistance. The
Department handles dispatch services on evenings
and weekends for the Department of Public Works
and the NCCWD, and participates when needed in
the Northern San Mateo County Gang Task Force
and the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force.
It has assigned officers to schools to help strengthen
the relationship between schools, students, and the
police. The Police Department serves the City from
its station at 2075 Coast Highway. The station is
deemed adequate to support a sufficient level of service for future population growth in Pacifica.
The Police Department staffing is approximately one
officer per 1,000 residents, and response times and
levels of service are generally considered good to
excellent by residents. However, as recently as the
1990s the Police Department had staffing of approximately 47 officers at a population of roughly 38,000, resulting in a ratio of around one officer per 800 residents. Additional staffing could enable the Police Department to provide additional community policing services.
The Police oe; artment serves the City from its station at 2075 Coast Highway, opened in 2004.
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBL,C REVIEW DRAFT
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Packet Pg. 621 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
POLICIES
Guiding Policies
SA-G-9 Emergency Response. Foster an efficient
and coordinated response to emergencies
and natural disasters.
SA-G-10 Public Awareness. Support continuing public awareness of hazards, including avoidance, disaster preparedness, and emergency response procedures.
SA-G-11 Disaster Preparation. Make infrastructure investments, enforce regulations, and disseminate information that will improve
disaster response and recovery, with the
goal of minimizing damage to people and
property.
Implementing Policies
SA-1-101 Emergency Operations Plan. Update and
maintain the City's Emergency Operations
Plan, which provides adequate response to
disasters, including emergency ingress and
egress, and defines the expected roles of
City, County, utility service providers, and
regional agencies.
SA-1-102 Emergency Response Coordination.
Develop effective mechanisms for a coordinated response to natural and man-made emergencies by:
• Conducting regular emergency planning meetings and disaster preparedness exercises with City departments, the Fire District, the County, medical
centers, utility service providers, and
other emergency ~ervice providers and
relevant public agencies;
• Holding emergency drills that require
all City staff to be adequately trained
to handle different kinds of emergency
scenarios; and
• Coordinating with the County on
regional emergency communications.
SA-1-103 Emergency Access on New Roadways.
Ensure that new roadways are developed
in accordance with standards the Municipal Code. In all new development, require adequate access to be provided for emergency vehicles, including adequate widths, turning radii, hard standing areas, and
vertical clearance.
SA-1-104 Areas that Lack Emergency Access.
Develop a plan to widen critical rights-ofway that do not provide adequate clearance for emergency vehicles. For areas that are not feasibly accessible to emergency
vehicles, develop a contingency plan for
reaching and evacuating people in need of
treatment.
This initiative should include a plan to open
access to or otherwise serve the Pedro Point,
inland Rockaway Beach, and the Vallemar
neighborhoods.
SA-1-105 Regulatory Monitoring. Continue to
monitor changes in the Federal Disaster
Act and applicable State laws, keep City
officials and residents aware of the impacts
of these changes, and update the City's
Emergency Plan as necessary.
SA-I~ 106 Public Preparedness. Initiate periodic public information programs that explain the City's emergency preparedness programs,
including the emergency communications
system, evacuation routes, and shelter locations.
Each household should be self sufficient for
72 hours after a disaster. The City will post
information on the City's website and in
other visible public locations, such as City
Hall about emergency preparedness.
SA-l-l07 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Continue
to maintain and update a Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan as an implementation
action for the Safety Element.
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Packet Pg. 622 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption SA-1-108 Emergency Water Capacity. Work with
the Water District to ensure that it has a
plan and infrastructure for providing adequate water service and storage during and immediately after an emergency, including
a major seismic event.
SA-1-109 Utilities. Require companies providing public utilities in Pacifica to have plans for reestablishing service in the event of a major seismic event or other natural disaster.
