Each trail should have an identity as part
of the Pacifica trail system (e.g., Trail 1—
Coastal Trail). Where routes are shared
with the California Coastal Trail or the
Bay Area Ridge Trail, these should also be
identified.
OC-I-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.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-23
Table 6-5: COASTAL ACCESS POINTS
Map Name Beach
Access?
Ownership Detail Proposed Improvement
13 Sharp Park,
South End
Yes City/County
of SF
Beach access from south end of berm.
Access point is reached by GGNRA's Mori
Point Trail.
14 Mori Point No GGNRA Steep rocky bluffs, subject to rockfalls. Trail improvements and habitat restoration in
progress.
15 Mori Point
Public Parking
Lot
Yes GGNRA Small parking lot at Mori Point Rd. &
Bradford Way. Mori Point Trail provides
access to beach and bluff top trails.
16 Calera Creek
Public Parking
Lot
Yes City Small parking lot west of Reina del Mar
& Highway 1 intersection. Calera Creek
Multi-use Trail provides access to Rockaway
Beach
17 Rockaway
Beach, North
End
Yes City, private Low armored bluffs to sandy beach.
Informal beach access. Public parking lot
provides access to beach, most of which is
privately-owned
Ensure public access.
18 Rockaway
Beach Seawall
No City Promenade above seawall provides ocean
views. Parking available in private lots or
on-street.
19 Rockaway
Beach, South
End
Yes Private Gentle slope to sandy beach. Popular for
surfing, ocean viewing. Served by public
parking lot for 60 vehicles. Also a trailhead
for Coastal Trail.
Ensure public access to the
beach.
20 Aramai Point No Private Headlands with steep cliffs descending to cobble beach. No formal access. Erosion
concerns.
Provide public trail to
overlook point as part
of development or land
conservation.
21 North End of
Pacifica State
Beach
Yes State Unrestricted access along beach and
Coastal Trail. Nearest parking at public lot
at Crespi Drive.
22 Central Pacifica
State Beach
Yes State Unrestricted beach access, and access to
Coastal Trail. Public lot across Highway 1 at
Crespi Drive provides 175 parking spaces,
restrooms and changing facilities/
Provide additional signage
and amenities at Crespi
Drive parking lot in relation
to proposed extension of
Baquiano Trail.
23 South End of
Pacifica State
Beach
Yes State Unrestricted beach access and access to
Coastal Trail. Public parking for State Beach
provided in two parking lots, accessed from
Highway 1 and San Pedro Avenue.
24 North Side
Pedro Point
Shopping
Center
Yes Private Informal trail access, and customer parking at shopping center.
Improve new segment of
Coastal Trail along former
railroad berm.
25 Oceanshore
Railroad Berm
No Private Narrow sandy beach backed by private
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
Headlands
No Public Headlands with steep cliffs. Limited trail
access exists from trailhead at Highway 1.
Access improvements
expected as a result of
proposed construction of
the Coastal Trail between
Pedro Point Shopping Center
and the Devil’s Slide north
trailhead.
Source: City of Pacifica General Plan, 1980; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
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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-Pacific Manor neighborhood, and a public easement on the south side of the San Francisco RV Park.
Promote potential trail improvements by GGNRA to create controlled public access to the bluffs while protecting Northern Coastal scrub and other vegetation (top).
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.
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-25
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.
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.
OC-G-10 Distribution of Public Coastal
Facilities. Continue to distribute public
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-I-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.
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).
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OC-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-42 Structures on Public Beaches. Limit
structural development on public beaches
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-I-43 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-I-44 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:
• Is held between Memorial Day weekend 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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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-27
OC-I-45 Fees and Time Restrictions. Ensure
that public beaches and parks in the
Coastal Zone maintain free and lowercost user fees and parking fees, and minimize parking lot and beach curfews to the extent feasible in order to maximize
public access and recreation opportunities.
OC-I-46 Northern Coastal Bluffs. Promote
potential trail improvements by GGNRA
to create controlled public access to the
bluffs, while protecting Northern Coastal
scrub and other vegetation. (See Points 1
and 2 on Figure 6-3.)
OC-I-47 Esplanade Bluff. Develop a small
public park or viewing area and a trail
on City-owned bluff top land along the
400-block of Esplanade Avenue (Point 5
on Figure 6-3), if such improvements are
feasible.
OC-I-48 Coastal Access Point South of RV
Park. Complete planned improvements
to public access along the easement south
of the RV Park (Point 7 on Figure 6-3),
including trail improvements and natural
restoration.
OC-I-49 Beach Boulevard. Ensure that public
access to the coast at the Promenade and
Pier (Points 9 and 10 on Figure 6-3) is
maintained and enhanced by redevelopment at the City-owned 2212 Beach Boulevard site, including continuation of
public parking.
OC-I-50 Rockaway Beach. Ensure that public
access to Rockaway Beach (from Points
17 and 19 on Figure 6-3) is maintained.
OC-I-51 Rockaway Headlands. On the Headlands south of Rockaway Beach, create public access to coastal views (Point 20
on Figure 6-3).
OC-I-52 Pedro Point Headlands. Extend
trails on Pedro Point Headlands to a
coastal overlook point. (See Point 27 on
Figure 6-3.)
OC-I-53 Rockaway Quarry.If a safe public
route can be developed on the Quarry
uplands, create coastal access along a new
trail connecting Rockaway Beach with
Mori Point, as part of a conservation proposal or new development.
The public has continuous access to the beach at Pacifica State Beach, and to other beaches in the City.
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Ocean Shore
Elementary
School
Fire Station #71
North Coast
Water District
Headquaters
Ingrid B. Lacy
Middle School
Sunset Ridge
Elementary
School
Library
Paci ca
Resource
Center
Beach
Boulevard
Property
Paci ca
Center for the Arts
Fire
Station
#72
Linda Mar
Educational Center
Terra Nova
High School
Paci ca Boys & Girls Club
Alma Heights
Christian
Academy
Cabrillo
Elementary
School
Paci ca
Community
Center
Sanchez
Library
Ortega
Elementary
School
Vallemar
Elementary
School
Police
Station
Paci ca School District
Headquaters
Water
Recycling
Plant
Oceana
High School
Good Sheperd
Catholic School
Fairmont
Engineering,
Public Works
Department
City Hall
Pa cific
O cea n
D e v i l ’ s S l i d e T u n n e l
Figure 6-4:
Schools and
Community Facilities
0 1/4 1/2 1
MILES
2 Schools
Public School
Private School
Closed Public School
Emergency Services
Police Station
Fire Station
Other Community Facilities
Community Facility
City Limits
Planning Area
Source: City of Paci ca, 2020; San Mateo
County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
Paci ca
Pier
Milagra R i dg e (GGNRA )
Sharp Par k
Golf Cours e
Mori Poin t (GGNRA )
Sha r p Pa rk
Sw e en ey
Ridg e
(GGNRA )
Sa n P ed ro Val le y
C ou n ty Pa rk
Pe d ro Poi nt
Headland s
Sharp
Park
Beach
Rockaway
Beach
Paci ca
State
Beach
Northern
Coastal
Blu
s
(GGNRA)
Pe nin sul a
Watersh ed
(SFPUC )
GAT EWAY DR
FIRECREST AVE
INVERNESS DR
MONTEREY RD
OLD COAST HWY
MANOR DR
SKYLINE BLVD
GLENCOURT
MONTEREY RD
P A OTTEMLA VE
EDGEMAR DR
MILLER AVE
AVALON DR
OCEANA BLVD
PALOMA AVE
TALBOT AVE
BRADFORD WAY
SHARP PARK RD
MOANA WAY
LUNDY WAY
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
DVLB HCAEB
REINA DEL MAR AVE
ROCKA WAY BEACH AVE
TERRANOVA BLVD
EVERGLADES DR
ODDSTAD BLVD
CRESPI DR
LERIDA WAY
CRESPI DR
SEVILLE DR
MANZANITA D
A
R
LICANTE
LIN
DR
DA MAR BLVD
ROSITA RD
ROSITA RD
ADOBE RD
PERALTA RD
DE SOLO
LINDA MAR BLVD
FASSLER AVE
PARK LINCOLN
GRAND AVE
WESTBOROUGH
KING DR
SKYLINE BLVD
MILAGRA DR
HICKEY BLVD
ESPLANADE AVE
MANOR DR
ROBERTS RD
SHARP PARK RD
SEASIDE DR
CLARENDON RD
Figure 6-4:
Schools and Community Facilities
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 6-29
JEFFERSON UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Jefferson Union High School District (JUHSD)
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.
6.4 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 open
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.
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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
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 pre-schoolaged 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 JPA was 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 JPA 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 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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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 Facilities
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 del Mar Avenue.
The Senior Services division is housed in the Pacifica
Community 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 has temporarily 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 exteTable 6-6: PACIFICA SCHOOLS BY ENROLLMENT AND CAPACITY School (Grade Levels) 2012-13 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.
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rior 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.
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 those
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 Pacifica Table 6-7: CHARACTERISTICS OF PACIFICA LIBRARIES
Sanchez Branch Sharp Park Branch Pacifica
Libraries Total
Library JPA System
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 2007.
San Mateo County Library, 2017.
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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 School 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.
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 oth-ers 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-I-54 High-Quality Schools. Support Pacifica School District (PSD) and Jefferson Union High School District (JUHSD) in
maintaining high-quality schools.
OC-I-55 School Site Reuse and Redevelopment.
Identify appropriate future land uses for
unused school sites that are compatible
with existing neighborhoods.
OC-I-56 Linda Mar School. Encourage PSD to
maintain Linda Mar school site to meet
future needs and potential enrollment
growth.
OC-I-57 Oceana High School. Encourage
JUHSD to optimize the mission and
space needs of the Oceana High School
program.
OC-I-58 Civic Center. Continue to study the
feasibility of developing a new City Hall
Pacifica’s City Hall and Municipal Services building could be replaced by a new civic center (top). The Pacifica Community Center on Crespi Drive is a multi-purpose venue that hosts special events, classes, and daily programming for seniors (bottom).
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or Civic Center to provide adequate space
for long-term needs and enhance the
City’s image.
OC-I-59 Beach Boulevard Property. Continue to
pursue redevelopment of the City-owned
Beach Boulevard property.
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-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-63 Senior and Community Services. Continue to use available funding sources to maintain and enhance the City’s Senior
Services program, including meal services, transportation, and counseling. In addition, continue to support non-profit
service providers in offering other needed
community services.
OC-I-64 Medical Services. Encourage Seton
Medical Center or other organization to
provide an outpatient clinic in Pacifica.
OC-I-65 New Cultural Facilities. Support the
location or relocation of cultural facilities
as part of redevelopment of the Rockaway Quarry site or in the West Sharp Park neighborhood, where such uses
could generate economic benefits.
OC-I-66 Future Use of City Hall. Explore the
possibility of attracting cultural uses to
the current City Hall (the former Sharp
Park schoolhouse), in coordination with
development of a new City Hall.
New uses could be coordinated with
activities at the neighboring Little Brown
Church.
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Packet Pg. 216 Attachment: Attachment B - Planning Commission Agenda Packet - June 6, 2022 (5049 : Appeal of Planning Commission Recommendation to 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. 7 CONSERVAT ION
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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 the 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.
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.
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NORTH
GLOBE BIG
INCH
MILAGRA
CREEK
UNNAMED
SANCHEZ
CREEK
CALERA CREEK
QUARRY
SAN PEDRO CREEK
SAN MATEO
CREEK
M
Big Inch Creek
ilagra Creek
S anchez Cre ek
C alera Creek
Roc ka way Cre ek
M iddle Fo r k San Pedro Creek S. Fork San Pedro Creek
San Pedro Cre ek
P a c i f i c
O cea n
D e v i l ’ s S l i d e T u n n e l
Figure 7-1:
Hydrology
0 1/4 1/2 1
MILES
2 Watersheds
Creeks
Underground/Culvert/Ephemeral
Water Treatment Facility
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.
Sharp Par k
Golf Cours e
Paci ca
Pier
Milagra R i dg e
(GGNRA )
Mori Poin t
(GGNRA )
Sha r p Pa rk
Sw e en ey
Ridg e
(GGNRA )
Sa n P ed ro Val le y C ou n ty Pa rk
Pe d ro Poi nt
Headland s
Sharp
Park
Beach
Rockaway
Beach
Paci ca
State
Beach
Northern
Coastal
Blu
s
(GGNRA)
(SFPUC )
Watershe d
Peni nsu la
Facility
Treatment
Water
GAT EWAY DR
FIRECREST AVE
INVERNESS DR
MONTEREY RD
OLD COAST HWY
MANOR DR
SKYLINE BLVD
GLENCOURT
VEA OTTEMLAP
EDGEMAR DR
MILLER AVE
AVALON DR
OCEANA BLVD
PALOMA AVE
TALBOT AVE
BRADFORD WAY
SHARP PARK RD
MOANA WAY
LUNDY WAY
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
DVLB HCAEB
REINA DEL MAR AVE
ROCKA WAY BEACH AVE
TERRANOVA BLVD
EVERGLADES DR
ODDSTAD BLVD
CRESPI DR
LERIDA WAY
CRESPI DR
SEVILLE DR
MANZANITA D
AL
R
ICANTE
LIN
DR
DA MAR BLVD
ROSITA RD
ADOBE RD
PERALTA RD
DE SOLO
LINDA MAR BLVD
FASSLER AVE
PARK LINCOLN
GRAND AVE
WESTBOROUGH
KING DR
SKYLINE BLVD
MILAGRA DR
HICKEY BLVD
ESPLANADE AVE
MANOR DR
ROBERTS RD
SHARP PARK RD
SEASIDE DR
CLARENDON RD
Brook s Cre e k
Figure 7-1: Hydrology 2.b
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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.
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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 Francisco 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 saltwater
marshes, freshwater marshes, open or closed brackish
water marshes, swamps, mudflats, and fens” (Section
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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.
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 and
private streets, parking lots, building roofs and other 3 Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
(BAWSCA). BAWSCA Annual Survey-FY 2019-2020.
March 2019. Accessed at http://www.bawsca.org,
Table 7-1: IMPAIRED WATER BODIES
Water Body Pollutant Potential Source
Status of TMDL
Preparation and Approval1
San Pedro Creek Coliform bacteria Urban runoff/storm sewers Approved (2013) San Mateo Creek Diazinon Urban runoff/storm sewers Approved (2007)
1. The date of planned TMDL completion is provided in the 303(d) lists from the SWRCB.
Source: SWRCB, 2020
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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 NPDES 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, hydromodification 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. Pacifica’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 (BAWSCA), 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 of 2.43 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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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 States 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 106 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.
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 wet 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 (I/I) of extraneous 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, the City developed the Wet 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.cityofpacifica.org/ depts/pw/wwt/caleracreek/default.asp, 2019.
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piping 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).
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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
functionality 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.
Implementing Policies
Creeks, Wetlands, and Coastal Waters
CO-I-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 Man2.b
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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.
CO-I-2 Improvement of Impaired 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.
CO-I-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.
CO-I-4 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.
CO-I-5 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.
CO-I-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.
CO-I-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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CO-I-8 Continued Movement of Sediment
and Nutrients. Allow sediment removed
from erosion and flood control facilities
to be placed at appropriate points on the
shoreline, where environmental effects
will be minimal.
Stormwater Management
CO-I-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 prevention and control:
• Municipal maintenance activities
• Industrial and illicit discharge
• Public information and participation
• New development and construction
controls
• Watershed monitoring
CO-I-10 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.
CO-I-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
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.
• 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 that 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 that 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 NPDES Permit, and must be operated
and maintained in compliance with the
NPDES Permit.
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• 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.
CO-I-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.
CO-I-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 General Conditions
of Approval and the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program.
CO-I-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.
CO-I-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.
CO-I-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 roofs;
• 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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• Cisterns or sub-surface retention facilities
that capture rainwater for use in irrigation and non-potable uses.
CO-I-17 Prevent Contaminated Runoff.
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 traffic, 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.
CO-I-18 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-I-19 Water Supply. Support the Bay Area
Water Supply & Conservation Agency in
advocating for reliable and fairly priced
water from the San Francisco regional
water system.
CO-I-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-I-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 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-I-22 Water Storage. Support the
NCCWD in its efforts to provide
adequate emergency water storage in
Pacifica.
Wastewater Collection and Treatment
CO-I-23 Wastewater Treatment Capacity.
Continue to monitor wastewater generation rates so decision-makers are aware of the impacts on the treatment plant on
new development, and plan for additional capacity in advance of projected need.
CO-I-24 Sewer System Connections. Require
all new development to be connected to
the City’s sewer system.
CO-I-25 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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·|}þ1
·|}þ35
Devi l' s Slide Tunnel
P a c i f i c
O c e a n
FIRECREST AVE
GAT EWAYDR
HICKEY B LV D
IVERNESS DR
PA ML ETTO AVE
ESPLANADE AVE
MONTEREY RD
NELSON AVE
MANOR DR
AVALON DR
MIL AGRA D R
E DGEMAR A V E
PALMETTO AVE
PALOMA AVE
OCEANA BLVD
TALBOT A VE
MOANA WAY
CLARENDON RD
SHARP PARK RD
FRANCISCO BLVD
SHARP P A R K RD
BRADFORD WAY
LUNDY WAY
FA SSLER AVE
ROCKAWAY BE ACH AVE
REINA DEL MAR AVE
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
TERRA NOVA BLVD
CRESPI DR
EVER GLADES DR
MA NZANI TA DR
LERID A WAY
ODDSTAD BLVD
LINDA M AR BLVD
S EVILLE DR
LINDA MAR BLVD
GRAND AVE
CRESPIDR
ADOBE DR
PERALTA RD
ROSITA RD
SAN PEDRO AVE
DE SOLODR
R OBERTSRD Northern
Coastal Scrub
Annual
Grassland
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Coastal Mixed
Hardwood/
Oak Woodland
Coastal
Bluff Scrub
Monterey
Cyprus
Urban
Beach/
Intertidal
Northern
Coastal Scrub
Urban
Northern
Coastal Scrub
Eucalyptus
Riparian
Mixed
Hardwood
Coastal Mixed
Hardwood/
Annual Oak Woodland
Grassland Eucalyptus
Riparian
Mixed
Hardwood
Riparian
Mixed
Hardwood
Northern
Coastal Scrub
Northern
Coastal Scrub
Northern
Coastal Scrub
Northern
Coastal Scrub
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Northern
Coastal Scrub
Urban
Coastal Mixed
Hardwood/
Oak Woodland
Annual
Grassland
Riparian
Mixed
Hardwood
Beach/
Intertidal
Riparian
Mixed
Hardwood Annual
Grassland
Eucalyptus
Willow
Riparian
Scrub
Riparian
Mixed
Hardwood
Beach/
Intertidal
Beach/
Intertidal
Wetlands
Wetlands
Milagr a Creek
Sou th Fork SanPedro C reek
San Pedro Creek
Calera Creek
Sanchez Creek
MILES
0 1/4 1/2 1 2
Figure 7-2:
Vegetation
Grassland/ Prairie
Coastal Bluff Scrub
Coastal Mixed
Hardwood/Oak Woodland
Eucalyptus
Northern Coastal Scrub
Monterey Cypress
Riparian Mixed Hardwood
Willow Riparian Scrub
Beach/Intertidal
Urban
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.