SA-1-110 Police Response. Continue to respond
without delay to all calls for police assistance as soon as possible consistent with normal safety precautions and vehicle
laws. Periodically review procedures and
response times to ensure equitable service
across the community.
SA-1-111 School Outreach. Continue to partner
with schools and youth organizations to
conduct outreach and develop conflict
resolution, and form pro-active and creative community partnerships to enhance public safety.
SA-1- 112 Periodic Evaluation. Periodically, evaluate
police and fire services to ensure that the
City is providing adequate protection in an
efficient, cost-effective manner.
SA-1- 113 Critical Facilities Location. Do not locate
structures necessary for protection of the
public's health and safety, public assembly,
or emergency services in hazardous areas
unless no reasonable alternative exists.
SA-1-114 Critical Facilities Operability. Take steps
to ensure critical use facilities that are
important to protecting health and safety
in the community remain operational during an emergency.
SA-1-115 Code Updates. Update City codes and
ordinances dealing with public safety to
comply with State law and reflect the latest information on hazards and mitigation strategies.
8-44 PACIFICA GENERAL l>LAN PUBLIC REV'EW DRAFT
SA-1-X Maintain Energy Facilities. Work with
PG&E to encourage regular maintenance of electrical
and gas facilities including undergrounding electrical
transmission and distribution facilities when feasible
to minimize utility-related disasters.
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Packet Pg. 624 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption
GLOSSARY AND LIST OF
ACRONYMS
GLOSSARY
100-Year Flood. That flood event that has a one-percent chance of occurrence in any one year. 500-Year Flood. The magnitude of a flood expected
to occur on the average every 500 years, based on
historical data. The 500-year flood has a 1/500, or 0.2 percent, chance of occurring in any given year.
Acre, Gross. Area of a site calculated to the centerline of bounding streets and other public rights-ofway.
Acre, Gross Developable. Area of a site, including
proposed public streets and other proposed rights-ofway but excluding areas subject to physical or environmental constraints, which include creek corridors and floodways, and areas to be dedicated for greenways or habitat protection.
Acre, Net. Area of a site excluding land to be dedicated for required easements for vehicles and rights of way, either public or private; land dedicated to be
hazardous and unbuildable; and land to be dedicated
for schools and parks or other facilities dedicated for public use.
Affordable Housing. Housing capable of being purchased or rented by a household with very low, low (earning below 80 percent of San Mateo County
area median income), or moderate income, (earning between 80 to 120 percent of the County area median income) based on a household's ability to
make monthly-payments necessary to obtain housing. As described by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, current
standards measure housing cost in relation to gross
€household income: households spending more than
30 percent of their income, including utilities, are
generally considered to be overpaying or "cost
burdened. " Housing is considered affurdable when a
house hold pays less than 30% of its gross monthly
income for housing property taxes, insurance, and
utilities.
Aquifer. An underground, water-bearing layer of
earth, porous rock, sand, or gravel, through which
water can seep or be held in natural storage. Aquifers
generally hold sufficient water to be used as a water
supply.
Arterial. Arterials collect and distribute traffic to/
from freeways and expressways to/from collector
streets.
Attainment Status. Under amendments to the Federal Clean Air Act, the EPA has classified air basins or portions thereof, as either "attainment" or "nonattainment" for each criteria air pollutant, based on whether or not the national standards have been
achieved.
Best Management Practices (BMP). The combination of conservation measures, structure, or management practices that reduces or avoids adverse impacts of development on adjoining site's land, water, or
waterways, and waterbodies.
Bike Facilities. These include bike paths (Class I
Facilities), bike lanes (Class II Facilities), and bike routes (Class III Facilities), following a classification system established in the Pacifica Bicycle Plan.
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Packet Pg. 625 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Buffer. In terms of land use, a buffer is a transitional zone or piece of land between two different land
uses.
Buildout. That level of development characterized
by full occupancy of all developable sites in accordance with the General Plan; the maximum probable level of development envisioned by the General Plan under specified assumptions about densities and
intensities. Buildout does not necessarily assume parcels are developed at maximum allowable intensities.
Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The multiyear scheduling of public physical improvements based on studies of fiscal resources available and the
choice of specific improvements to be constructed.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2). The most common of the
greenhouse gases, CO2 is emitted as a result of fossil fuel combustion, with contributions from cement manufacture.
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e). A standard
measurement for assessing total greenhouse gas
emissions, scaling emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse
gases based on their relative global warming potential compared to CO2.
Carbon Monoxide (CO). A colorless, odorless gas
formed by the incomplete combustion of fuels,
which is toxic because of its tendency to reduce the
oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Climate Change. Climate change, or global climate
change, refers to a change in the average climate of
the earth that may be measure~ by wind patterns,
storms, precipitation, and temperature. The baseline
by which these changes are . measured originates in
historical records identifying temperature changes
that have occurred in the distant past, such as during
previous ice ages.
Coastal Sediment. Sediment that occurs on the
coastal shoreline, generally consisting of sand,
gravel, silt, and clay.
G-2 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Collector. Collectors serve as connectors between
local and arterial streets and provide direct access to parcels.
Community Garden. A cooperatively-managed garden in an urbanized area. Community gardens can be a source of fresh produce and provide learning
opportunities for community members.
Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL). The
average equivalent A-weighted sound level during a
24-hour day, obtained after addition of five decibels
to sound levels in the evening from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
and after addition of 10 decibels to sound levels in
the night from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Compatible. Capable of existing together without
conflict or ill effects.
Complete Streets. Complete Streets are designed
and operated to enable safe, attractive, and comfortable access and travel for all users, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and users of public transportation.
Connectivity. The quality of street patterns that
allows for through movement between and within
neighborhoods.
Conservation. The management of natural resources
to prevent waste, destruction, or neglect.
Consistent. Free from variation or contradiction.
Programs in the General Plan are to be consistent,
not contradictory. State: law . requires. consistency
between a general plan and implementation measures such as the zoning ordinance.
Criteria Air Pollutants. Six pollutants identified by EPA under the federal Clean Air Act that are pervasive in
urban environments and for which State and national
health-based ambient air quality standards have been
established. These are ozone, carbon monoxide (CO),
nitrogen dioxide (N02), sulfur dioxide (502),
particulate matter (PM), and lead.
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Packet Pg. 626 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Critical Facilities. Hospitals and other care facilities and similar uses that should be located within a reasonable distance (3 miles or 3 minutes) from fire stations.
Critical Habitat. Areas designated for species listed
under the Federal Endangered Species Act. These
areas contain features that are essential for the conservation of the species and may require special management and protection.
Cultural Facilities. Premises operated to accommodate cultural pursuits such as visual or performing arts, lectures, or exhibitions.
Curb Cut. The opening along the curb line at which
point vehicles or other wheeled forms of transportation may enter or leave the roadway. Curb cuts are essential at street corners for wheelchair users.
Day-Night Average Sound Level (Ldn). The
A-weighted average sound level for a given area (measured in decibels) during a 24-hour period with a 10 dB weighting applied to night-time sound levels
(after 10 p.m. and before 7 a.m.). The Ldn is approximately numerically equal to the CNEL for most environmental settings.
· Decibel (dB). A unit of measurement used to express
the relative intensity of sound as heard by the human
ear describing the amplitude of sound, equal to 20
times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the
pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter).
Decibel, A-weighted (dBA). The "A-weighted" scale
for measuring sound in decibels; weights or reduces
the effects of low and high frequencies in order to
stimulate human hearing. Every increase of 10 dBA
doubles the perceived loudness though the · noise is
actually ten times more intense.
Dedication. The commitment by an owner or
devel- oper of private land for public use, and the
acceptance of land for such use by the governmental
agency hav- ing jurisdiction over the public
function for which it will be used. Dedications for
roads, parks, school sites, or other public uses often
are required by the city as conditions of approval on
a development.