*Wetlands are shown as mapped in the
USFWS National Wetlands Inventory.
Site assessments is required to delineate
actual wetlands.
Creeks
Wetlands
City Limits
Planning Area
Figure 7-2: Vegetation 2.b
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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 (ESHA) 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 EIR includes a more
detailed description of 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 raptors (birds of prey) including hawks, owls,
and turkey vultures. The grasslands in Pacifica are
8 Public Resources Code § 30107.5.
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, and San
Francisco owl’s clover.10
9 “Special-status” plant and animal species are defined in more detail in the Special-status 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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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 saltbush, 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.
SPECIAL-STATUS 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-STATUS SPECIES IN NORTHERN COASTAL
SCRUB HABITAT
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 SPECIES IN COASTAL MIXED
HARDWOOD/OAK WOODLAND HABITAT
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 helianthella, Franciscan onion,
Hillsborough chocolate lily, and Indian Valley 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
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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.
SPECIAL-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.
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
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Paci ca
Pier
Milagra R i dg e (GGNRA )
Sharp Par k
Golf Cours e
Mori Poin t (GGNRA )
Sha r p Pa rk
Sw e en ey
Ridg e
(GGNRA )
Sa n P ed ro Val le y
C ou n ty Pa rk
Pe d ro Poi nt
Headland s
(G G NRA )
Sharp
Park
Beach
Rockaway
Beach
Paci ca
State
Beach
Northern
Coastal
Blu
s
(GGNRA)
(SFPUC )
Watersh ed
Pe nin sul a
O cea n
P a cif ic
GAT EWAY DR
FIRECREST AVE
INVERNESS DR
MONTEREY RD
OLD COAST HWY
MANOR DR
SKYLINE BLVD
GLENCOURT
MONTEREY RD
P A OTTEMLA VE
EDGEMAR DR
MILLER AVE
AVALON DR
OCEANA BLVD
PALOMA AVE
TALBOT AVE
BRADFORD WAY
SHARP PARK RD
MOANA WAY
LUNDY WAY
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
BEACH BLVD
REINA DEL MAR AVE
ROCKA WAY BEACH AVE
TERRANOVA BLVD
EVERGLADES DR
ODDSTAD BLVD
CRESPI DR
LERIDA WAY
CRESPI DR
SEVILLE DR
MANZANITA D
A
R
LICANTE
LIN
DR
DA MAR BLVD
ADOBE RD
PERALTA RD
DE SOLO
LINDA MAR BLVD
FASSLER AVE
PARK LINCOLN
GRAND AVE
SKYLINE BLVD
MILAGRA DR
HICKEY BLVD
ESPLANADE AVE
MANOR DR
ROBERTS RD
SHARP PARK RD
SEASIDE DR
CLARENDON RD
D e v i l ’ s S l i d e T u n n e l
SOURCE: Critical Habitat for reatened &
Endangered Species, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
2015; Steelhead Critical Habitat - Coast, National
Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA), 2005; California
Dept of Forestry, 2005; California Dept of Fish &
& Wildlife, 2005; California Native Plant Society,
2005; U S Geological Survey, 2005; City of Paci
ca,
2020; San Mateo County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
Milagra Ridge and Sharp Park/Sweeney Ridge
*100-400 foot wide corridor needed between
MILES
0 1/4 1/2 1 2
Planning Area
City Limits
Urban and Non Urban Land
with Little or No Habitat Value
Wildlife Movement Corridor*
reatened by Fragmentation
High Habitat Value/
Other Sensitive Areas
California Red-legged Frog
Steelhead
Critical Habitat
Sensitive Habitat Areas
Potential Environmentally
Critical Habitat
Sensitive and
Figure 7-3: Figure 7-3: Sensitive and
Critical Habitat
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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, Tomales 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 present
include the prickly sculpin, the Pacific lamprey, and
the threespine stickleback.
SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES IN STREAMS
The federally threatened steelhead trout use parts of
San Pedro Creek for spawning, including the main
portion parallel to Linda Mar Boulevard, as well as
the middle and south forks in San Pedro County
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. 14 SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES IN BEACH/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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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, 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).
16 Fish and Wildlife Service, 2010.
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.
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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.
Nearshore 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 com17 San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition, 2002 munities are found on steep, exposed bluffs along the
ocean and are dominated by low shrubs and groundhugging herbaceous species. It is particularly important for stabilizing sand dunes. Both bluff and 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 SpeMilagra 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.
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cies; special status communities 18 and areas designated as “other potential Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas.” Areas around Mori Point and Sharp
Park Golf Course are likely to qualify as an Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area.
Any proposed development on land designated on
the Sensitive and Critical Habitat map (Figure 7-3)
as having potential to include an ESHA 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 that 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 that 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
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).
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 that are candidates for listing under either
federal or state law;
• Species designated by the USFWS as species of
concern or species of local 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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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 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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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 of steelhead.
CO-G-10 Trees. Conserve trees and encourage
native forestation and planting of appropriate trees and vegetation.
CO-G-11 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
CO-I-26 Protection of Biological Resources
with New Development. Protect sensitive habitat areas and special-status species through implementation of the
following measures:
1) 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 to 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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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.
CO-I-27 Verification of ESHA. 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
resources, 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 S1 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
compelling evidence or rarity, such as
a designation of 1B (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.
CO-I-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 100 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 incorporated 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
subject 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
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drainage, vegetation, topography, and
other considerations.
• Alteration of landforms, removal of
vegetation, impervious surfaces, noise,
light, and glare shall be minimized.
CO-I-29 Fencing. Any fencing or barriers
located within riparian ESHAs or wildlife corridors shall permit the free passage of wildlife.
CO-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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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destroyed during Project implementation. If an active nest is found sufficiently 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.
CO-I-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.
CO-I-35 Protection of the Californian RedLegged Frog and San Francisco Garter Snake during Construction. 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
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.
CO-I-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).
CO-I-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 plant and animal
debris that wash ashore), which plays an
important role in the beach ecosystem.
CO-I-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
protect human health.
Techniques may include:
• Minimizing adverse effects of wastewater
discharge;
• Controlling runoff, preventing depletion
of ground water supplies and substantial
interference with surface waterflow;
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• Encouraging wastewater reclamation,
maintaining natural vegetation buffer
areas that protect riparian habitats; and
• Minimizing alteration of natural streams.
CO-I-39 Heritage Trees. Update the Heritage
Tree ordinance to improve ease of City
administration and clarity for applicants
and surrounding residents.
CO-I-40 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-I-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-I-42 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-I-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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7.3 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, Orthents 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 0 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.
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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;
• Operations are necessary immediately for the
safety of life 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 consisting of sand,
gravel, 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.
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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
CO-I-44 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.
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.
CO-I-45 Continuation of Agricultural and
Related Uses. Where agricultural and
related uses exist, allow compatible uses
to continue.
CO-I-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.
CO-I-47 Recreational Uses. Promote recreational uses, such as horse boarding and trail riding, which retain open space
character while contributing to a visitorbased economy.
7.4 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 physical 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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The BAAQMD 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 health of sensitive populations (children, the elderly, etc.).
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.
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 1 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 1 0
Days above federal 8-Hour Std. 0.075 0 0 0 0 0
Carbon Monoxide
Highest 8-hour average ppm 1.10 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 0 0 0 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; µg/m3 = micrograms per cubic meter.
Source: Bay Area Air Quality Management District, https://www.baaqmd.gov/about-air-quality/current-air-quality/air-monitoring-data/#/, 2020, accessed June 2021.
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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-I-48 Regional Cooperation. Cooperate with
the Bay Area Air Quality Management
District (BAAQMD) and other public agencies in implementing plans to achieve State and Federal Ambient Air
Quality Standards.
CO-I-49 Impact Guidelines. Use the BAAQMD’s
Air Quality Guidelines, 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.
CO-I-50 Sensitive Receptors. Work with
BAAQMD to develop and implement
a Community Risk Reduction Plan to
address the exposure of sensitive populations to toxic air contaminant emissions in Pacifica.
CO-I-51 Construction Equipment. Require all
construction equipment to be maintained and tuned to meet appropriate EPA and CARB emission requirements.
CO-I-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-I-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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7.5 ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE GASES
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 speed 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 2100.21 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
temperature. 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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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 (N2O), 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. Often, GWP is
Table 7-3: COMPARATIVE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Area Population Emissions (CO2e) Per Capita Rate (metric tons/ year/ person San Mateo County (2019) 767,000 3.9 million 5.7
Bay Area (2019) 7,730,000 47.3 million 6.1
California (2019) 39,280,000 418.2 million 10.6
United States (2019) 328,300,000 5,130 million 15.6
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. 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
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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 providers offer clean energy options including significant shares greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-free power
generation. The availability of electricity and gas services 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 Surveyy
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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, Community Design; Chapter 4, Land
Use; and Chapter 5, Circulation for related policies
that seek to improve air quality and reduce emissions
through urban design, land use, and transportation
strategies.
CO-I-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
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 through 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
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of GHGs that currently exist in Pacifica
and that existed in 1990;
• Projected GHG emissions expected in 2030
under this General Plan and foreseeable
municipal operations;
• Set a target for the reduction of GHG
emissions, in line with targets established
by the California Air Resources Board;
• Present a list of feasible—and to the greatest extent possible, quantifiable—GHG reduction measures to meet the reduction
target, in the areas of energy use (in all
sectors), transportation and land use, solid
waste, water, and education/outreach; and
• Establish an implementation plan, including strategies and funding for monitoring and making improvements..
CO-I-55 Green Building. Monitor the effectiveness of the California Green Building Code in bringing about energy efficiency
in architectural design and building construction.
CO-I-56 Solar Orientation. When possible,
require buildings to be oriented such that
the use of passive and active solar strategies is maximized, in order to promote energy efficiency.
To achieve ideal solar orientation conditions, the long axis of the building should be oriented east-west, within 15 degrees.
CO-I-57 Encourage Solar Power Generation.
Promote use of passive and active solar
devices such as solar collectors, solar
cells, and solar heating systems in buildings and parking areas by incentive programs and streamlining review.
CO-I-58 Clean City Fleet. Establish City budget for clean fuels and electric or hybrid vehicles to replace and improve the existing fleet of gasoline and diesel powered vehicles.
CO-I-59 City Purchasing of Renewable Energy.
Pursue opportunities for the City to
lower the cost of purchasing and producing renewable energy, such as through Peninsula Clean Energy or other energy
provider at the best value to the City.
CO-I-60 Waste Collection. Periodically evaluate the City’s waste collection contract to ensure that Pacifica residents and
businesses receive high-quality and cost
effective service.
CO-I-61 Waste Reduction and Diversion. Seek
to continually reduce Pacifica’s output of
solid waste and increase the proportion
of waste diverted from landfills, setting
targets and monitoring progress.
CO-I-62 Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings.
Prepare and implement a plan to increase
energy efficiency in existing public buildings.
Measures may include:
• Conduct energy audits for all municipal
facilities;
• Retrofit municipal facilities for energy
efficiency where feasible and when remodeling or replacing components, including increased insulation, installing green or
reflective roofs, installing automated lighting controls, and retrofitting heating and cooling systems.
• Require that any newly constructed, purchased, or leased municipal space meet minimum standards, such as exceeding
Title 24 energy efficiency by 20 percent;
• Educate employees on energy conservation.
CO-I-63 Wastewater and Water System Efficiency. Maximize the efficiency of Cityoperated wastewater treatment, water treatment, pumping, and distribution
equipment.
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CO-I-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.
7.6 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 Ramaytush 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 Ramaytush Ohlone people’s ancestral village of origin within the territorial boundaries of the Aramai, an independent tribe of the Ramaytush 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. Not
long after, Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission
Dolores in present-day San Francisco) was established,
and 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 San Pedro
mission outpost and its rancho, covering the majority
of the Planning Area, was granted to Francisco Sanchez, who built the adobe house that stands today as the oldest structure in San Mateo County. Following
23 California Historical Resources Information System
(CHRIS), 2021
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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.
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 hte Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission Delores), also is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and
the California Register of Historical Resources. The
San Mateo County Historical Association 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 vollage
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 Ohlone village of Pruristac (lower).
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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 SAlada 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.
Table 7-5: HISTORIC SITES IN PACIFICA
Site Address Year Constructed
National Historic Landmarks
Little Brown Church 1850 Francisco Boulevard 1910
National Register of Historic Places
San Francisco Bay Discovery Site Sweeney Ridge NA
California Historical Landmarks
Portola Expedition Camp at Pedro Creek Southeast of SR 1 and Crespi Drive NA San Francisco Bay Discovery Site Sweeney Ridge NA
Sanchez Adobe / Pruristac / San Pedro y San Pablo 1000 Linda Mar Boulevard 1842 California Point of Historical Interest
Tobin Station-Ocean Shore Railroad Shoreside Drive, Pedro Point Local Landmarks Identified in Historic Preservation Ordinance Anderson’s Store 220 Paloma Avenue 1907
Little Brown Church 1850 Francisco Boulevard 1910
San Pedro Schoolhouse 170 Santa Maria Avenue 1914
Sanchez Adobe / Pruristac / San Pedro y San Pablo1 1000 Linda Mar Boulevard 1842 Sharp Park Golf Course Sharp Park Road & SR 1 1932
Vallemar Station 2125 Coast Highway 1906
Private residence 165 Winona Avenue 1908
Private residence 185 Carmel Avenue 1910
Dollaradio Station (private residence) 100 Palmetto Avenue 1926 Sources: California Historical Resources Information System, 2021, City of Pacifica, 2020.
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;
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Anderson’s Store
185 Carmel Ave
San Pedro Schoolhouse
Little Brown Church
Golf Course
Sharp Park
Vallemar Station
165 Winona Ave
Discovery Site
San Francisco Bay
at Pedro Creek
Portola Expedition Camp
San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia
Sanchez Adobe/Pruristac/
California HistoricalLandmark)
Register of Historic Places and
Railroad (National Historic Landmark, National
Ocean Shore
Tobin Station
CLARENDON RD
SEASIDE DR
SHARP PARK RD
ROBERTS RD
MANOR DR
ESPLANADE AVE
HICKEY BLVD
MILAGRA DR
SKYLINE BLVD
KING DR
WESTBOROUGH
GRAND AVE
PARK LINCOLN
FASSLER AVE
LINDA MAR BLVD
DE SOLO
PERALTA RD
ADOBE RD
LINDA MAR BLVD ALICANTE DR
MANZANITA DR
SEVILLE DR
CRESPI DR
LERIDA WAY CRESPI DR
ODDSTAD BLVD
EVERGLADES DR
TERRANOVA BLVD
ROCKA WAY BEACH AVE
REINA DEL MAR AVE
BEACH BLVD
RIDGEWAY DR FAIRWAY DR
LUNDY WAY MOANA WAY SHARP PARK RD
BRADFORD WAY
TALBOT AVE
PALOMA AVE
OCEANA BLVD AVALON DR MILLER AVE
EDGEMAR DR
VE A OTTE MLAP
MONTEREY RD
GLENCOURT
SKYLINE BLVD
MANOR DR
OLD COAST HWY
MONTEREY RD INVERNESS DR
FIRECREST AVE
GAT EWAY DR
D e v i l ’ s S l i d e
T u n n e l
ROSITA RD
Paci ca
Pier
Milagra R i dg e
(GGNRA )
Sharp Par k
Golf Cours e
Mori Poin t (GGNRA )
Sha r p Pa r k
Sw e en e y
Ridg e (GGNRA )
Sa n P ed ro Val le y
C ou n ty Pa r k
Pe d ro Poi n t
Headland s
(G G NRA )
Sharp
Park
Beach
Rockaway
Beach
Paci ca
State
Beach
Northern
Coastal
Blu
s
(GGNRA)
Pe n i n sul a
Watersh e d
(SFPUC )
O cea n
Pac i c
Station
Dollaradio
and Local Landmark)
California Historical Landmark,
(National Register of Historic Places,
Planning Area
City Limits
Local Landmarks
California Point of
Historical Interest
California Historical
Landmarks
National Register of
Historic Places
National Historic
Landmark
Source: California Historical Resources
Information System, 2009; Northwest
Information Center, 2009; City of
Paci ca, 2019; San Mateo County, 2019;
Dyett & Bhatia, 2019.
0 1/4 1/2 1
MILES
2 Cultural Resources
Historic and
Figure 7-4: Figure 7-4: Historic and Cultural
Resources
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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.
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
CO-I-65 Historic Preservation Ordinance. Continue to evaluate development projects for their historical significance and preservation value, using the criteria in the Historic Preservation Ordinance.
CO-I-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.
CO-I-67 Public Agency Support for Local Historic Sites. Seek support from public agencies, such as GGNRA, for local
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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).
CO-I-68 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-I-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-I-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 that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share
of the negative environmental consequences resulting 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 pollution, presence of sensitive populations (i.e. those with asthma,cardiovascular disease, or low birthweight
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.
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 other 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
inequities. 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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POLICIES
Guiding Policy
CO-G-19 Environmental Justice. Strive to imple-
ment processes and procedures that pro-
mote environmental justice in support of
the Coastal Commission’s environmental
justice policy.
Implementing Policies
CO-I-71 Inclusive Engagement. Expand notifica-
tion efforts for major policy documents
and projects within Pacifica’s Coastal
Zone to underrepresented communities
outside of Pacifica.
CO-I-72 Removal of Barriers to Public Participa-
tion. 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 accommo-
date the underrepresented communities.
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8 SAFETY
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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 con¬firm the presence of liquefiable 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 stabilization 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 1 United States Geological Survey (USGS) Fact Sheet
2016-2030. Earthquake Outlook for the San Francisco
Bay Region 2014–2043 Accessed at https://pubs.usgs.
gov/fs/2016/3020/fs20163020.pdf
2 Ibid.
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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 Diablo 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
Fault rupture is the surface displacement of the
earth’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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Devil' s Slide Tunnel
Pacific O c e a n
Pacifica
State
Beach
Rockaway
Beach
Sharp
Park
Beach
Pacifica
Pier
Northern
Coastal
Bluffs
(GGNRA)
Pedro Point
Headlands
San Pedro Valley
County Park
Peninsula Watershed
(SFPUC)
Sweeney Ridge (GGNRA)
Mori Point
(GGNRA)
Sharp Park
Golf Course
Sharp Park
Milagra Ridge
(GGNRA)
MILES
0 1/4 1/212
Note: Liquefaction and Landslide Zones for the San
Francisco South 7.5' quadrangle are preliminary.