Dedication, In lieu of. Cash payments which may be
required of an owner or developer as a substitute for a dedication of land, usually calculated in dollars per lot, and referred to as in lieu fees or in lieu contributions.
Density. The number of residential dwelling units per
acre of land. Densities specified in the General Plan
are expressed in units per gross developable acre. (See "Acres, Gross," and "Acres, Gross Developable.")
Density Bonus.-A program which allows projects
providing affordable residential rental units,
affordable housing, or housing for elderly or disabled
persons to exceed the otherwise maximum
residential zoning density of the site when approved
by the Planning Commission. Densitv bonus units
shall not be included when calculating the number
of affordable units required to qualify for a density
bonus. The allocation of development rights chat
allow a parcel to accommodate additional square
footage or additional residential units beyond the
maximum for which the parcel is wned, usually in
e][change for the proYision or preservation of an
amenity at the same site or at another location.Under
California Scace Law, residential projects that pro
vide affordable housing may be entitled to a 35 per
cent increa.se of the underlying zone district.
Design Life. The design life of a structure is the
period of time during which it can still safely meet
the demand of its users.
Detention Area. A detention area is an area in the
natural environment where rainwater runoff and
stormwater naturally collects. Human activity and
construction of homes have the effect of changing
the size and shape of a detention area.
Detention Basin/Pond. Facilities classified according to the broad function they serve, such as · storage, diversion or detention. Detention facilities are constructed to retard flood runoff and minimize the
effect of floods.
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Packet Pg. 627 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Developer. An individual who, or business which,
prepares raw land for the construction of buildings
or builds or causes to be built physical building space for use primarily by others, and in which the preparation of the land or the creation of the building space is in itself a business and is not incidental to
another business or activity.
Development. The physical extension and/or construction of urban land uses. Development activities include but are not limited to: subdivision of land;
construction or alteration of structures, roads, utilities, and other facilities; installation of septic systems; grading; deposit of refuse, debris, or fill materials; and clearing of natural vegetation cover (with the exception of agricultural activities). Routine repair
and maintenance activities are not considered as
"development."
Easement. A right given by the owner of land to
another party for specific limited use of that land. An easement may be acquired by a government through
dedication when the purchase of an entire interest in
the property may be too expensive or unnecessary;
usually needed for utilities or shared parking.
Economic Base. Basic economic sectors in a community are those that make products and services that are sold outside the community, thereby creating
income for local workers and companies.
Endangered Species, California. A native species or
sub-species of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile, or plant, which is in serious danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a significant portion of its range, due to one or more factors,_ induding loss
in habitat, change in habitat, over-exploitation, predation, competition, or disease. The status is determined by the State Department of Fish and Game together with the State Fish and Game Commission.
Endangered Species, Federal. A species which is in
danger of extinction throughout all or a significant
portion of its range, other than the species of the
Class Insect determined to constitute a pest whose
protection under the provisions of the 1973 Endangered Species Act, as amended, would present an G-4 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
overwhelming and overriding risk to humans. The
status is determined by the US Fish and Wildlife
Service and the Department of the Interior.
Environmental Impact Report (EIR). A document
used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts
of a project, evaluate reasonable alternatives to the
project, and identify mitigation measures necessary
to minimize the impacts. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that the agency with primary responsibility over the approval of a
project (the lead agency) evaluate the project's potential impacts in an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas. As
defined by the California Coastal act, these are areas
containing plants or animals in their habitats that
are rare or valuable due to their specific role in the
ecosystem, and are likely a potential for disturbance
due to human activities.
Environmental Justice. Environmental Justice refers
to the fair treatment of all people - regardless of race, income, and religion - when implementing policies
that affect housing and the environment. The federal and State government have policies that require agencies to identify and avoid placing a disproportionately large number of minority and low-income populations in certain geographical locations.
Equivalent Sound Level (Leq). A single-number representation of the fluctuating sound level in decibels over a specified period of time. It is a sound-energy
average of the fluctuating level.
Erosion. The process by which material is removed
from the earth's surface (including weathering, dissolution, abrasion, and transportation), most commonly by wind or water.
Expansive Soils; Soils which swell when they absorb
water and shrink as they dry.
Farmland Classification. California Department of
Conservation system for categorizing farmland with
respect to its potential for agricultural productivity
based on soil type and other physical characteristics.
1.c
Packet Pg. 628 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Fault. A fracture in the earth's crust forming a
boundary between rock masses chat have shifted.
An active fault is a fault that has moved recently and
which is likely to again. An inactive fault is a fault
which shows no evidence of movement in recent geologic time and little potential for movement.
Findings. Findings are defined as the results of an
investigation, carried out by an investigating team.
Floodplain. An area adjacent to a lake, stream, ocean
or other body of water lying outside the ordinary
banks of the water body and periodically inundated
by flood flows. Often referred to as the area likely to be inundated by the 100-year flood.
Flood Zone. The relatively level land area on either
side of the banks of a stream that is subject to flooding under a 100-year or a 500-year flood.
Floor Area, Gross. The total horizontal area in
square feet of all floors within the exterior walls of
a building, but not including the area of unroofed
inner courts or shaft enclosures.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR). The ratio between gross
floor area of structures on a site and gross site area.
Thus, a building with a floor area of 100,000 square
feet on a 50,000 square-foot lot will have a FAR of
2.0. Examples showing the concept of FAR:
Flora and Fauna. Flora and fauna refer to plant and
wildlife, respectively. The indigenous plant and wildlife of a geographical region is often referred to as that region's flora and fauna.
Freeway. Freeways provide intra- and inter-regional
mobility. Freeway access is restricted to primary arterials via interchanges.
Global Warming Potential. The relative impact of
each greenhouse gas on climate change, on a scale
based on the impact of carbon dioxide, whose Global
Warming Potential (GWP) is 1.
Graywater. Graywater is defined as the wastewater
produced from baths and showers, clothes washers,
and lavatories. Graywacer may be recycled for irrigation, cooling, or other secondary uses after minimal treatment.
Green Building. A Green Building generally refer
to one that is environmentally friendly in terms of
energy consumption, or the waste they produce during its entire life-cycle. A Green Building will have little or no significant impact on the environment.
Green buildings are scored by rating systems, such as
the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) rating system developed by the U.S. Green
Building Council, Green Globes from GBI and other
locally developed rating systems.
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Packet Pg. 629 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption Greenhouse Gases. Greenhouse gases are gases
in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation
within the thermal infrared range. This process is the
fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. Carbon
dioxide, methane, and ozone are examples of greenhouse gases.
Groundwater. Water under the earth's surface, often
confined to aquifers capable of supplying wells and
springs.
Groundwater Recharge. The natural process of
infiltration and percolation of rainwater from land
areas or streams through permeable soils into waterholding rocks that provide underground storage (i.e. aquifers).
Habitat. The natural environmental of a plant or
animal.
Hazardous Material. A material or form of energy
that could cause injury or illness to persons, livestock, or the natural environment. Some examples from ·everyday life include, gasoline, fertilizers, detergent, used cooking oil, mineral spirits, batteries, and paint.
Hazardous Waste. Waste which requires special handling to avoid illness or injury to persons or damage to property. Includes, but is not limited to, inorganic mineral acids of sulfur, fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen,
chromium, phosphorous, selenium and arsenic and
their common salts; lead, nickel, and mercury and
their inorganic salts or metallo-organic derivatives;
coal, tar acids such as phenol and cresols and their
salts; and all radioactive materials.
Historic Resource. A historic building or site that
is noteworthy for its significance m local, state,
national, its architecture or design, or its works of
art, memorabilia, or artifacts.