Maps are expected to be adopted in summer 2021.
Figure 8-1:
Seismic Hazard Zones
San Andreas Fault
Alquist Priolo Zone
Landslide Zone
Liquefaction Zone
City Limits
Planning Area
Source: California Department of Conservation,
2021; City of Pacifica, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
Figure 8-1: Seismic Hazard Zones2.b
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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 8-3a 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/1997/of97-745/. 19988.
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 from 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 land¬slides,
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/eqmaps/liquefac/liquefac.html. 2003.
Devil’s Slide has a long history of slope failures and rock slides that have resulted in the construction of a tunnel bypass.
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Devil' s Slide Tunnel
P a c i f i c O c e a n
Pacifica
State
Beach
Rockaway
Beach
Sharp
Park
Beach
Pacifica
Pier
Northern
Coastal
Bluffs
(GGNRA)
Pedro Point
Headlands
San Pedro Valley
County Park
Peninsula Watershed
(SFPUC)
Sweeney Ridge (GGNRA)
Mori Point
(GGNRA)
Sharp Park
Golf Course
Sharp Park
Milagra Ridge
(GGNRA)
MILES
0 1/4 1/212
Figure 8-2:
Liquefaction
Liquefaction Potential
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
City Limits
Planning Area
Source: MTC/ABAG Open Data Portal, 2020; Liquefaction
Susceptibility, Unites States Geological Survey,
2000 & 2006; Alquist Priolo Earthquake Fault
Zones, California Geological Survey, Seismic
Hazards Program, 2018; City of Pacifica, 2020;
Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
Figure 8-2: Liquefaction Zones 2.b
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400
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MILES
2 DFIRM, 2019; US Geological Survey, 1998; ESA, 2009; City of Pacifica, 2019; San Mateo County, 2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2019.
Source: Paci c Institute, 2009; FEMA Revised
of much of the Paci ca coastline.
Beach and cli
erosion are typical
Note:
Planning Area
City Limits
Coastal Zone
100 foot Contours
500 foot Contours
Riprap, Other Revetments
Seawall
Shoreline Protective Structures
Not Landslide Prone
Few Landslides
Mostly Landslides
Slope Failure reat
Figure 8-3:
Slope Failure and
Coastal Erosion
Pier
Paci ca
(GGNRA )
Milag r a Ridg e
Golf Cours e
Sharp Par k
(GGNRA )
Mori Poin t
Shar p Par k
(GGNRA )
Ridg e
Swee ne y
C ou n ty Pa rk
Sa n P ed ro Val ley
Headland s Pe d ro Poi nt
Beach
Park
Sharp
Beach
Rockaway
Beach
State
Paci ca
(GGNRA)
Blu
s
Coastal
Northern
(SFPUC )
Watersh ed
Pe nin sul a
O cea n
P a c i f i c
GAT EWAY DR
FIRECREST AVE
INVERNESS DR
MONTEREY RD
OLD COAST HWY
MANOR DR
SKYLINE BLVD
GLENCOURT
MONTEREY RD
P A OTTEMLA VE
EDGEMAR DR
MILLER AVE
AVALON DR
OCEANA BLVD
PALOMA AVE
TALBOT AVE
BRADFORD WAY
SHARP PARK RD
MOANA WAY
LUNDY WAY
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
BEACH BLVD
REINA DEL MAR AVE
ROCKA WAY BEACH AVE
TERRANOVA BLVD
EVERGLADES DR
ODDSTAD BLVD
CRESPI DR
LERIDA WAY
CRESPI DR
SEVILLE DR
MANZANITA D
A
R
LICANTE
LIN
DR
DA MAR BLVD
ADOBE RD
PERALTA RD
DE SOLO
LINDA MAR BLVD
FASSLER AVE
PARK LINCOLN
GRAND AVE
SKYLINE BLVD
MILAGRA DR
HICKEY BLVD
ESPLANADE AVE
MANOR DR
ROBERTS RD
SEASIDE DR
CLARENDON RD
D e v i l ’ s S l i d e T u n n e l
Figure 8-3: Slope Failure and
Coastal Erosion
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Milagra Ridge
(GGNRA)
Pacifica
State
Beach
Pacifica
Pier
Sharp Park
Golf Course
San Pedro Valley
County Park
Sharp Park
Mori Point
(GGNRA)
Sweeney
Ridge (GGNRA)
FASSLER AV E TERRA NOVA BLVD
GRAND AVE
ROCKAWAY BE ACH AVE
CRESPI DR
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
PALOMA AVE
CLARENDON RD
PALMETTO AVE
MANOR DR
AVALON DR
MI LAGR ADR
MONTEREY RD
IVERNESS DR
NELSON AVE
PALMETTO AVE
ADOBE DR
BEACH BLVD
HICKEY B LV D
P a c i fi c
Ocean
Northern
Coastal
Bluffs
(GGNRA)
Sharp
Park
Beach
Pe n i n s u l a Watershed
(SFPUC)
Rockaway
Beach
Pedro Point
Headlands
Devil' s Sl ide Tunnel
PERALTA RD
ROSITA RD
EVE RGLAD ES DR
MANZA NI T A DR
LERI D A WAY
R OBERTSRD
SHAR P PA RK R
BR
D
ADFORD WAY
ESPLANADE AV E
E DGEMAR A VE
GAT EWAYDR
FIRECREST AVE
OCEANA BLVD
SHARP PARK RD TALBO T AVE
MOANA WAY
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LINDA M A R BLVD
ODDSTAD BLVD
LINDA MAR BLVD
C R E SPIDR
REINA DEL MAR AVE
Sources: Esri, USGS, NOAA, California Geological Survey MILES
0 1/4 1/2 1 2
Historic landslide - debris ow
Debris Flow; Dormant
Debris Flow, Dormant Mature,
Old/Relict, or Age Unspecified
Figure 8-3b:
Landslide Inventory
Source: California Landslide Inventory: CGS Current
Mapping Standard, Active/Historic and Dormant
Young, 2016;City of Pacifica, 2019;
San Mateo County, 2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2019.
City Limits
Planning Area
O cea n
P a c i f i c
Figure 8-3b: Landslide Inventory 2.b
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of Skyline Boulevard. Figure 8-3b shows areas 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 soft 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 processes 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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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).
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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-I-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-I-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-I-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 Zones and areas suspected of high or very high risk of liquefaction, subsidence, or landslide.
SA-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-7 Erosion Prevention. Require erosion
prevention of hillside areas by revegetation
or other acceptable methods.
SA-I-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 the proposed project site, any necessary mitigation measures, and
a statement of the site’s 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 resulting from 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-I2.b Packet Pg. 368 Attachment: Attachment B - Draft General Plan (May 2022 Version) (5015 : General Plan Update and Sharp Park Specific Plan Recommendation
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2, further technical reports may be required
for applicable projects.
SA-I-9 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-I-10 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 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-I-12 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
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-I-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-I-14 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
(GHAD) is a potentially useful 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 engineering firm 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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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/
SA-I-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-I-16 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.
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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 steelhead 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 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 that 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.
Tsunami
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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Milagra Ridge
(GGNRA)
Pacifica
State
Beach
Pacifica
Pier
Sharp Park
Golf Course
San Pedro Valley County Park
Sharp Park
Mori Point
(GGNRA)
Sweeney Ridge (GGNRA)
FASSLER AV E TERRA NOVA BLVD
LINDA MAR BLVD
ODDSTAD BLVD
GRAND AVE
ROCKAWAY BE ACH AVE
REINA DEL MAR AVE
CRESPI DR
CRESPI DR
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
PALOMA AVE
CLARENDON RD
PALMETTO AVE
MANOR DR
AVALON DR
MI LAGR ADR
MONTEREY RD
IVERNESS DR
NELSON AVE
PA ML ETTO AVE
ADOBE DR
BEACH BLVD
HICKEY B LV D
P a c i f i c
O c e a n
Northern
Coastal
Bluffs
(GGNRA)
Sharp
Park
Beach
P e n i n s u l a Watershed
(SFPUC)
Rockaway
Beach
Pedro Point
Headlands
Devil' s Slide Tunnel
PERALTA RD
ROSITA RD
EVE RGLAD ES DR
M ANZA NI T A DR
LERI D A WAY
R OBERTSRD
SHAR P P A RK R D
BRADFORD WAY
ESPLANADE AV E
E DGEMAR A VE
GAT EWAYDR
FIRECREST AVE
OCEANA BLVD
SHARP PARK RD TALBO T AVE
MOANAW AY
Water
Recycling
Plant
·|}þ35
·|}þ1
MILES
0 1/4 1/2 1 2
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; City
of Pacifica, 2020; San Mateo County, 2020;
Dyett & Bhatia, 2021.
Figure 8-3:
Flood Zones
Planning Area
City Limits
0.2% Annual Chance
Flood Zone
1% Annual Chance
Flood Zone
1% Annual Chance
Coastal Flood Zone
Tsunami Evacuation Area
Figure 8-4: Flood Zones 2.b
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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. As 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 2010.
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.
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about opportunities to purchase federal
flood insurance.
SA-I-22 Flood Control Maintenance. Regularly maintain flood control structures, including, but not limited to drainage
channels, pipes, culverts, and stream beds.
SA-I-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-I-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-I-25 No Adverse Impact Approach. Update
the Flood Hazard Reduction regulations to
establish a “No Adverse Impact” standard
to floodplain and coastal development.
In essence, NAI 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
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-I-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-I-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-I-19 NDPES Enforcement. Enforce
NPDES 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-I-20 Flood Hazard Reduction. Continue to
comply with the Flood Damage Prevention
Ordinance in the Municipal Cod
SA-I-21 Flood Insurance. Inform households
and businesses located in flood-prone areas
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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.
SA-I-26 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-I-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 seawall/revetment structure protects the West Sharp Park area. The structure has required maintenance to repair areas undermined by beach erosion (bottom).
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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, public 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 Low (15% Chance Med-Hig (0.5% Chance) Extreme (N/A) 2050 1 ft. 2 ft.
2100 3 ft. 6 ft. 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.
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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:
(1) 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, subject 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-I-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-I-29 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-I31, update the Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan to strengthen public safety, preserve
existing neighborhoods, assure local economic vitality, respond to climate change,
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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-I-32) or consistent with Coastal Resilience Policy SA-I-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 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-I30). 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 Shoreline 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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Program, coastal resource impacts shall be
mitigated in accordance with SA-I-86.
SA-I-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-I14, or securing FEMA and other federal or state adaptation and hazard mitigation
funds, to finance adaptation strategies for
public infrastructure.
SA-I-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-I-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-I-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-I82 and SA-I-83.
SA-I-37 Business Outreach. The City’s Economic Development Division shall provide non-financial assistance to businesses in
evaluating options to promote business
resiliency.
SA-I-38 High Water Program. The City will
research and evaluate feasible new funding
mechanisms to implement a program to
record high water marks where feasible following high-water events.
SA-I-39 Flood Ordinance Consistency. The
City will review and amend as necessary
the flood damage prevention ordinance to
assure consistency with the updated policies and ordinances of the LCP.
SA-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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
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SA-I-82 and SA-I-83, other LCP policies,
and the Coastal Act. New development on
blufftops shall comply will all LCP setback
policies, including SA-I-71.
SA-I-43 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-I-48, 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-I-44 Transfer of Development Rights
(ongoing). Provide an option to private
landowners to voluntarily transfer development potential as supported by SA-I-61.
West Edgemar and Pacifica Manor Subarea
SA-I-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 protection structures if allowed pursuant
to Policies SA-I-82 and SA-I-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-I-32 or SA-I-85, as necessary.
SA-I-46 Beach Nourishment (0-1 foot SLR or
220-foot offset from bluff toe to infrastructure or development). Evaluate the feasibility of using beach nourishment, in
conjunction with sand retention structures
(artificial headlands concept) as described
in SA-I-81, 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. Mitigate all adverse impacts and
monitor effectiveness over time.
Northwest Sharp Park Subarea
SA-I-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-I-31 and
any prior permit conditions and/or legal
obligations pursuant to the California
Coastal Act.
SA-I-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-I-49 Flood Protection (1 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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Sharp Park, West Fairway Park, and Mori
Point Subarea
SA-I-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-I-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 consistent with Policies SA-I-82 and SA-I-83.
SA-I-52 Structure Elevation (0-2 feet SLR).
Maintain existing or construct shoreline
protection structures if consistent with
Policies SA-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-56 Shoreline Protection Structure Shoreline Protection Structures (0 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-I-82 and SA-I-83.
SA-I-57 Shoreline Protection (2-3 feet SLR,
or when backshore toe is 100 feet from
Highway 1). Coordinate with Caltrans to
evaluate the need for a revetment or other
appropriate shoreline protection for the
Highway 1 embankment.
SA-I-58 Public Access (0 feet SLR). Plan and
provide for enhanced public access, consistent with the City’s Shoreline Mitigation Program (SA-I-32).
SA-I-59 Beach Nourishment/Public Access
(0 feet SLR). Plan and implement beach
nourishment for Rockaway Beach. Monitor and measure performance and any
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reduction of shoreline protection structure
maintenance needs. Establish mechanisms
through the City’s Shoreline Mitigation
Program (SA-I-32) to receive and use beach
impact mitigation funds from other subareas of the City.
SA-I-60 Development Setbacks (ongoing).
Implement new development shoreline setbacks consistent with SA-I-71.
SA-I-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-I-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-I-63 Highway One Protection. Coordinate
with Caltrans to evaluate options for protecting Highway 1, if necessary.
SA-I-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-I-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
coastal storm flooding vulnerabilities to
wave run-up.
SA-I-66 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-I-67 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-I-68 Shoreline Protection Structure
Upgrades. Allow maintenance of existing or new shoreline protection structures to reduce hazards and resource impacts if
consistent with Policies SA-I-82 and SA-I83. Mitigate impacts consistent with the City’s Shoreline Mitigation Program (SA-I32) or SA-I-85, as necessary.
SA-I-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-I-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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• 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-I-71 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-I-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-I-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-74 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
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Packet Pg. 384 Attachment: Attachment B - Draft General Plan (May 2022 Version) (5015 : General Plan Update and Sharp Park Specific Plan Recommendation
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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-I-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-I-76 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 consistent 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-I-77 Protection of Private Property in
Hazardous Areas. Where full adherence with all LCP policies, including for 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-I-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. Habitats 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
OPC (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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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-I-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-I-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 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. Only allow new lots to be
created if they can be developed without
ever requiring shoreline protection for the
development.
Shoreline Protection Structures
SA-I-81 Soft Shoreline Protection. Encourage
the use of soft or natural shoreline protection methods, such as dune restoration and beach/sand nourishment as alternatives to
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-I-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 an
opportunistic sand program and evaluate
how replenishment options may need to
change over time with sea level rise.
SA-I-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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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 (SAI-32) and/or Policy SA-I-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-I-84 New Shoreline Protection Structures.
Shoreline protection structures, including
revetments, breakwaters, groins, seawalls,
cliff retaining walls, deep piers and caissons, and other such construction that 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-I-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
which protects any structure authorized to
be constructed pursuant to an exclusion
contained in the definition of Substantial
Exterior Structural Modification.
SA-I-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
2.b
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project approval. This policy may be met
through compliance with the City’s Shoreline Mitigation Program (SA-I-32) SA-I-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-I-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.
2.b
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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 (1) 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 (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 groundwater flows), potentially contaminating
subsurface areas of surrounding properties.
Table 8-2: CONTAMINATED SITES IN PACIFICA
Map
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 Certified/ Operation and maintenance as of
6/30/2011
Sites Identified by the State Water Resources Board
1 Sharp Park Rifle Range Rifle Range Rd. Cleanup Program Site
Lead Open – Site
Assessment
2 Olympic Sharp Park 1518 Francisco Blvd. LUST Cleanup Site Gasoline Open – Eligible for Closure
3 Sunset Garage 2251 Oceana Blvd. LUST Cleanup Site Gasoline Open – Verification Monitoring
4 Arco #433 498 Palmetto Ave. LUST Cleanup Site Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, MTBE/ TBA/
Other Fuel Oxygenates,
Gasoline
Open – Eligible for
Closure
Sources: California Department of Toxic Substances Control; California Environmental Protection Agency; State Water Resources Control Board, 2020.
2.b
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M i l a g r a R i d g e
( GG N R A )
Paci ca
State
Beach
Paci ca
Pier
S h a r p P a r k
G ol f C o u r s e
San Pedro Vall ey County Park
S h a r p P a r k
M o r i P o i n t
( GG N R A )
S w ee n e y R i d g e ( GG N R A )
FASSLER AV E TERRA NOVA BLVD
GRAND AVE
ROCKAWAY BE ACH AVE
CRESPI DR
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
PALOMA AVE
CLARENDON RD
PALMETTO AVE
MANOR DR
AVALON DR
MI LAGR ADR
MONTEREY RD
IVERNESS DR
NELSON AVE
PALMETTO AVE
ADOBE DR
BEACH BLVD
HICKEY B LV D
P a c i c
O c e a n
Northern
Coastal
Blu
s
(GGNRA)
Sharp
Park
Beach
P e n i n s u l a Wa t e rs h e d ( S F P U C )
Rockaway
Beach
P e d r o P o i n t He a d l a n d s (GG N R A)
Devil' s Slide Tunne l
PERALTA RD
ROSITA RD
EVE RGLAD ES DR
M ANZA NI T A DR
LERI D A WAY
R OBERTSRD
SHAR P P A RK R
BR
D
ADFORD WAY
ESPLANADE AV E
E DGEMAR A VE
GAT EWAYDR
FIRECREST AVE
OCEANA BLVD
SHARP PARK RD TALBO T AVE
MOANA WAY
35 1
LINDA M AR BLVD
ODDSTAD BLVD
LINDA MAR BLVD
C R E SPIDR
REINA DELMAR AVE
3 1
2 4
MILES
0 1/4 1/2 1 2
Open - Site Assessment
Open - Veri cation Monitoring
Completed - Case Closed
Open- Eligible for Closure
Source: Department of Toxic Substances Control, 2020;
California State Water Resources Control Board,
2020; City of Paci ca, 2019; San Mateo County,
2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2019.
Figure 8-6:
Contaminated Sites
Clean Up Status
Planning Area
City Limits
Site numbers correspond to
Table 8-1: Contaminated Sites in Paci ca
Figure 8-6: Contaminated Sites 2.b
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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-I-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-I-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.
Areas with known or suspected release of hazardous
materials to soil and groundwater, and where current clean-up activities monitored by the State Water 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 and 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
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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 evacuate in case of an environmental disaster, including fire.
Urban Fires
Urban fires are fires that begin in a building 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 modern 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 for¬est 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 that 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 City limit.
The interface between wild and urban land in Pacifica presents a potential fire threat. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone has been designated on parts of Sweeney Ridge, Cattle Hill, and Montara Mountain.