Historic Structure. A structure deemed to be historically significant based on its visual quality, design, history, association, context, and/or integrity.
Household. An occupied housing unit.
G-6 PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Impact Fee. A fee, also called a development fee, levied on the developer of a project by a city, county, or other public agency as compensation for otherwise-unmitigated impacts the project will produce.
California Government Code § 54990 specifies that
development fees shall not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged. To lawfully impose a development fee,
the public agency must verify its method of calculation and document proper restrictions on use of the fund.
Impervious Surface. Any material which reduces or
prevents absorption of water into land.
Implementation. Actions, procedures, programs, or
techniques that carry out policies.
Infill. The development of new housing or other
buildings on scattered vacant lots in a predominantly
developed area or on new building parcels created by
permitted lot splits.
Infiltration. The introduction of underground water,
such as groundwater, into wastewater collection systems. Infiltration results in increased wastewater flow levels.
Infrastructure. Permanent utility installations,
including roads, water supply lines, sewage collection
pipes, and power and communications lines.
Intersection Capacity. The maximum number of
vehicles that has a reasonable expectation of passing through an intersection in one direction during a given time period under prevailing roadway and traffic conditions.
Intrusive Noise. That noise which intrudes over and
above the existing ambient noise at a given location.
The relative intrusiveness of a sound depends upon
its amplitude, duration, frequency, time of occurrence, and tonal or information content as well as the prevailing noise level.
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Packet Pg. 630 Attachment: Attachment C - Redline Edits to May 2022 Draft General Plan (includes only chapters with edits) (5035 : Consideration of Adoption ISO Rating. This rating considers a commumty s
fire defense capacity versus fire potential, and then
uses the score to set property insurance premiums for
homeowners and commercial property owners.
Jobs-Employed Residents Ratio. Total jobs divided
by total employed residents (i.e. people who live in
the area, but may work anywhere). A ratio of 1.0
typically indicates a balance. A ratio greater than 1.0 indicates a net in-commute; less than 1.0 indicates a
net out-commute.
K Factor. Erosion factor K indicates the susceptibility of a soil to sheet and rill erosion by water. Factor K is one of six factors used in the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and the Revised Universal
Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to predict the average
annual rate of soil loss by sheet and rill erosion in
tons per acre per year. The estimates are based primarily on percentage of silt, sand, and organic matter and on soil structure and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat). Values ofK range from 0 .02 to 0.69.
Other factors being equal, the higher the value, the
more susceptible the soil is to sheet and rill erosion
by water.
LEED. The Leadership in Ene~gy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System"' is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design,
construction, and operation of high performance
green buildings.
Level of Service, LOS (traffic). A qualitative measure
describing operational conditions within a traffic
stream and the perception of motorists and/ or passengers regarding these conditions. A level of service definition generally describes these conditions in terms of such factors as traffic volumes, speed
and travel time, delays at traffic signals, freedom
to maneuver, traffic interruptions, comfort, convenience, and safety.
Liquefaction. A sudden large decrease in the shearing resistance of a cohesion less soil, caused by a collapse of the structure by shock or strain, and associated with a sudden but temporary increase of the pore fluid pressure.
Low Impact Development. Site planning and development features that reduce impermeable surface areas and increase infiltration, such as use of permeable paving, vegetated swales, and water retention facilities.
Maximum Contaminant Level. Are standards that
are set by the Environmental Protection Agency for
drinking water quality in Title 40 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. The limit is usually expressed
as a concentration in milligrams or micrograms per
liter of water.
Median Strip. The dividing area, either paved or
landscaped, between opposing lanes of traffic on a
roadway.
Minerals. Any naturally occurring chemical element or compound, or groups of elements and compounds, formed from inorganic processes and
organic substances, including, but not limited to,
coal, peat, and bituminous rock, but excluding geothermal resources, natural gas, and petroleum (Public Resources Code Section 2005).