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Milagra Ridge
(GGNRA)
Pacifica
State
Beach
Pacifica
Pier
Sharp Park
Golf Course
San Pedro Valley County Park
Sharp Park
Mori Point
(GGNRA)
Sweeney Ridge (GGNRA)
FASSLER AV E TERRA NOVA BLVD
GRAND AVE
ROCKAWAY BE ACH AVE
CRESPI DR
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
PALOMA AVE
CLARENDON RD
PALMETTO AVE
MANOR DR
AVALON DR
MI LAGR ADR
MONTEREY RD
IVERNESS DR
NELSON AVE
PALMETTO AVE
ADOBE DR
BEACH BLVD
HICKEY B LV D
P a c i f i c
O c e a n
Northern
Coastal
Bluffs
(GGNRA)
Sharp
Park
Beach
P e n i n s u l a Watershed
(SFPUC)
Rockaway
Beach
Pedro Point
Headlands
(GGNRA)
Devil' s Slide Tunnel
PERALTA RD
ROSITA RD
EVE RGLAD ES DR
M ANZA NI T A DR
LERI D A WAY
R OBERTSRD
SHAR P P A RK R
BR
D
ADFORD WAY
ESPLANADE AV E
E DGEMAR A VE
GAT EWAYDR
FIRECREST AVE
OCEANA BLVD
SHARP PARK RD TALBO T AVE
MOANA WAY
·|}þ35
·|}þ1
LINDA M AR BLVD
ODDSTAD BLVD
LINDA MAR BLVD
C R E SPIDR
REINA DELMAR AVE
Police
Station
Fire
Station
#72
Fire Station # 71
LRA
FRA
SRA
FRA
FRA
LRA
FRA
LRA
LRA
SRA
LRA
LRA
LRA
LRA
LRA
LRA
LRA
LRA
LRA
MILES
0 1/4 1/2 1 2
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
in State Responsibility Area
Very High
High
Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection, 2020; City of Pacifica, 2019; San
Mateo County, 2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2019.
Figure 8-7:
Fire Hazards and
Public Safety Services
Public Safety Facilities
Fire Protection
Responsibility Area
City Limits
Planning Area
Local (LRA)
State (SRA)
Federal (FRA)
LRA
SRA
FRA
Figure 8-7: Fire Hazards and Public
Safety Services
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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
9 County of San Mateo. Multijurisdictional Local
Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2021.
Authority (NCFA), a Joint Powers Authority established 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 Vallemar and areas to the
south. A third, mid-point station in Pacifica with a
truck and engine company has been discussed for
10 Emergency Services Consulting, 2008.
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some time. The area that currently does not meet
first-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.
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.
Building Signage Standards and
Regulations
Pacifica has adopted the latest edition of the CFC,
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 MJ-LHMP identifies several mitigation actions
for wildland fires in Pacifica, including update of its Emergency Operations Plan; pursuing opportunities
to preserve and protect critical transportation infrastructure; 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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The City will work with the North County Fire Authority toward development of a third fire station in the central part of Pacifica.
POLICIES
Policies included in both the General Plan and Local Coastal Land Use Plan are indicated with a .
Guiding Policy
SA-G-8 Fire Prevention. Protect Pacifica residents and businesses from potential wildland fire hazards.
Implementing Policies
SA-I-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 could provide land or shared
facilities.
SA-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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.
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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 NCFA 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
is an annex to a regional plan led by ABAG, known
as the Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan (MJ-LHMP) for the San Francisco Bay Area.
The LHMP, originally adopted in 2005 and updated
in 2010, identifies specific actions the City is taking to mitigate 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-entry
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 of 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 deci2.b Packet Pg. 397 Attachment: Attachment B - Draft General Plan (May 2022 Version) (5015 : General Plan Update and Sharp Park Specific Plan Recommendation
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PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Milagra Ridge
(GGNRA)
Pacifica
State
Beach
Pacifica
Pier
Sharp Park
Golf Course
San Pedro Valley County Park
Sharp Park
Mori Point
(GGNRA)
Sweeney Ridge (GGNRA)
FASSLER AV E TERRA NOVA BLVD
LINDA MAR BLVD
ODDSTAD BLVD
GRAND AVE
ROCKAWAY BE ACH AVE
REINA DEL MAR AVE
CRESPI DR
CRESPI DR
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
PALOMA AVE
CLARENDON RD
PALMETTO AVE
MANOR DR
AVALON DR
MI LAGR ADR
MONTEREY RD
IVERNESS DR
NELSON AVE
PA ML ETTO AVE
ADOBE DR
BEACH BLVD
HICKEY B LV D
Pacific
O c e a n
Northern
Coastal
Bluffs
(GGNRA)
Sharp
Park
Beach
P e n i n s u l a Watershed
(SFPUC)
Rockaway
Beach
Pedro Point
Headlands
Dev i l 's S l i de Tunnel
PERALTA RD
ROSITA RD
EVE RGLAD ES DR
M ANZA NI T A DR
LERI D A WAY
R OBERTSRD
SHAR P P A RK R D
BRADFORD WAY
ESPLANADE AV E
E DGEMAR A VE
GAT EWAYDR
FIRECREST AVE
OCEANA BLVD
SHARP PARK RD TALBO T AVE
MOANAW AY
Water
Recycling
Plant
SAN PEDRO AVE
LINDA M AR BLVD
ALICA NT E DR
ROSITA R D
SEVILL E DR
DE SOLODR
ODDSTAD B LVD
LUNDY WAY
FRANCISCO BLVD
M ON TEREY R D
MILES
0 1/4 1/2 1 2 Source: City of Pacifica, 2020; San Mateo County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
Existing Residential Areas
City Limits
Planning Area
Figure 8-8:
Acess to Evacuation
Routes
Evacuation Routes
Freeway/Highway
Arterial
Collector
Local Roads
Areas with Less an
Two Evacuation Routes
Figure 8-8: Pacifica Neighborhoods
with Fewer than Two Evacuation
Routes
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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. 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 twotwo 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.
The Police Department serves the City from its station at 2075 Coast Highway, opened in 2004.
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POLICIES
Guiding Policies
SA-G-9 Emergency Response. Foster an efficient
and coordinated response to emergencies
and natural disasters.
SA-G-10Public 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-I-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, and regional agencies.
SA-I-102Emergency 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, and other emergency service
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-I-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-I-104Areas 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-I-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-106Public 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-I-107Local 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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SA-I-108 Emergency Water Capacity. Work with
the Water District to ensure that it has a
plan and infrastructure for providing ade-
quate water service and storage during and
immediately after an emergency, including
a major seismic event.
SA-I-109 Utilities. Require companies providing pub-
lic utilities in Pacifica to have plans for reestablishing service in the event of a major seismic event or other natural disaster.
SA-I-110 Police Response. Continue to respond
without delay to all calls for police assis-
tance 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-I-111 School Outreach. Continue to partner
with schools and youth organizations to
conduct outreach and develop conflict
resolution, and form pro-active and cre-
ative community partnerships to enhance
public safety.
SA-I-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-I-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-I-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-I-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.
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9 NOISE
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9.1 NOISE CHARACTERISTICS AND MEASUREMENT
Noise is commonly defined as undesirable or
unwanted sound. Noises vary widely in their scope,
source, and volume, ranging from individual occurrences such as leaf blowers, to the intermittent disturbances of overhead aircraft, to the fairly constant noise generated by traffic on freeways.
Three aspects of community noise are used in assessing the noise environment:
• Level (e.g., magnitude or loudness). Sound levels
are measured and expressed in decibels (dB) with
10 dB roughly equal to the threshold of hearing.
Figure 9-1 shows the decibel levels associated with
different common sounds. Transient noise events
may be described by their maximum A-weighted
noise level (dBA).
• Frequency composition or spectrum. Frequency
is a measure of the pressure fluctuations per
second, measured in units of hertz (Hz). The
characterization of sound level magnitude with
respect to frequency is the sound spectrum, often
described in octave bands, which divide the
audible human frequency range (e.g., from 20 to
20,000 Hz) into ten segments.
• Variation in sound level with time, measured as
noise exposure. Most community noise is produced by many distant noise sources that change gradually throughout the day and produce a
relatively steady background noise having no
identifiable source. Identifiable events of brief
duration, such as aircraft flyovers, cause the community noise level to vary from instant to instant.
A single number called the equivalent sound level
or Leq describes the average noise exposure level
over a period of time. Hourly Leq values are called
Hourly Noise Levels.
Reporting Noise Levels
Measuring and reporting noise levels involves
accounting for variations in sensitivity to noise
during the daytime versus nighttime hours. Noise
descriptors used for analysis need to factor in human
sensitivity to nighttime noise when background
noise levels are generally lower than in the daytime
and outside noise intrusions are more noticeable.
Common descriptors include the Community Noise
Equivalent Level (CNEL) and the Day-Night Average Level (DNL). Both reflect noise exposure over an average day with weighting to reflect the increased
sensitivity to noise during the evening and night.
The two descriptors are roughly equivalent. The
CNEL descriptor is used in relation to major continuous noise sources, such as aircraft or traffic, and is the reference level for the Noise Element under State
planning law.
Knowledge of the following relationships is helpful
in understanding how changes in noise and noise
exposure are perceived:
• Except under special conditions, a change in
sound level of 1 dB cannot be perceived;
• A 3 dB change is considered a just-noticeable difference; • A 5 dB change is required before any noticeable change in community response would be expected. A 5 dB increase is often considered a
significant impact; and
• A 10 dB increase is subjectively heard as an
approximate doubling in loudness and almost
always causes an adverse community response.
In establishing noise contours for land use planning,
it is customary to ignore noise attenuation afforded
by buildings, roadway elevations, and depressions,
and to minimize the barrier effect of natural terrain
features. The result is a worst-case estimate of the
existing and future (projected) noise environment.
The purpose of noise contours is to identify the
potential need for more detailed acoustical studies,
not to predict with certainty the noise level throughout the City. The assumption is that it is desirable to overestimate the potential noise at a future noisesensitive development site than to underestimate the noise environment and allow for potentially incompatible land-use development.
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9.2 NOISE GENERATION IN
PACIFICA
The major noise sources in Pacifica are related to
roadways and vehicle traffic, particularly along State
Routes 1 and 35. Noise produced by industrial or
commercial activity has a negligible effect on the
City’s residential noise environment. Figure 9-2
maps existing noise contours.
According to common practice, maximum noise
levels of 60 dB (CNEL) are considered “normally
acceptable” for unshielded single-family residential
development. Noise levels from 60 dB to 70 dB fall
within the “conditionally unacceptable” range, and
those in the 70 to 75 dB range are considered “normally unacceptable.” Noise levels of up to 65 dB are considered normally acceptable for multi-family
housing and lodging, while noise levels of up to 70
dB are normally acceptable for most other uses.
Traffic Noise
The level of traffic noise depends on three factors: (1) the volume of the traffic, (2) the speed of the traffic, and (3) the number of trucks in the flow of traffic.
Vehicle noise is a combination of the noises produced
by the engine, exhaust, tires, and wind generated by
taller vehicles. Other factors that affect the perception of traffic noise include: distance from the roadway, terrain, vegetation, and natural and structural obstacles. While tire noise from autos is generally
located at ground level, truck noise sources can be
located as high as ten to fifteen feet above the roadbed due to tall exhaust stacks and higher engines.
Noise exposure contours for Pacifica’s major roadways were modeled by applying the Federal Highway Administration’s noise modeling procedure. Traffic
data representing annual average traffic volumes and
truck mix, for existing conditions, were obtained
from the engineers working on the General Plan
Update and Caltrans. Existing noise measurements
were made in March 2009 at four locations, three
along SR 1 and one along Sharp Park Road. Using
these data and the FHWA methodology, traffic noise
levels were calculated for existing traffic volumes.
(n ft.) = Distance in feet between
source and listener
140
130
120
110
100
90 80
70 60
50 40
30 20
10 0
Civil Defense Siren (100 ft.)
Jet Takeoff (200 ft.)
Riveting Machine
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Train Passby (10 ft.)
Pneumatic Drill (50 ft.)
Freight Cars (100 ft.)
Vacuum Cleaner (10 ft.)
Speech (1 ft.)
Auto Traffic near Freeway
Large Transformer (200 ft.)
Average Residence
Soft Whisper
Rustling Leaves
Threshold of Hearing
Threshold of Pain
Rock Music Band
Piledriver (50 ft.)
Ambulance Siren (100 ft.)
Boiler Room
Printing Press Plant
Garbage Disposal in the Home
Inside Sports Car, 50 mph
Data Processing Center
Department Store
Private Business Office
Light Traffic (100 ft.)
Typical Minimum Nighttime Levels
— Residential Areas
Recording Studio
Mosquito (3 ft.)
A-Weighted
Sound Pressure Level
in Decibels
Figure 9-1: Typical Sound Levels
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MILES
Milagra Ridge
(GGNRA)
Pacifica
State
Beach
Pacifica
Pier
Sharp Park
Golf Course
San Pedro Valley County Park
Sharp Park
Mori Point
(GGNRA)
Sweeney Ridge (GGNRA)
FASSLER AV E TERRA NOVA BLVD
LINDA MAR BLVD
ODDSTAD BLVD
GRAND AVE
ROCKAWAY BE ACH AVE
REINA DEL MAR AVE
CRESPI DR
CRESPI DR
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
PALOMA AVE
CLARENDON RD
PALMETTO AVE
MANOR DR
AVALON DR
MI LAGR ADR
MONTEREY RD
IVERNESS DR
NELSON AVE
PA ML ETTO AVE
ADOBE DR
BEACH BLVD
HICKEY B LV D
Pacific
O c e a n
Northern
Coastal
Bluffs
(GGNRA)
Sharp
Park
Beach
P e n i n s u l a Watershed
(SFPUC)
Rockaway
Beach
Pedro Point
Headlands
(GGNRA)
Devil' s Slide Tunnel
PERALTA RD
ROSITA RD
EVE RGLAD ES DR
M ANZA NI T A DR
LERI D A WAY
R OBERTSRD
SHAR P P A RK R D
BRADFORD WAY
ESPLANADE AV E
E DGEMAR A VE
GAT EWAYDR
FIRECREST AVE
OCEANA BLVD
SHARP PARK RD TALBO T AVE
MOANAW AY
Water
Recycling
Plant
0 1/4 1/2 1 2 Source: Salter, 2021; City of Pacifica, 2020; San Mateo County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
Figure 9-2:
Existing Noise Contours
Existing Road Noise Levels
55 to 60 dB
60 to 65 dB
65 to 70 dB
70 to 75 dB
75 to 80 dB
City Limits
Planning Area
Figure 9-2: Existing Noise Contours
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Milagra Ridge
(GGNRA)
Pacifica
State
Beach
Pacifica
Pier
Sharp Park
Golf Course
San Pedro Valley County Park
Sharp Park
Mori Point
(GGNRA)
Sweeney Ridge (GGNRA)
FASSLER AV E TERRA NOVA BLVD
LINDA MAR BLVD
ODDSTAD BLVD
GRAND AVE
ROCKAWAY BE ACH AVE
REINA DEL MAR AVE
CRESPI DR
CRESPI DR
FAIRWAY DR RIDGEWAY DR
PALOMA AVE
CLARENDON RD
PALMETTO AVE
MANOR DR
AVALON DR
MI LAGR ADR
MONTEREY RD
IVERNESS DR
NELSON AVE
PALMETTO AVE
ADOBE DR
BEACH BLVD
HICKEY B LV D
Pacific
O c e a n
Northern
Coastal
Bluffs
(GGNRA)
Sharp
Park
Beach
P e n i n s u l a Watershed
(SFPUC)
Rockaway
Beach
Pedro Point
Headlands
(GGNRA)
Devil' s Slide Tunnel
PERALTA RD
ROSITA RD
EVE RGLAD ES DR
M ANZA NI T A DR
LERI D A WAY
R OBERTSRD
SHAR P P A RK R D
BRADFORD WAY
ESPLANADE AV E
E DGEMAR A VE
GAT EWAYDR
FIRECREST AVE
OCEANA BLVD
SHARP PARK RD TALBO T AVE
MOANAW AY
Water
Recycling
Plant
MILES
0 1/4 1/2 1 2
Figure 9-3:
Future Noise Contours
Future Road Noise Levels
55 to 60 dB
60 to 65 dB
65 to 70 dB
70 to 75 dB
75 to 80 dB
Source: Salter, 2021; City of Pacifica, 2020;
San Mateo County, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
City Limits
Planning Area
Figure 9-3: Future Noise Contours2.b
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Based on this analysis, about 1,407 acres or 16.5%
percent of the Planning Area were in areas with traffic noise levels greater than 60 dB (CNEL). These areas include approximately 299 acres designated for
medium or low density residential development with
community noise levels between 60 and 70 dB, considered “conditionally acceptable” for single-family or townhouse development, and 20 acres of medium
or low density land with community noise levels over
70 dB, considered “normally unacceptable.” Another
33 acres of high density residential and mixed use
land is affected by noise levels of between 65 and 70
dB, considered “conditionally acceptable” for multifamily development, and six acres of land in these categories is currently exposed to unacceptable noise
levels over 70 dB. In general, the further development is from Sharp Park Road, SR 35, and especially SR 1, the less noise is likely to be experienced.
Projected Noise Sources and Levels
Future development within the Planning Area will
result in increased traffic volumes, thus increasing
noise levels in some areas. Future noise contours
are illustrated in Figure 9-3. In 2040, an estimated
1,551 acres or 18.2 percent of the Planning Area will
be within areas with noise levels greater than 60 dB
(CNEL). About 336 acres of low and medium density residential land would be exposed to the “conditionally acceptable” 60 to 70 dB range, up from 299 acres today, while 27 acres would have “unacceptable” noise, up from 20 acres today. Acreage of conditionally acceptable high density and mixed use
land would rise from 33 to 38 acres, and land in these
categories exposed to unacceptable noise levels would
increase from 6 to 8 acres.
Locating noise-sensitive uses away from high-noise
areas (e.g. major transportation routes) and buffering
noise levels through design features will help minimize future noise-related land use conflicts. Policies in this chapter establish review criteria for certain land uses to ensure that future noise levels will not exceed acceptable levels near noise-sensitive land
uses.
Vehicle noise is a combination of the noises produced by the engine, exhaust, tires, and wind generated by taller vehicles (top). Locating noise-sensitive uses away from high-noise areas and buffering noise levels through design and landscaping features will help minimize future noise-related land use conflicts (middle). Nearby SFO’s noise abatement programs aim to minimize the effects of aircraft noise on communities (bottom).
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Airport Noise
The greatest potential for noise intrusion from airports occurs when aircraft land, take off, or run their engines while on the ground. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located approximately four miles east of the Planning Area. Based on SFO’s 2019
noise contours, no part of the Planning Area is currently within the 65 dB CNEL noise contour.
SFO’s Aircraft Noise Abatement Office maintains
a noise abatement program that integrates parts of
the approved Noise Compatibility Plan; City and
County of San Francisco resolutions; stated goals of
the San Francisco International Airport/Community
Roundtable; and air traffic control requirements. The
program includes a mix of regulatory and voluntary
actions that together minimize the impacts of noise
on communities while ensuring safety.
Other Noise Sources
General Service Commercial and Light
Industrial Uses
Noise sources associated with service commercial
uses such as automotive repair facilities, car washes,
and recycling yards, are found at various locations in
the City. The noise emissions of these types of uses
are dependent on many factors and are therefore difficult to quantify precisely. Nonetheless, noise generated by the these uses contributes to the ambient noise environment in the immediate vicinity of these
uses and should be considered where either new
noise-sensitive uses are proposed nearby or where
similar uses are proposed in existing residential areas.
Construction and Other Equipment
Construction can be another substantial, though
short-term, source of noise. Construction is most disruptive when it takes place near sensitive land uses, or occurs at night or in early morning hours. The
dominant construction equipment noise source is
usually a diesel engine without sufficient muffling. In a few cases, however, such as impact pile driving or
pavement breaking, process noise dominates.
Other portable or small-scale pieces of equipment
may also produce noise. Mechanical equipment such
as pumps and fans may produce low noise levels, but
continuously and for substantial distances. Rooftop or
otherwise exposed mechanical equipment can also produce constant and disturbing noises. Portable power equipment, such as leaf blowers and drills, can produce very high noise levels at the location of the work. Other amplified sounds such as automotive audio equipment
or loudspeakers also create noise exposure.
Parks and School Playing Fields
There are numerous park and school uses in the Planning Area. Noise generated by these uses depends on the age and number of people utilizing the respective
facility at a given time and the types of activities they are engaged in. School playing field activities tend
to generate more noise than those of neighborhood
parks, as the intensity of school playground usage
tends to be higher.
Noise Sensitive Land Uses
Noise-sensitive land uses are generally defined as
locations where people reside or where the presence
of noise could adversely affect the use of the land.
Places where people live, sleep, recreate, worship and
study generally are considered to be sensitive to noise because intrusive noise can be disruptive to these
activities.
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9.3 NOISE EXPOSURE STANDARDS
City standards established in this General Plan are
intended to augment Federal and State standards,
and protect community members and sensitive
receptors from noise hazards.
Federal Regulations
Federal regulations establish noise limits for airport
noise, as well as medium and heavy trucks. Airport
noise is predominantly a local issue, but it often
involves multiple stakeholders who have distinctive
authorities and shared responsibilities with regard to
noise abatement and mitigation. The federal government has authority over airspace use and management, air traffic control, aviation safety, aircraft noise emissions, and airport development policy. In addition to its regulatory role and its management of the air traffic control system, FAA provides financial and
technical assistance to airports for noise reduction
planning and abatement activities.
The federal truck passby noise standard is 80 dB at
15 meters from the vehicle pathway centerline. These
controls are implemented through regulatory controls on truck manufacturers. In addition to noise standards for individual vehicles, under regulations
established by the Federal Highway Administration,
noise abatement must be considered for certain federal or federally-funded projects such as new highways and highway expansions.
State Regulations
Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, the
Building Standards Administrative Code, contains
the State Noise Insulation Standards, which specify
interior noise standards for new hotels, motels, apartment houses, and dwellings other than single-family homes. Such new structures must be designed to reduce outdoor noise to an interior level of no more
than 45 dB in any habitable room. They require an
acoustical analysis demonstrating how dwelling
units have been designed to meet this interior standard where such units are proposed in areas subject to noise levels greater than 60 dB. Title 24 standards
are enforced through the building permit application
process.
City of Pacifica Regulations
Title 5, Chapter 10 of the Pacifica Municipal Code
makes it unlawful to cause any “loud, disturbing,
unnecessary, or unnatural noise” that disturbs persons in Pacifica, and identifies specific types of noises including vehicle horns and amplifiers. It prohibits
the use of pile drivers or similar equipment at night,
and restricts the hours of solid waste collection. Title 5, Chapter 28 defines the terms for regulating loud
parties. Chapter 29 requires general disclosure of the
existence of the airport and the potential for noise
from overflight, for all property in the City. Special
disclosure is required for property within the airport’s CNEL noise footprint as of 1983.
General Plan Noise Standards
The General Plan establishes thresholds for community noise exposure by land use type in Table 9-1.
For proposed land uses in areas where noise exposure
may be expected to be greater than the “normally
acceptable” threshold, maximum allowable noise
exposure with noise mitigation measures is defined
in Table 9-2. Table 9-3 provides noise emission standards for new stationary noise sources.
Community Noise Exposure
Table 9-1 presents the community noise exposure
matrix, establishing criteria the City can use to evaluate land use compatibility based on noise levels.
This matrix is adapted from guidelines provided by
the Office of Planning and Research.
Noise exposure levels are classified as being “normally acceptable,” “conditionally acceptable,” “normally unacceptable,” or “clearly unacceptable” for different land use types.
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Table 9-1: LAND USE COMPATIBILITY
FOR COMMUNITY NOISE
ENVIRONMENTS
C
Land Use Category Exterior Day/Night Noise Levels
DNL or Ldn , dB INTERPRETATIO
55 60 65 70 75 80
Residential–
Single Family
Residential–
Multiple Family
Transient Lodging–
Motels, Hotels
Schools, Libraries,
Churches, Hospitals*,
Nursing Homes
Auditoriums, Concert
Halls, Amphitheaters
Sports Arena, Outdoor
Spectator Sports
Playgrounds,
Parks
Golf Courses, Riding
Stables, Water
Recreation, Cemeteries
Office Buildings, Business
Commercial and
Professional
Industrial,
Manufacturing,
Normally Acceptable:
Specified land use is sa
based upon the assump
any buildings involved
normal conventional c
without any special no
requirements
Conditionally Acceptab
New construction or d
should be undertaken
detailed analysis of the
reduction requirement
and needed noise insul
features included in th
Normally Unacceptabl
New construction or d
should generally be dis
new construction or de
does proceed, a detaile
the noise reduction req
must be made and nee
insulation features incl
design.
Clearly Unacceptable:
New construction or d
clearly should not be u
Source: Office of Planning and Research, State of California General Plan Guidelines, Appendix A: Guidelines for the Preparation and Content of the Noise Element of the General Plan, 1998. *Because hospitals are often designed and constructed with high noise insulation properties, it is possible for them to be satisfactorily located in noisier areas.
Land Use Category Exterior Day/Night Noise Levels
DNL or Ldn , dB INTERPRETATION
55 60 65 70 75 80
Residential–
Single Family
Residential–
Multiple Family
Transient Lodging–
Motels, Hotels
Schools, Libraries,
Churches, Hospitals*,
Nursing Homes
Auditoriums, Concert
Halls, Amphitheaters
Sports Arena, Outdoor
Spectator Sports
Playgrounds,
Parks
Golf Courses, Riding
Stables, Water
Recreation, Cemeteries
Normally Acceptable:
Specified land use is satisfactory,
based upon the assumption that
any buildings involved are of
normal conventional construction,
without any special noise insulation
requirements
Conditionally Acceptable:
New construction or development
should be undertaken only after a
detailed analysis of the noise
reduction requirements is made
and needed noise insulation
features included in the design.
Normally Unacceptable:
New construction or development
should generally be discouraged. If
new construction or development
does proceed, a detailed analysis of
the noise reduction requirements
must be made and needed noise
insulation features included in the
design.
Land Use Com
Community Noise E
Land Use Category Exterior Day/Night Noise Levels
DNL or Ldn , dB INTERPRETATION
55 60 65 70 75 80
Residential–
Single Family
Residential–
Multiple Family
Transient Lodging–
Motels, Hotels
Schools, Libraries,
Churches, Hospitals*,
Nursing Homes
Auditoriums, Concert
Halls, Amphitheaters
Sports Arena, Outdoor
Spectator Sports
Playgrounds,
Parks
Golf Courses, Riding
Stables, Water
Recreation, Cemeteries
Office Buildings, Business
Commercial and
Professional
Industrial,
Manufacturing,
Normally Acceptable:
Specified land use is satisfactory,
based upon the assumption that
any buildings involved are of
normal conventional construction,
without any special noise insulation
requirements
Conditionally Acceptable:
New construction or development
should be undertaken only after a
detailed analysis of the noise
reduction requirements is made
and needed noise insulation
features included in the design.
Normally Unacceptable:
New construction or development
should generally be discouraged. If
new construction or development
does proceed, a detailed analysis of
the noise reduction requirements
must be made and needed noise
insulation features included in the
design.
Clearly Unacceptable:
New construction or development
clearly should not be undertaken.
Source: Office of Planning and Research, State of California General Plan Guidelines, Appendix A: Guidelines for the Preparation and Content of the Noise Element of the General Plan, 1998. *Because hospitals are often designed and constructed with high noise insulation properties, it is possible for them to be satisfactorily located in noisier areas.
Normally Acceptable
• Indoor Uses: Either the activities associated with
the land use are inherently noisy or standard
construction methods will sufficiently attenuate exterior noise to an acceptable level; for land use types that are compatible because of inherent
noise levels, sound attenuation must be provided
for associated office, retail, and other noise-sensitive indoor spaces sufficient to reduce exterior noise to an interior maximum of 50 dB CNEL.
• Outdoor Uses: Outdoor activities associated with
the land use may be carried out with minimal
interference.
Conditionally Acceptable
• Indoor Uses: Noise reduction measures must be
incorporated into the design of the project to
attenuate exterior noise to the indoor noise levels
listed in Table 9-2.
• Outdoor Uses: Noise reduction measures must
be incorporated into the design of the project to
attenuate exterior noise to the outdoor noise levels
listed in Table 9-2. Acceptability is dependent
upon characteristics of the specific use.
Normally Unacceptable
• Indoor Uses: Extensive mitigation techniques are
required to make the indoor environment acceptable for indoor activities. Noise level reductions necessary to attenuate exterior noise to the indoor
noise levels listed in Table 9-2 are difficult to
achieve and may not be feasible.
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Table 9-2: ALLOWABLE NOISE EXPOSURE
Noise-Sensitive Land Use
Outdoor Activity Areas1 Interior Spaces
DNL/CNEL2, dB DNL/CNEL2, dB Leq dB3
Residential 65 45 –
Transient Lodging (Hotels, Motels) 65 45 –
Hospitals, Nursing Homes 65 45 –
Theaters, Auditoriums, Music Halls – – 35
Churches, Meeting Halls 65 – 45
Office Buildings – – 45
Schools, Libraries, Museums – – 45
1 Outdoor activity areas generally include backyards of single-family residences and outdoor patios, decks or common recreation areas of multi-family developments.
2 The CNEL is used for quantification of aircraft noise exposure as required by CAC Title 21. 3 As determined for a typical worst-case hour during periods of use.
Table 9-3: NOISE LEVEL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR STATIONARY NOISE SOURCES1 Daytime (7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.) Nighttime (10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.) Hourly Equivalent Sound Level (Leq), dBA 50 45
Maximum Sound Level (Lmax), dBA 70 65
1 As determined at the property line of the receiving noise-sensitive use. • Outdoor Uses: Severe noise interference makes
the outdoor environment unacceptable for outdoor activities. Noise level reductions necessary to attenuate exterior noise to the outdoor noise levels
listed in Table 9-2 are difficult to achieve and may
not be feasible.
Clearly Unacceptable
• New construction or development should generally not be undertaken.
ALLOWABLE NOISE EXPOSURE
Table 9-2 indicates acceptable limits of noise for various land uses for both exterior and interior environments. For new development in areas where the community noise environment is not considered “normally acceptable,” noise impacts may be mitigated through use of sound-reducing strategies so that
noise levels meet the allowable limits.
Noise Emission Standards for Stationary Noise
Sources
The General Plan also provides standards for exposure to stationary (non-transportation) noise sources such as industrial facilities, automotive servicing, or equipment yards, in Table 9-3 below.
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POLICIES
Guiding Policies
NO-G-1 Coordination with Other Agencies.
Continue to work with other agencies,
airports and jurisdictions to reduce noise
levels in Pacifica created by their operations.
NO-G-2 Acceptable Noise Environment. Strive to
achieve an acceptable noise environment
for the environmental, health and safety
needs of present and future residents of
Pacifica.
NO-G-3 Sensitive Land Uses. Protect noise sensitive land uses, such as schools, hospitals, and senior care facilities, from encroachment of and exposure to excessive levels of noise.
Implementing Policies
NO-I-1 Community Noise Level Standards. Use
the Community Noise Level Exposure
Standards, shown in Table 9-1, as review
criteria for new land uses. Require all new
development that would be exposed to
noise greater than the “normally acceptable” noise level range to reduce interior noise through design, sound insulation, or
other measures.
NO-I-2 Design Features for Noise Reduction.
Require noise-reducing mitigation to meet
allowable outdoor and indoor noise exposure standards in Table 9-2. Noise mitigation measures that may be approved to achieve these noise level targets include but
are not limited to the following:
• Construct façades with substantial
weight and insulation;
• Use sound-rated windows for primary
sleeping and activity areas;
• Use sound-rated doors for all exterior
entries at primary sleeping and activity
areas;
• Use minimum setbacks and exterior
barriers;
• Use acoustic baffling of vents for chimneys, attic and gable ends; • Install a mechanical ventilation system
that provides fresh air under closed window conditions.
Alternative acoustical designs that achieve
the prescribed noise level standards may be
approved, provided that a qualified Acoustical Consultant submits information demonstrating that the alternative designs will achieve and maintain the specific targets for
outdoor activity areas and interior spaces.
NO-I-3 Best Available Control Technology.
Require new, fixed noise sources (e.g.
mechanical equipment) to use best available control technology (BACT) to minimize noise and vibration.
Noise from mechanical equipment can often
be reduced by applying soundproofing materials, mufflers, or other controls provided by the manufacturer.
NO-I-4 Mechanical Equipment for New Residential Development. Ensure that building regulations require that noise-generating
appliances serving new multi-family or
mixed-use residential development are
located or adequately insulated to protect
residents from the noise.
NO-I-5 Noise Criteria for City Equipment.
Develop noise criteria for new equipment
purchased by the City.
NO-I-6 Construction Noise. Continue to limit
hours for certain construction and demolition work to reduce construction-related noises.
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NO-I-7 Noise from Highways and Buses. Work
with Caltrans and Sam Trans to mitigate
transportation-related noise impacts on
residential areas and sensitive uses. This
may include encouraging installation of
sound barriers or bus stop relocation in
selected locations.
NO-I-8 Airport Noise Disclosure Requirements.
Update the Municipal Code to ensure that
special disclosure requirements concern-
ing airport noise refer to the most current
CNEL noise contours developed for San
Francisco International Airport.
NO-I-9 Airport Noise Abatement Program. Con-
tinue to work with the airport in improving and implementing its noise abatement program.
NO-I-10 Residential Sound Insulation Program.
If the airport’s federally-approved 65 dB
CNEL annual noise contour is mapped
within the City, request that the San Fran-
cisco Airport’s Residential Sound Insula-
tion Program allocate available federal and
airport funding to sensitive, noise-affected
properties in Pacifica.
NO-I-11 Noise Ordinance. Update the noise ordi-
nance to implement General Plan policies
and noise standards.
NO-I-12 Noise Enforcement. Ensure staff respon-
sible for noise control and enforcement are
trained and equipped to enforce the City’s
noise regulations.
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10 IMPLEMENTATION
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10.1 IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS
The major implementation process for land use proposals will be updating and administering the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map. The City’s current Zoning Ordinance will need to be updated and amended to be consistent with the General Plan’s
policies and to add new zoning districts and modify
existing districts to reflect designation on the Land
Use Diagram and the density/intensity standards for
the land use classifications. The Subdivision Ordinance also should be amended to add additional explicit requirements for solar easements and land
dedication for bike paths, trails, coastal access, easements along creeks and waterway corridors, and reservation of sites for the community facilities, consistent with current State law.1 The Capital Improvement Program will be the primary means of scheduling and funding infrastructure improvements of citywide benefit. Based on the recommendations made in the 2040 General Plan for
streets, trails, parks, and updates to the City’s master plans for wastewater treatment and recycling and stormwater management systems, the City’s development and impact fees will need to be reviewed in order to determine whether any changes are necessary. Special assessment districts or other means of financing improvements benefiting specific areas
may be established.
In many areas, General Plan implementation will
depend on actions of other public agencies and of the
private sector, which will fund most of the development expected to occur in the Planning Area. The General Plan will serve a coordinating function for
private sector decisions; it also provides a basis for
action on project master plans and individual development applications, found to be consistent with the General Plan. The City will adopt procedures for
making findings for General Plan conformity decisions prior to adoption of new zoning regulations and an updated Zoning Map. These may take the
form of interim zoning regulations.
1 Government Code §§ 66475. - 66478.
10.2 RESPONSIBILITIES
Implementing the General Plan will involve the
City Council, the Planning Commission, other City
boards, committees and commissions, and City
departments. The City also will need to consult with
San Mateo County and other public agencies about
implementation proposals that affect their respective
areas of jurisdiction. The principal responsibilities that City officials and staff have for Plan implementation
are briefly summarized below; details on their powers
and duties are in the Pacifica Municipal Code.
The Subdivision Ordinance should be amended to add requirements for solar easements and land dedication for bike paths, trails, coastal access and waterway corridors (top). Pacifica’s City Council (bottom) is assisted by two standing commissions and nine advisory committees and task forces.
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City Council
The City Council is responsible for the overall management of municipal affairs; it acts as the legislative body and is responsible for adoption of the General
Plan and any amendments to the General Plan. The
City Council is also responsible for approving and
administering the zoning and subdivision ordinances
to implement the General Plan. The Council also may
adopt area plans and specific plans, as needed for General Plan implementation. The City Council appoints the City Manager who is the chief administrator of
the City and has overall responsibility for the dayto-day implementation of the Plan. The City Council also appoints members to the City’s commissions established under the Municipal Code and to advisory committees and task forces. The City Council’s role in implementing the General Plan will be to set
implementation priorities; approve zoning map and
zoning text amendments, and subdivision maps consistent with the General Plan; and approve a Capital Improvement Program and budget to carry out the
Plan.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission is responsible for preparing and recommending adoption or amendment of the General Plan, zoning and subdivision ordinances
and other regulations, resource conservation and
management plans, and programs and legislation
needed to implement the General Plan. The Planning Commission also may prepare and recommend adoption of design guidelines and specific plans,
developer-initiated master plans, neighborhood plans
or special plans, as needed for Plan implementation.
Finally, the Commission is responsible for development project review, as specified in the zoning ordinance, and for other implementation actions, as specified in Plan elements or in the zoning ordinance.
Planning Department
The Planning Department is responsible for the
general planning and development review functions undertaken by the City. It is the lead department for implementation of the Pacifica General The Capital Improvement Program will be the primary means of scheduling and funding infrastructure improvements of citywide benefit.
Plan, Local Coastal Land Use Plan, Pacifica Zoning
Ordinance, Rockaway Beach Specific Plan, Sharp
Park Specific Plan, as well as building codes, design
guidelines and the Municipal Regional Stormwater
Permit. The Building Division of the Department
administers the Building Code, issues building and
demolition permits and inspects new construction
for compliance with Building Code requirements.
Specific duties related to General Plan implementation include preparing zoning and subdivision ordinance amendments and design guidelines for Council approval, reviewing development applications, conducting investigations and making reports and
recommendations on planning and land use, zoning, subdivisions, development plans and environmental controls. The Department is also responsible for state mandated environmental review related to
development in the City and coordinates activities
with school districts related to school sites. Finally, the Department has the primary responsibility for
preparing the annual report on the General Plan
and conducting the five-year review. These reporting
requirements are described in Chapter 1 of the General Plan.
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Parks, Beaches, and Recreation
Department
The Parks, Beaches and Recreation Department is
responsible for managing the City’s parks, beaches
and recreation services. Specific implementing
responsibilities are established in the Open Space
and Community Facilities Element of the General Plan. The Department also will be preparing a Parks and Recreation Master Plan to implement the
General Plan. The mission of the department is to
connect the community and visitors to the natural
resources available in the City and provide community programs and events for all ages.
Public Works Department
The Public Works Department is responsible for planning, design and development of public infrastructure projects; traffic and transportation engineering; providing engineering support to the Planning Department for private development project and subdivision infrastructure review, emergency management technical services, and surveying. It maintains parks, playfields, streets and trails; and provide a tree program and clean beaches for community enjoyment as well
as safe and reliable transportation and facilities for
all city departments. The Department also handles
the review of current development applications, subdivision maps, grading permits, public improvement plans, encroachment permits, development in the
flood zone, and plumbing permits. It also inspects
construction projects for compliance with encroachment permits it issues and is responsible for the design and construction of capital improvement projects.
Specific implementing responsibilities are established
in the Circulation; Open Space and Community
Facilities; and Safety elements of the General Plan.
Waste Water Treatment
The Wastewater Division of the Public Works
Department is responsible for the operation and
administration of the city’s Calera Creek Water
Recycling Plant. The Division will be responsible for
implementing aspects of the Conservation Element.
Police Department
Within the City, responsibility for public safety
is assigned to the Police Department. The Police
Department is responsible for preventing crime and
maintaining law and order. The Department coordinates with the North County Fire Authority and the County on mutual aid. Specific implementing
responsibilities under the General Plan are established in the Safety Element of the General Plan.
The Police Department is made up of the Field Services, Investigative, and Administrative Divisions.
Each division carries out specialized duties to ensure
the most effective performance by the entire Police
The Public Works Department is responsible for street sweeping, rehabilitation, and pavement repair and restoration (left). Disaster exercises are conducted within the city in conjunction with the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services (right).
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Department. Specific responsibilities and programs
of the Police Department include, but are not limited to: crime prevention, crisis intervention, safety awareness and natural disaster preparation awareness.
Other Commissions and Committees
The City has three standing commissions and four
advisory committees to assist in General Plan implementation and other responsibilities assigned to them by the City Council. As of May 2013, these include:
• Beautification Advisory Committee
• Economic Development Committee
• Emergency Preparedness & Safety Commission
• Library Advisory Committee
• Open Space & Parkland Advisory Committee
• Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission
• Planning Commission
The General Plan does not envision any substantive
change in the responsibilities assigned to these committees. The City Council may periodically revise and update the list of commissions, advisory committees and create new committees and task forces, as needed.
10.3 THE PLAN AND
REGULATORY SYSTEM
The City will use a variety of regulatory mechanisms
and administrative procedures to implement the General Plan. Overall responsibility for plan implementation is vested in the Planning Department consisting of the Planning Director and staff. Consistency between the General Plan and the zoning ordinance
is required to ensure that Plan policies will be implemented and that environmental resources earmarked for protection in the Plan will be preserved. Other regulatory mechanisms, including subdivision approvals, building codes, capital improvement programs, and
environmental review procedures also will be used to
implement Plan policies. All project approvals should
be found consistent with the General Plan.
Zoning Regulations
The City’s Zoning Ordinance will translate plan
policies into specific use regulations, development
standards, design standards and performance criteria
that will govern development on individual properties and development sites. The Zoning Ordinance also includes citywide regulations for landscaping,
on-site parking and loading, signs, and a density
bonus program among other regulations. The General Plan establishes the policy framework, while the Zoning Ordinance prescribes standards, rules and
procedures for development along with criteria and
findings required for acting on project applications.
The Zoning Map will provide more detail than the
General Plan Land Use Diagram.
The General Plan establishes land use classifications
that will require new zoning districts. Regulations for these districts will be established as part of the comprehensive zoning update to be undertaken following adoption of the General Plan. The use regulations and
development standards for existing zoning districts
will need to be amended to conform to Plan policies.
Density and intensity limits, consistent with the Plan’s land use classifications, also will need to be updated.
For purposes of evaluating General Plan consistency,
the density of proposed projects will be rounded up
or down to the nearest whole number, as appropriate.
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The Zoning Ordinance also will be amended to
clarify that religious institutions and other protected uses shall be allowed, consistent with federal and
State law.
The City will bring both the Zoning Ordinance and
the Zoning Map into conformance with the General
Plan within a reasonable period of time. When the
General Plan is subsequently amended, the Zoning
Ordinance and Zoning Map may also need to be
amended to maintain consistency between the documents.
During the transition period while new zoning is
being developed, the City will use “General Plan
Conformity Findings” to provide criteria for determining whether a proposed project is consistent with the General Plan. Factors that will be evaluated to
make General Plan Conformity determinations
include: site suitability for the proposed use, compatibility with adjacent uses, neighborhood economic vitality and the need for the proposed use; and the
proposed density and intensity of development.
Consistency between the General Plan and
the Zoning Ordinance
Zoning must be consistent with the General Plan if
the City’s land use, housing, and open space policies are to be realized. A fundamental link between the General Plan and zoning is land use/zoning
consistency. Table 10-1 shows how zoning districts
in Pacifica are consistent with the land use designations of this General Plan. In some areas, new zoning districts are needed (shown in italics). In others, the existing zoning will need to be amended, as prescribed by the implementing policies in this Plan or may be eliminated, such as the M-1 and M-2 industrial districts.
The new districts include RTOS Transitional Open
Space Residential, RVLD Very Low Density Residential, CRMU Coastal Residential Mixed Use, MUN Mixed Use Neighborhood, MUC Mixed
Use Center, VSC Visitor-Serving Commercial, and
VSCS-LI Low Intensity Visitor-Serving Commercial.. The City also may choose to create a streamlined procedure for planned development. The existing lot size overlay and combining districts may also be reviewed and updated. This districting framework
will facilitate administration and ensure a closer link with Plan policies because new zones will mirror
classifications on the Land Use Diagram. Planned
development still would be permitted, but with a
more flexible process that would be “findings-driven”
and have specific criteria for approval.
Subdivision Regulations
No subdivision of land may be approved under California law and the City’s subdivision regulations unless its design and proposed improvements are
found to be consistent with the General Plan. Dedication of land for park facilities will be required for subdivisions above a certain size, consistent with the
policies and standards prescribed by the General
Plan. The subdivision regulations also can require
dedication of land for elementary schools, riparian habitat and reservation of land for fire stations, libraries, bike paths, coastal access, transit facilities, and other public facilities. In addition, it can require easements along creeks and streams.
After adoption of the General Plan, the City’s subdivision regulations will need to be amended to conform to Plan policies. Findings of consistency
with the General Plan will continue to be required
as a condition of approving parcel maps and tentative maps. Reservation requirements for bus turnout facilities and bike and pedestrian facilities also will need to be added to carry out Plan policies. The
subdivision ordinance should require connection
between new streets and existing streets and ensure
right of way dimensions are provided, consistent with
City standards. Facilitating use of solar energy with
north-south lot layouts and roof orientations that
enable installation of collector systems will also be
encouraged. The subdivision regulations update also
should address State requirements for solar access
easements as appropriate for Pacifica.
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Building and Housing Codes
No building permit may be issued under California
law (Government Code Section 65567) unless the
proposed development is consistent with the City’s
open space plan and conforms to the policies of the
Open Space and Community Facilities and Conservation Elements.
To provide an administrative mechanism to ensure
consistency with the General Plan, the City should
continue its process of performing zoning compliance review of building permit applications for new development.
Table 10-1: CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE PLAN AND ZONING
General Plan Land Use Designations Consistent Zoning District1 Residential
Open Space /Agriculture/Residential A, OS, RM
Very Low Density Residential RVLD, R-1, R-1-H
Low Density Residential R-1
Medium Density Residential R-2, R-3 ,R-3/LD, R-3/G
High Density Residential R-3
Mixed Use
Coastal Residential Mixed Use CRMU
Mixed Use Neighborhood MUN
Mixed Use Center MUC
Commercial
Retail Commercial C-1, C-2
Office/Commercial O, C-1-A
Service Commercial C-3
Visitor-Serving Commercial VSC
Low-Intensity Visitor-Serving Commercial VSC-LI
Public and Community Uses
Public and Semi-Public P-F
Utilities P-F
Beach and Commuter Parking P
Parks and Open Space
Park A, O-S
Conservation O-S
Urban Reserve A
1 Planned Development, Lot Size Overlay, and Combining Districts are not shown here.
Source: Dyett & Bhatia, 2021
The subdivision ordinance’s park land dedication requirements, street standards, and other features will be updated to be consistent with the General Plan. The subdivision ordinance should require connection between new streets and existing streets, wherever possible.
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CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND
PROGRAMMING
The Capital Improvements Program (CIP) includes
a list of public works projects that the City intends
to design and construct in coming years. Under
California law, the Planning Commission, acting
as Planning Agency, has responsibility for reviewing the CIP to determine whether it conforms to the General Plan. Specifically, the Government Code
requires the Commission to review for conformity
with the General Plan CIP projects requiring any of
the following actions: • Acquisition of land for public purposes; • Disposition of land; • Street vacations; and • Authorization or construction of public buildings or structures.
The Planning Commission also has the authority to
comment on CIPs prepared by the school districts.
These CIPs, and any annual revision proposed to
them, are to be forwarded to the City at least 60 days
prior to adoption for the City’s review for consistency with the General Plan.
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ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
American Community Survey, 2015-2019.
ABAG and MTC Plan Bay Area Projections 2040,
2018.
CA Board of Equalization Taxable Sales, BLS
Expenditure Survey 2016-2017
California Travel Impacts by County, 2000-2017.
City of Pacifica, 2019.
COMMUNITY DESIGN
American Community Survey, 2015-2019.
LAND USE
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey
2015-2019. Association of Bay Area Governments
(ABAG), 2018.
California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG),
Biogeographic Data Branch. Special Animals List.
2020.
City of Pacifica, 2019
National Park Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area Muir Woods National Monument Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact
Statement, Summary Edition. 2011.
California Natural Resources Agency (CalNRA)
and California Ocean Protection Council (OPC),
2018. State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance:
2018 Update. Adopted March 2018.
Pacific Institute, 2009. “The Impacts of Sea-Level
Rise on the California Coast.” A paper from the California Climate Change Center, May 2009.
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United States Geological Survey (USGS). Coastal
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98 El Nino: Expectations and Observations, 2005.
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CIRCULATION
California Government Code Section 65302(b)(2).
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December 2015. Accessed at https://dot.ca.gov/-/
media/dot-media/programs/design/documents/
chp1000.pdf. June 2021.
City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG),
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City of Pacifica Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan,
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City of Pacifica Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission, 2013; DKS Associates, 2019.
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“Multimodal Level of Service Analysis for Urban
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SamTrans. Reimagine SamTrans, New Network,
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FACILITIES
City of Pacifica Library Modernization Project, 2021.
City of Pacifica Civic Center Campus Facilities Project, 2021.
City of Pacifica Open Space Task Force Report, 1991.
Pacifica School District, Facilities Master Plan, 2019.
CONSERVATION
Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
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BLM, 1981; State of California Department of Parks
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California Air Resources Board, Summaries of Air
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California Coastal Commission, Statewide Sea Level
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https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/assets/climate/slr/
vulnerability/FINAL_Statewide_Report.pdf
California Historical Resources Information System
(CHRIS), 2021.
City of Pacifica, Climate Action Plan, 2014.
Department of Water Resources (DWR), 2004.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC): Summary for Policymakers, 2018.
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John Northmore Roberts & Associates et al., 1992;
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National Parks Service, Milagra Ridge, 2005.
North Coast County Water District (NCCWD).
20-year Master Plan. February 2016. Accessed at
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San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention
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San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition, 2005.
State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, 1990; ESA surveys, 2008.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wetlands
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered and
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Calenviroscreen 4.0 Accessed at https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/report/calenviroscreen-40. October 2021.
SAFETY
California Natural Resources Agency (CalNRA)
and California Ocean Protection Council (OPC),
2018. State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance:
2018 Update. Adopted March 2018.
City of Pacifica. Draft Sea Level Rise Vulnerability
Assessment, 2018. Authored by ESA.
Coastal and Ocean Working Group of the California Climate Action Team (CO-CAT). 2018. State of California Sea Level Rise Guidance Document, 2018
Update. Available: https://opc.ca.gov/webmaster/
ftp/pdf/agenda_items/20180314/Item3_Exhibit-A_
OPC_SLR_Guidance-rd3.pdf
Department of Conservation, Seismic Hazard Zone
Report for the San Francisco South (Report 133) and
Montara Mountain (Report 128) 7.5-Minute Quadrangles, San Mateo County, CA, 2021.
Emergency Services Consulting, 2008.
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.
United States Geological Survey (USGS). Open File
Report 97-745: San Francisco Bay Region Landslide
Folio. 1998.
United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Outlook for the San Francisco Bay Region 2014–2043, August 2016. https://pubs.usgs.gov/
fs/2016/3020/fs20163020.pdf
NOISE
SFO Aircraft Noise and Flight Tracking. Accessed
https://www.flysfo.com/community/noise/live-flighttracking in June 2021.
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GLOSSARY A ND 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. Housing is considered affordable when a household 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.
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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.
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 measured 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.
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.
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GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ACRONYMS
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT G-3
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 (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM), and lead.
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 developer of private land for public use, and the acceptance of land for such use by the governmental agency having 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. The allocation of development
rights that allow a parcel to accommodate additional
square footage or additional residential units beyond
the maximum for which the parcel is zoned, usually
in exchange for the provision or preservation of an
amenity at the same site or at another location.Under
California State Law, residential projects that provide affordable housing may be entitled to a 35 percent increase 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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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, including 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 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.
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GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ACRONYMS
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT G-5
Fault. A fracture in the earth’s crust forming a
boundary between rock masses that 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. Graywater 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.
EXAMPLES OF
FLOOR AREA RATIOS
0.5 FAR 1.0 FAR 1.5 FAR
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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 in 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.
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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GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ACRONYMS
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT G-7
ISO Rating. This rating considers a community’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 of K 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 Energy 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).
Mitigation. A specific action taken to reduce environmental impacts. Mitigation measures are required as a component of an environmental impact report
(EIR) if significant measures are identified.
Mitigation Measures. Action taken to avoid, minimize, or eliminate environmental impacts. Mitigation includes: avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action; minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation; rectifying the
impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the
affected environment; reducing or eliminating the
impact over time by preservation and maintenance
during the life of the action; and compensating
for the impact by repairing or providing substitute
resources or environments.
Mixed Use. Describes a development project which
includes two or more categories of land use such as
residential and commercial, or commercial and professional office and the like For further discussion see the Land Use Element section on Mixed-use centers.
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Mode (transportation). Each form of transportation
is a mode: public transit, bicycling, walking, and
driving.
Mode split (transportation). The proportion of trips
that use each mode of transportation.
Multi-Lane Highways. Highways with posted speed
limits generally between 40 and 55 miles per hour.
They are interrupted by intersections or driveways.
Net Developable Area. The total area of land available for development, not necessarily the total area of a property itself. It does not include open space,
drainage land, regional roads and land used for other
public facilities.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). Chemical compounds
containing nitrogen and oxygen; reacts with volatile
organic compounds, in the presence of heat and sunlight to form ozone. It is also a major precursor to acid rain.
Noise Attenuation. Reduction of the level of a noise
source using a substance, material, or surface.
Noise Contours. Lines drawn about a noise source
indicating equal levels of noise exposure. CNEL
and Ldn are the metrics utilized herein to describe
annoyance due to noise and to establish land use
planning criteria for noise.
Open Space. Any parcel or area of land or water
that is essentially unimproved. The General Plan
designates privately-owned rural/grazing lands, and
devoted open space areas as defined by California
planning law.
Overdraft. A groundwater basin is in overdraft conditions when the amount of water being drawn out exceeds the amount of water being recharged.
Overlay District. A zoning designation that may
be applied in addition to the “underlying” zoning
district, to meet a specific, additional goal, such as
to encourage affordable housing or allow flexibility
with parking requirements.
Ozone. A compound consisting of three oxygen
atoms that is the primary constituent of smog. It
is formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere involving volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and sunlight. Surface level Ozone can initiate damage to the lungs as well as damage to
trees, crops, and materials. There is a natural layer
of Ozone in the upper atmosphere, which shields the
earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Paleontological Resources. The mineralized remains
of prehistoric plant and animal life, not including
human remains or artifacts—also known as fossils.
Park Ratio. The amount of parkland in acres to
1,000 residents.
Particulate Matter (PM-10 and PM-2.5). Particulate
matter in the atmosphere results from many kinds of
dust- and fume-producing industrial and agricultural
operations, fuel combustion, and atmospheric photochemical reactions. PM-10 and PM-2.5 consist of particulate matter that is 10 microns or less in diameter and 2.5 microns or less in diameter, respectively.
PM-10 and PM-2.5 represent fractions of particulate
matter that can be inhaled into the air passages and
the lungs and can cause adverse health effects.
Peak Hour. The busiest one-hour period for traffic
during a 24-hour period. The PM peak hour is the
busiest one hour period of traffic during the evening
commute period. The AM peak hour is the busiest
one hour period during the morning commute.
Pedestrian-oriented Development. Development
designed with an emphasis on the street sidewalk
and on pedestrian access to the building, rather than
an auto access and parking areas.
Pedestrian Priority Zones. Areas in which high
volumes of pedestrian traffic are encouraged and
accommodated along the sidewalk.
Performance Standards. A statement representing a
commitment by a public agency to attain a specified
level or quality of performance through its programs
and policies.
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GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ACRONYMS
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT G-9
Planning Area. The land area addressed by a General Plan, including land within the city limits and land outside the city limits that bears a relation to
the City’s planning. This area is not all intended for
development; the Urban Growth Boundary shows
the future development area.
Pocket Parks. Parks less than 2 acres in area that
may provide amenities for the immediate area, such
as playlots in residential neighborhoods, or plazas in
commercial and mixed-use areas.
Rare or Endangered Species. A species of animal
or plant listed in Sections 670.2 or 670.5, Title 14,
California Administrative Code; or Title 50, Code
of Federal Regulations, Section 17.11 or Section 17.2,
pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act designating species as rare, threatened, or endangered.
Retention Area. A pond, pool, lagoon, or basin used
for the storage of water runoff, which is not pumped
to another location.
Right-of-Way. A continuous strip of land reserved
for or actually occupied by a road, crosswalk, railroad, electric transmission lines, oil or gas pipeline, water line, sanitary storm sewer or other similar use.
Residential Care Facilities. A residential care facility for the elderly is a housing arrangement chosen voluntarily by the resident, the resident’s guardian, conservator or other responsible person; where 75 percent of the residents are sixty years of age or older and
where varying levels of care and supervision are provided, as agreed to at time of admission or as determined necessary at subsequent times of reappraisal.
Any younger residents must have needs compatible
with other residents.
Riparian. Characteristic vegetation along waterways,
often described as “riparian corridors.”
Seismic. Caused by or subject to earthquakes or
earth vibrations.
Sensitive Receptors. Persons or land users that are
most sensitive to negative effects of air pollutants.
Persons who are sensitive receptors include children,
the elderly, the acutely ill, and the chronically ill.
The term “sensitive receptors” can also refer to the
land use categories where these people live or spend
a significant amount of time. Such areas include residences, schools, playgrounds, child-care centers, hospitals, retirement homes, and convalescent homes.
Shrink-Swell Potential. The extent to which a soil
expands in volume when water is absorbed and
shrinks as the soil dries. Expansive soils, with a high shrink-swell potential, are largely comprised of clays.
Significant Effect. A beneficial or detrimental
impact on the environment. May include, but is not
limited to, significant changes in an area’s air, water, and land resources.
Siltation. The process of silt deposition. Silt is a loose sedimentary material composed of finely divided
particles of soil or rock, often carried in cloudy suspension in water.
Solid Waste. General category that includes organic
wastes, paper products, metals, glass, plastics, cloth, brick, rock, soil, leather, rubber, yard wastes, and
wood.
Special Status Species. Any species which is listed,
or proposed for listing, as threatened or endangered
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or National
Marine Fisheries Service under the provisions of the
Endangered Species Act. It also includes any species
designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a
“candidate” or “species of concern” or species identified on California Native Plant Society’s Lists 1A, 1B, or 2, implying potential danger of extinction.
Specific Plan. A plan that provides detailed design
and implementation tools for a specific portion of the
area covered by a general plan. A specific plan may
include all regulations, conditions, programs, and/
or proposed legislation which may be necessary or
convenient for the systematic implementation of any
general plan element(s).
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Sphere of Influence (SOI). The ultimate service area
of an incorporated city, as established by San Mateo
Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo).
Stationary Source. A source of air pollution that is
not mobile, such as a heating plant or an exhaust
stack from a laboratory.
Surface Water. Water found in rivers, streams,
creeks, lakes and reservoirs.
Stormwater Runoff. Surplus surface water generated
by rainfall that does not seep into the earth but flows overland to a watercourse.
Stormwater Management. A coordinated strategy to
minimize the speed and volume of stormwater runoff, control water pollution, and maximize groundwater recharge.
Student Generation Rate. The number of new students that is projected to occur with new housing units.
Subsidence. Subsidence occurs when a large portion of land is displaced vertically, usually due to the withdrawal of groundwater, oil, or natural gas.
Threatened Species, California. A species of animal
or plant is endangered when its survival and reproduction in the wild are in immediate jeopardy from one or more causes, including loss of habitat, change
in habitat, over-exploitation, predation, competition, disease, or other factors; or when although not presently threatened with extinction, the species is
existing in such small numbers that it may become
endangered if its environment worsens. A species
of animal or plant shall be presumed to be rare or
endangered as it is listed in Sections 670.2 or 670.5,
Title 14, California Code of Regulations; or Title 50,
Code of Federal Regulations Sections 17.11 or 17.12
pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act as
rare, threatened, or endangered.
Threatened Species, Federal. A species which is
likely to become an endangered species within the
foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Total dissolved solids comprise inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter that are dissolved in water. The principal constituents are usually calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium and the anions carbonate,
bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate and, particularly in
groundwater, nitrate (from agricultural use).
Toxic Air Contaminant. An air pollutant that may
increase a person’s risk of developing cancer and/
or other serious health effects. Toxic air contaminants include more than 700 chemical compounds that have been determined to have potential adverse
health impacts.
Transfer of Development Rights. A mechanism used
to relocate potential development from areas where
environmental or land use impacts could be severe to
other areas more appropriate for development, and to
preserve significant open space resources.
Transit Oriented Development. A development or
planning concept typified by the location of residential and commercial districts around a transit station or corridor with high quality service, good walkability, parking management and other design features that facilitate transit use and maximize overall accessibility.
Transportation Demand Management. Measures
to improve the movement of persons and goods
through better and more efficient utilization of existing transportation systems (e.g., streets and roads, freeways and bus systems) and measures to reduce
the number of single-occupant vehicles utilized for
commute purposes.
Trip Generation. The number of vehicle trip ends
associated with (i.e., produced by) a particular land
use or traffic study site. A trip end is defined as a single vehicle movement. Roundtrips consist of two trip ends.
Tsunami. A wave generated by abrupt movement
of the seabed, which can occur as an earthquake or
after a significant landslide.
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GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ACRONYMS
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT G-11
Urban Development Boundary (UDB): The
administrative boundary beyond which urban development is not allowed during the General Plan’s first time period. Plan policies provide specific criteria for moving from the UDB, or First Tier, to the Urban
Growth Boundary (UGB, or Second Tier).
Urban Growth Boundary (UGB): The line within
which all urban development is to be contained. The
primary purpose of an UGB is to limit the extent of
urbanization.
Use. The purpose for which a lot or structure is or
may be leased, occupied, maintained, arranged,
designed, intended, constructed, erected, moved,
altered, and/or enlarged as per the City’s Zoning
Ordinance and General Plan land use designation.
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). A measure of both
the volume and extent of motor vehicle operation;
the total number of vehicle miles traveled within a
specified geographical area (whether the entire country or a smaller area) over a given period of time.
View Corridor. The line-of-sight (identified as to
height, width, and distance) of an observer looking
toward an object of significance to the community
(e.g., ridgeline, river, historic building, etc.).
Walkable. A characteristic of an area in which a variety of housing types, retail uses, parks, schools and other destinations are in close proximity and wellconnected by streets and paths that provide a good pedestrian environment.
Water Recycling. The reuse of tertiary-treated wastewater for landscaping, industrial cooling, irrigation, groundwater recharge, or other uses.
Watershed. The total area above a given point on a
watercourse which contributes water to the flow of
the watercourse; the entire region drained by a watercourse.
Wetlands. Areas that are permanently wet or periodically covered with shallow water, such as saltwater and freshwater marshes, open or closed brackish marshes, swamps, mud flats, and fens.
Wildlife Corridor. A natural corridor, such as an
undeveloped ravine, that is frequently used by wildlife to travel from one area to another.
Williamson Act. Known formally as the California
Land Conservation Act of 1965, it was designed as an
incentive to retain prime agricultural land and open
space in agricultural use, thereby slowing its conversion to urban and suburban development. The program entails a ten-year contract between an owner of land and (usually) a county whereby the land is
taxed on the basis of its agricultural use rather than
the market value. The land becomes subject to certain enforceable restrictions, and certain conditions need to be met prior to approval of an agreement.
Zoning Ordinance. Title 9 of the Pacifica Municipal
Code divides incorporated City land into districts
and establishes regulations governing the use, placement, spacing, and size of buildings, open spaces, and other facilities.
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LIST OF ACRONYMS
ABAG: Association of Bay Area Governments
af/y: acre feet/year
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
ADT: Average daily traffic
AHO: Affordable Housing Overlay zone
ALUC: Airport Land Use Commission
AST: Aboveground Storage Tank
BAAQMD: Bay Area Air Quality Management District
BART: Bay Area Rapid Transit
BAU: Business as Usual
BAWSCA: Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
BACT: Best Available Control Technology
BCDC: Bay Conservation and Development Commission
BCP: Beach and Commuter Parking
BID: Business Improvement District
BMP: Best Management Practice
C: Conservation
Caltrans: California Department of Transportation
CalGreen: California Green Building Code
CalRecycle: California Department of Resources
Recycling and Recovery
CAP: Climate Action Plan
CARB: California Air Resources Board
C/CAG: City/County Association of Governments
of San Mateo County
CCAT: California Climate Action Team
CCC: California Coastal Commission
CCWRP: Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant
CDF: California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection
CDFG: California Department of Fish and Game
CEQA: California Environmental Quality Act
CFCs: Chlorofluorocarbons
cfs: Cubic feet per second
CGS: California Geologic Survey
CIP: Capital Improvement Program
CLG: Certified Local Government
CMP: Congestion Management Program
CNDDB: California Natural Diversity Database
CNEL: Community Noise Equivalent Level
CO: Carbon monoxide
COG: Council of Governments
CO2e: Carbon Dioxide Equivalent
CRLF: California red-legged frog
CRSMP: Coastal Regional Sediment Management
Plan
CWMA: Consolidated Waste Management Authority
CZ: Coastal Zone
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GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ACRONYMS
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT G-13
dB: Decibel
dBA: Decibel A-Weighted
DNL: Day-Night Average Noise Level
DOF: Department of Finance
DPM: Diesel Particulate Matter
DTSC: Department of Toxic Substances Control
DU: Dwelling Unit
du/ac: Dwelling Units per acre (measure of density)
DWR: Department of Water Resources
EIR: Environmental Impact Report (CEQA)
EMS: Emergency Medical Service
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
ESHA: Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area
ESU: Ecologically Significant Unit
FAR: Floor Area Ratio (measure of intensity)
FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Act
FESA: Federal Endangered Species Act
FIRM: Flood Insurance Rate Map
FMMP: Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program
FRA: Federal Responsibility Area
GBO: Green Building Ordinance
GCC: Global Climate Change
GCM: Global Climate Model
GGNRA: Golden Gate National Recreation Area
GHG: Greenhouse Gases
GIS: Geographic Information Systems
GMP: General Management Plan
GP: General Plan
GPOC: General Plan Outreach Committee
GPR: GreenPoint Rated
GPURC: General Plan Update Review Committee
gpcpd: gallons per capita per day (water use)
GWP: Global Warming Potential
HCD: Housing and Community Development
HCM: Highway Capacity Manual
HDR: High Density Residential
HPD: Hillside Preservation District
HSR: High Speed Rail
HHW: Household Hazardous Waste
IPCC: International Panel on Climate Change
ISO: Insurance Service Office
JPA: Joint Powers Authority
JUHSD: Jefferson Union High School District
LAFCO: Local Agency Formation Commission
LCLUP: Local Coastal Land Use Plan
LCP: Local Coastal Program
LDR: Low Density Residential
LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design
LID: Low Impact Development
LIVC: Low-Intensity Visitor-Serving Commercial
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Leq: Equivalent Sound Level
Ldn: Day-Night Average Sound Level
LHMP: Local Hazards Mitigation Plan
LOS: Level of Service
LRA: Local Responsibility Area
LUST: Leaking Underground Storage Tank
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level
MDR: Medium Density Residential
mgd: Million Gallons per day (water or wastewater)
MOE: Measures of Effectiveness
MPO: Metropolitan Planning Organizations
MRP: Municipal Regional Permit
MT: Metric ton (greenhouse gases)
MTC: Metropolitan Transportation Commission
MUC: Mixed Use Center
MUN: Mixed Use Neighborhood
NAAQS: National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NAHC: Native American Heritage Commission
NAICS: North American Industry Classification
System
NCCWD: North Coast County Water District
NCFA: North County Fire Authority
NFIP: National Flood Insurance Program
NFPA: National Fire Protection Association
NMFS: National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOx: Nitrogen oxides
NPDES: National Pollution Discharge Elimination
System
NPS: National Park Service
NWI: National Wetlands Inventory
OC: Office/Commercial
P: Park
PG&E: Pacific Gas & Electric
PM-2.5: Suspended particulate matter 2.5 microns or
less in diameter
PM-10: Suspended particulate matter 10 microns or
less in diameter
ppb: Parts per billion
ppd: Pounds per person per day (waste)
ppm: Parts per million (106) by volume or weight
PPD: Pacifica Police Department
PSD: Pacifica School District
PSP: Public and Semi-Public
RC: Retail Commercial
RHNA: Regional Housing Needs Assessment
ROG: Reactive Organic Gases
ROSA: Residential/Open Space/Agriculture
RP: Regional Park
RSM: Regional Sediment Management
RTP: Regional Transportation Plan
RWQCB: Regional Water Quality Control Board
SA: Special Area
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GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ACRONYMS
PACIFICA GENERAL PLAN PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT G-15
SamTrans: San Mateo County Transit District
SB: Sandy Beach
SC: Service Commercial
SR: State Route
SCS: Sustainable Communities Strategy
SFGS: San Francisco garter snake
SFO: San Francisco International Airport
SFPUC: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
SIP: State Implementation Plan (Air Pollution)
SMARA: Surface Mining and Reclamation Act
SMCL: San Mateo County Library
SMCWPPP: San Mateo Countywide Stormwater
Pollution Prevention Program
SOI: Sphere of Influence
Sq. Ft.: Square Feet
SR: State Route
SRA: State Responsibility Area
SWMP: Storm Water Management Plan
SWRCB: State Water Resources Control Board
TAC: Toxic Air Contaminant
TAZ: Traffic Analysis Zone
TDM: Transportation Demand Management
TMDL: Total Maximum Daily Load
TOD: Transit Oriented Development
TRD: Transfer of Development Rights
TWL: Total Water Level
U: Utilities
UDB: Urban Development Boundary
UGB: Urban Growth Boundary
UR: Urban Reserve
USGS: United States Geologic Survey
UST: Underground Storage Tank
UV: Ultraviolet
UWMP: Urban Water Management Plan
V/C: Volume to Capacity Ratio
VC: Visitor-Serving Commercial
VLDR: Very Low Density Residential
VMT: Vehicle Miles Traveled
VOC: Volatile Organic Chemicals
VPD: Vehicles per Day
WCP: Water Conservation Plant
WWTP: Waste Water Treatment Plant
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p Park
Speci
fic
Plan
PUBLIC R
EVIEW DRAFT
May2022
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
DKS Associates
Charles Salter
Environmental & Planning Systems
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CITY OF PACIFICA
Sharp Park Specific Plan
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
May 2022
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SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 SHARP PARK: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE ������������������������������������������������������������1-1
1.1Sharp Park’s Past.........................................................................................................................................1-2
1.2 Sharp Park Today ...................................................................................................................................1-4
1.3 Vision And Guiding Principles............................................................................................................ 1-5 2 CONTEXT, PROCESS, AND PLAN ORGANIZATION ���������������������������������������������������2-1
2.1 Sharp Park Specific Plan Area And Context 2-2
2.2 Planning Process And Community Engagement 2-6
2.3 Regulatory Context ............................................................................................................................ 2-7
2.4 Plan Organization .............................................................................................................................. 2-9 3 VIBRANT SHARP PARK: LAND USE ����������������������������������������������������������������������������3-1
3.1 Existing Land Use...............................................................................................................................3-2
3.2 Land Use Framework ........................................................................................................................3-5
3.3 Land Use Designations..................................................................................................................... 3-7
3.4 Development Potential And Opportunity Sites 3-13
3.5 Economic Vitality ............................................................................................................................. 3-20
3.6 Affordable Housing......................................................................................................................... 3-22 4 ACCESSIBLE SHARP PARK: MOBILITY AND PARKING���������������������������������������������4-1
4.1 Transportation Network....................................................................................................................4-2
4.2 Transit ................................................................................................................................................. 4-20
4.3 Parking................................................................................................................................................ 4-22 5 ATTRACTIVE SHARP PARK: URBAN DESIGN AND PUBLIC REALM 5-1
5.1 Streetscape And The Public Realm 5-2
5.2 Public Gathering Places And Green Space 5-8
5.3 Building Design ................................................................................................................................5-10 6 LIVABLE SHARP PARK: PUBLIC FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE��������������������6-1
6.1 Public Services....................................................................................................................................6-2
6.2 Community And Educational Facilities 6-4
6.3 Recreational Facilities ...................................................................................................................... 6-6
6.4 Infrastructure....................................................................................................................................... 6-8
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7 RESILIENT SHARP PARK: ENVIRONMENTAL AND COASTAL RESOURCES 7-1
7.1 Habitat And Wildlife ...........................................................................................................................7-2
7.2 Environmental Hazards .................................................................................................................... 7-5
7.3 Coastal Resilience ...........................................................................................................................7-15 8 ATTAINABLE SHARP PARK: IMPLEMENTATION�������������������������������������������������������� 8-1
8.1 General Plan And Zoning Ordinance Consistency 8-2
8.2 Implementation Program And Phasing 8-2
8.3 Infrastructure Financing Plan..........................................................................................................8-5
8.4 Administration And Monitoring.................................................................................................... 8-10
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2-1: Sharp Park Specific Plan Area Context 2-3
Figure 2-2: Sharp Park Specific Plan Area.......................................................................................................2-4 Figure 3-1: Existing Land Use Distribution....................................................................................................... 3-2 Figure 3-2: Existing Land Use ............................................................................................................................. 3-3 Figure 3-3: Sharp Park Specific Plan Land Use Diagram 3-8 Figure 3-4: Opportunity Sites.............................................................................................................................3-15 Figure 4-1: Street Network ................................................................................................................................... 4-3 Figure 4-2: Existing Sidewalk Network.............................................................................................................4-5 Figure 4-3: Coastal Access Points ......................................................................................................................4-7 Figure 4-4: Sharp Park Specific Plan Bicycle and Pedestran Improvements 4-10 Figure 4-5: Palmetto Avenue Improvements 4-12
Figure 4-6a: Clarendon Road Improvements 4-15
Figure 4-6b: San Jose Avenue Improvements 4-16
Figure 4-6c: Paloma Avenue Improvements 4-17
Figure 4-7: Sharp Park Specific Plan Transit Routes 4-21 Figure 4-8: Existing Parking, Weekday Evening Occupancy 4-24 Figure 4-9: Existing Parking, Weekday Midday Occupancy 4-25
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Figure 4-10: Existing Parking, Weekend Midday Occupancy 4-26 Figure 5-1: Wayfinding Signage and Gateways 5-7
Figure 5-2: Ground Level Residential...............................................................................................................5-12 Figure 5-3: Ground Level Commercial.............................................................................................................5-13 Figure 5-4: Ground Floor Retail Transparency 5-13
Figure 5-5: Architectural Features................................................................................................................... 5-15 Figure 5-6: Corner Building Entrances ........................................................................................................... 5-16 Figure 5-7: Street Walls....................................................................................................................................... 5-18 Figure 5-8: Coastal Views...................................................................................................................................5-21 Figure 5-9: Upper Story Stepbacks.................................................................................................................5-23 Figure 5-9: Rear Stepbacks...............................................................................................................................5-23 Figure 6-1: Emergency and Community Facilities 6-3
Figure 7-1: Sensitive Species................................................................................................................................7-3 Figure 7-2: Sensitive Habitats ............................................................................................................................. 7-4 Figure 7-3: Liquefaction Zones and Fault Lines 7-6
Figure 7-4: Slope Failure .......................................................................................................................................7-7 Figure 7-5: Hazardous Material Sites ................................................................................................................ 7-9 Figure 7-6: Air Quality ...........................................................................................................................................7-11 Figure 7-7: Existing Noise Contours .................................................................................................................7-12 Figure 7-8: Future Noise Contours ...................................................................................................................7-13 Figure 7-10: Coastal Protection Structures .....................................................................................................7-18 Figure 7-11: Hydrology and Flooding................................................................................................................7-19 Figure 7-12: Coastal Vulnerability Zone Map 7-22
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 3-1: Existing Land Use by Acreage......................................................................................................... 3-4 Table 3-2: Sharp Park Specific Plan Density and Intensity Standards 3-9 Table 3-3: Opportunity Site Acreage by Type 3-14
Table 3-4: Sharp Park Specific Plan Buildout 3-16
Table 4-1: Coastal Access.....................................................................................................................................4-6 Table 4-2: North-South Corridor Enhancements 4-12
Table 4-3: East-West Corridor Enhancements 4-14
Table 4-4: Vehicle Parking Standards by Land Use 4-28
Table 4-5: Bicycle Parking Standards by Land Use 4-29
Table 5-1: Development Standards – Mixed Use Designations 5-22 Table 5-2: Development Standards – Residential Designations 5-24 Table 6-1: Pacifica Park Standards.....................................................................................................................6-6 Table 7-1: Sea Level Rise Projections for Pacifica 7-16 Table 8-1: Estimate of Sharp Park Specific Plan Capital Costs (Rounded, in 2021 Dollars) 8-4 Table 8-2: Recommended Funding Strategy 8-5
Table 8-3: Maintenance Frequency.................................................................................................................. 8-11
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and Future
1 The Sharp Park Specific Plan establishes a vision for a vibrant, community-focused heart of Pacifica, in
the historic Sharp Park neighborhood. While Pacifica
does not have a formal downtown, Sharp Park comes
closest to filling this role, with its mix of commercial, residential, and civic uses, and the iconic Pacific Pier.
The Specific Plan provides a blueprint for new commercial and residential uses, mixed-use developments, and public realm, transportation, and other improvements, and create a center of gravity for the
broader Pacifica community as well as visitors.
A Specific Plan is a planning document that implements the goals and policies of the General Plan, to provide clear guidance for future development of a
designated area through detailed development standard and implementation measures. The purpose and contents of specific plans are defined in California Government Code Sections 65450 – 65457.
To guide change and preserve what makes Sharp
Park unique, the Sharp Park Specific Plan seeks to
build upon the neighborhood’s existing assets and
imbue new neighborhood development with a strong
sense of place, enhanced connectivity, and increased
residential and social options. This chapter provides
an overview of Sharp Park’s rich history and current
context and describes the community vision and
guiding principles for Specific Plan policies, standards, and guidelines.
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1-2 | CHAPTER 1
1.1 SHARP PARK’S PAST
Henry Harrison McClosky had this castle built in 1908, atop a hill in Salada Beach, later named Sharp Park. It offered a stunning view of the ocean. Image credit: Pacifica Historical Society Salada Beach, 1915. The Ocean Shore r.r. passes through, with a landscape of mostly artichoke fields. Image credit: Pacifica Historical Society railroad was the speculative real estate environment
of the time. Fast-talking promoters lured city-weary
prospects to the coastside by offering free trips
on the railway, open air concerts and free lunches.
The ads claimed that the towns had “no taxes and
no saloons.” Salada Beach, near the natural lagoon
known as Laguna Salada (in the Sharp Park golf
course), was designed to be a major watering hole.
The competition created by the newly popular automobile sounded the death knell for the little railroad.
It had rarely made a profit and, in 1920, was forced
to stop operations. Most of the Ocean Shore right of
way was paved over and turned into Highway 1.
During this simpler time, residents of Sharp Park
attended Salada Community Church (the “Little
Brown Church”), the first Presbyterian Church on the
coastside. They shopped at Anderson’s Store, the
first general store and telephone switchboard in the
area, control point for the water supply for the neighborhood and the first source of gasoline for automobiles using a hand-crank pump on a 55-gallon drum.
Math Anderson also worked on the interior woodworking of the Castle, a turreted fortress built on a hillside overlooking the beach, built by Henry Harrison McCloskey. A survivor of the 1906 earthquake, McCloskey built to be impervious to disasters. The
Castle later served as the local U S Coast Guard communication and beach patrol headquarters during WWII.
The history of the Sharp Park neighborhood is a story
of people with a deep connection to the coast, of
colorful individuals, and of influential epochs that left their mark on the geography of the neighborhood.
Nearly a thousand years ago, Pacifica was the site
of several Ohlone villages. The Ohlone were hunters, fishers, and gatherers, and were stewards of the coast prior to the arrival of Spanish colonizers.
By establishing temporary villages beside coastal
streams, the Ohlone people tapped a source for their
food, water, and fuel. Each tribe built dome-shaped
shelters, thatched with brush and grass surrounding a much larger assembly house. The Ohlone pursued life as they had for thousands of years when the Spanish arrived to institute the missions of San
Francisco de Asis and establish farms in the area in
the late 1700s.
Much of Pacifica’s layout owes its beginnings to a
small, little-known railroad company. Incorporated in
1906, the Ocean Shore Railway Company planned
to run a high-speed electric railway between San
Francisco and Santa Cruz. This railway development attracted small settlements around each station, including Sharp Park. A major impetus for the
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SHARP PARK PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE | 1-3
Sharp Park residents were educated at San Pedro
School, which would later be given by early realtor
Ray Higgins to the newly incorporated City of Pacifica. San Pedro School originally housed kindergarten through sixth grades with only two teachers. As enrollment increased, the school expanded into the
Little Brown Church, with two classrooms for four
grades in 1955.
To the south of the current Sharp Park Specific Plan
Area, Sharp Park’s namesake, George F. Sharp,
established a 400-acre estate in 1849, part of which
became the current Sharp Park Golf Course. Sharp’s
widow, Honora Sharp, bequeathed the estate to
the City of San Francisco with specific instructions
that the property be used for recreational functions.
Noted golf architect Alister Mackenzie and landscape
architect John McLaren designed the course in the
1920s. Back in 1932 when the course opened, games
cost 70¢ on weekdays and $1 on weekends. During
the 1930s, the Sharp Park recreation area served as
a state relief camp that provided shelter, food, medical services, and employment for Bay Area residents struggling during the Depression. During World War
II, the Golf Course also served as an internment
camp for Japanese Americans roughly where the San
Francisco Archers range stands now along the east
boundary of the Sharp Park recreation area.
In 1957, Pacifica was incorporated, consolidating the
nine small communities of Fairmont, Westview, Pacific
Manor, Sharp Park, Fairway Park, Vallemar, Rockaway
Beach, Linda Mar and Pedro Point.
Sharp Park Golf Course
Sharp Park Golf Course
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SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
1-4 | CHAPTER 1
Palmetto Avenue
Beach Boulevard
1.2 SHARP PARK TODAY
Pacifica Civic Center
Today, Sharp Park remains an eclectic and unique
coastal community, containing a mix of homes rang-
ing from converted summer cottages and bunga-
lows to modern custom-built homes. On its western
border, a one-mile beach promenade and the Rev.
Hershel Harkins (former pastor at the Little Brown
Church) Municipal Pier requires no license for fishing, adding to the community’s amenities.
Palmetto Avenue, recently updated with bike lanes,
landscaping, lighting, and other public realm improve-
ments, showcases a quaint shopping district with
small restaurants and cafes, antique shops, personal
services, bookstores, and other distinctive offerings.
Sharp Park is also currently Pacifica’s civic core, home to amenities like the Sharp Park library; the Pacifica
Council Chambers (also known as 2212 Beach Bou-
levard); and City Hall, formerly the San Pedro School.
On Francisco Boulevard, the Little Brown Church has
been restored by the Pacifica Historical Society into
the Pacifica Coastside Museum, a cultural gem. An
assortment of restaurants; Winters Tavern; bait shops;
a hotel; and residential uses can be found along part
of Sharp Park’s eastern border.
Sharp Park is connected to one of Pacifica’s larger
shopping centers, Eureka Square, over Highway 1
with a pedestrian bridge. East of Highway 1, several
of Sharp Park’s treasures remain—behind Eureka
Square, the Castle (known as Sam’s Castle) looms
on the bluff, and on Oceana Boulevard, Anderson’s
Store, the site of the former Salada Beach Café, until
recently still offered coffee and treats to peckish
Pacificans more than a hundred years since its origin.
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SHARP PARK PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE | 1-5
1.3 VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
A key area of focus, Palmetto Avenue, serves as
the “backbone” of the neighborhood. This mixeduse corridor becomes a street that draws people in and invites them to linger, with attractive and
unique restaurants, cafes, shops, and entertainment, and places to gather, and new housing available to all income levels, family types, and life
stages. The splendor of Sharp Park’s coastal natural resources and cultural amenities are emphasized and well-connected. It is easy and pleasant to get around by foot, bicycle, and to park a car once
in the area.
Office, commercial, and mixed uses along Francisco Boulevard support Palmetto’s energy, bringing in more residents and workers, and enhancing Sharp Park’s visibility from Highway 1. The district’s residential focus is maintained on east-west streets between Francisco Boulevard and Beach
Boulevard, and design techniques and pedestrian improvements ensure smooth transitions from higher-energy corridors to smaller-scale
neighborhoods.
New programming, experiences, and temporary
activities like festivals, farmers’ markets, music,
and other events activate Sharp Park beyond the
regular nine-to-five day and enhance its reputation
as a creative and historic enclave. Finally, Sharp
Park will be a resilient, sustainable, and adaptable place in tune with the realities of our changing planet so that memories and experiences, old and
new, can be shared across generations.
The vision and guiding principles for the Sharp Park
Specific Plan Area were developed collaboratively
with extensive community outreach and decisionmaker direction. They represent the heart and spirit of the Specific Plan and inform the guiding and implementing policies for each of the Plan’s topic areas.
VISION STATEMENT
Sharp Park will become known as a charming
regional destination, a magnetic town center for
Pacifica, and a “complete neighborhood” for current residents. The future of Sharp Park builds upon its strengths to achieve its full potential, offering a vibrant, livable, and unique experience for Pacifica
residents, businesses, and visitors.
The seaside atmosphere is preserved and
respected, while new energy and thoughtful public
and private investment is focused at select areas with
the greatest potential for positive catalytic change.
These include renovated Civic Center at Santa Maria
Avenue and Francisco, approved by the City Council
in 2021 and which would restore the historic character of the former San Pedro School and to modernize the look and operation of the City Hall and other City
offices. These also include Eureka Square, revitalized as a mixed-use center with multi-family housing rising up against the hillside; a new, state-of-the-art library at Hilton Way and Palmetto Avenue; and the
City-owned site at 2212 Beach Boulevard with the
potential to anchor Palmetto Avenue and enhance
the beachfront experience.
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1-6 | CHAPTER 1
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The following Guiding Principles have been identified for the Sharp Park Specific Plan:
— Promote a vibrant mix of uses—including unique
stores, restaurants and cafés, places for the
making and display of art, and cultural establishments—that enhance Palmetto Avenue’s attraction for those who live in Pacifica and those who visit.
— Support office space in locations that do not
detract from an active streetscape along Palmetto
Avenue in order to increase opportunities for local
employment, improve weekday daytime activity,
and decrease vehicle miles traveled to employment locations outside Pacifica. — Ensure development honors the area’s character,
history, and coastal locale.
— Promote development of housing in mixed-use
settings, which accommodates residents of all
incomes, family types, and life stages.
— Foster development of a “complete neighborhood” in Sharp Park, with uses, activities, and services that support everyday living, promote
social connectedness, and enhance community
well-being.
— Prioritize placemaking in public spaces to create
inviting places that enhance the experience in
Sharp Park.
— Expand opportunities for outdoor recreation
which maximize Sharp Park’s coastal location and
proximity to trails and open spaces.
— Improve connections within Sharp Park and to other
Pacifica neighborhoods through sidewalk completion, streetscape improvements, pedestrianscale lighting, and signage. — Build on existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to create an even more appealing public realm along Francisco Boulevard and Palmetto
Avenue corridors and across key east-west routes.
— Establish a sustainable future for the Sharp Park
area by planning for coastal resiliency using strategies identified in the Local Coastal Program.
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Organization
2 The Sharp Park neighborhood is a beloved coastal
enclave in Pacifica, home to the emblematic Pacifica Pier, City Hall, the Sharp Park library, unique and charming homes, and the beginnings of an attractive
“main street.” These existing features make Sharp
Park one of Pacifica’s neighborhoods with great
potential for evolution and growing vibrancy over the
next several decades, with significant opportunity
for additional mixed-use buildings, new housing and
higher intensity development that will help the city
address issues of housing affordability and create a
center of gravity for the broader Pacifica community
as well as visitors.
This chapter includes background information for the
Sharp Park Specific Plan. It describes the context, the planning process and community outreach, its relationship to other plans, and an overview of the Specific Plan’s organization.
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SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
2-2 | CHAPTER 2
2.1 SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN AREA AND CONTEXT
LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION
Regional Location
The City of Pacifica is located in northern San Mateo
County along the Pacific coast of the San Francisco
Peninsula, just ten miles from downtown San Francisco at its northern tip. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Daly City, and on
the south and east by the ridges of the Coast Range,
the cities of South San Francisco and San Bruno, and
unincorporated San Mateo County. Figure 2-1 shows
the boundaries of Pacifica and the location of the
Sharp Park Specific Plan Area. It is primarily accessible via State Route 1 (Coast Highway) and State Route 35 (Skyline Boulevard).
Sharp Park Specific Plan Area
The Sharp Park Specific Plan Area is approximately
104 acres in size, largely encompassed in West Sharp
Park and part of East Sharp Park east of Highway 1.
As shown in Figure 2-2, most of the area surrounds
Palmetto Avenue and is bounded by Beach Boulevard to the west, Paloma Avenue to the north, Clarendon Road and Lakeside Avenue to the south, and Highway 1 to the east, with some adjacent areas east
of Highway 1, including the Eureka Square Shopping
Center.
Sharp Park’s primary streets include Palmetto
Avenue, the area’s main commercial street; Francisco Boulevard, a street characterized primarily by civic and commercial uses; and Beach Boulevard, a
primarily residential street that provides access to the Promenade and Pacifica Pier. Between these corridors are residential neighborhoods with clusters of multi-family and single-family homes. These include
a mixture of homes ranging from converted summer
cottages to modern custom-built homes, with narrow
streets bordered with windworn Monterey pine trees.
There are approximately 20 offices located in the
Sharp Park area that provide a range of personal and
professional services, including legal, financial, real estate, or counseling services. The Eureka Square
Shopping Center, located to the east of Highway 1,
is anchored by Oceana Market, a local grocery store,
and contains a number of smaller retailers, including
restaurants, a bank, and personal care services. The
coastline serves as a significant draw to the neighborhood but there remains an opportunity to strengthen the number and variety of other attractions for Pacificans and visitors alike.
The Sharp Park Specific Plan Area currently (as of
2021) consists primarily of residential uses but also
contains concentrations of other land uses including
commercial, community, and residential and commercial mixed uses. There are approximately 924 housing units within the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area, including 389 single-family units and 535 multi-family
units.1
1 Estimate from ESRI Business Analyst, using 2013-2017 American Community Survey data.
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(GGNRA)
Pacifica
State
Beach
Pacifica
Pier
Sharp Park
Golf Course
San Pedro
Valley
County
Park
Sharp Park
Mori Point
(GGNRA)
Sweeney Ridge
(GGNRA)
FASS LER
AVE TERRA NOVA BLVD
LINDA
MAR BLVD
ODDSTAD BLVD
GRAND AVE ROCKAW A Y BEACH AVE
REINA DEL MAR AVE
CRESPI DR
CRESPI DR
FAIRW AY DR RIDGEWAY DR
SH ARP PARK RD
PALOMA AVE
PALMETTO AVE
MANOR DR
AVALON DR
M ILA GRA DR MONTEREY RD IVERNESS DR
NELSON AVE
PALMETTO AVE
ADOBE DR
HICK EY BLVD
Pacific Ocean
Unincorporated Area
San Bruno
South
San
Francisco
Daly City
Unincorporated
Area
Northern
Coastal
Bluffs
(GGNRA)
Sharp Park
Beach
Rockaway
Beach
Pedro Point
Headlands
(GGNRA)
Frontierland
Park
Fassler
Park
Oddstad
Park
Imperial
Park
Fairway
Park
Fairmont
Park
Sanchez
Field
Fairmont
West Park
Pomo
Park
Portola
Park
Sharp Park
Specific Plan
Area
Figure 2-1: Planning Area Context
0 2,500 5,000 10,000
Feet
Interstate
State Highway
Streets
City Limits
Sharp Park Specific Plan
Parks, Recreation & Open Space Source:City of Pacifica, 2019; San Mateo County, 2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2019.
Figure 2-1: Sharp Park Specific Plan Area Context
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FRANCISCO BLVD
OCEANA BLVD
PALMETTO AVE
PALOMA AVE
BEACH BLVD
CLARENDON RD
PACIFIC AVE
SALADA AVE
MOANA WAY
CARMEL AVE
SAN JOSE AVE
BRIGHTON RD
MONTECITO AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
SANTA MARIA AVE
HILTON WAY
TALBOT AVE
MIRADOR TER
KOHALA AVE
SHOREVIEW AVE
CARMEL AVE
LAKEVIEW AVE
PACIFIC AVE
PALOMA AVE
Pacific Ocean
EUREKA DR
Sharp Park
Beach
Sharp Park
Golf Course
Oceana
High School
Ingrid B.
Lacy Middle
School
City
Hall
Library
Palmetto
Park
CLARENDON RD
FRANCESAVE
Pacifica
Beach
Park
Eureka
Square
Shopping
Center
Pacifica Pier
BEACH BLVD
Pedestrian
Bridge
1 0 250 500 1,000
Feet
Highways
Study Area Parcels
Sharp Park Specific Plan
Figure 2-2: Planning Area
Source: City of Pacifica, 2019; San Mateo
County, 2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2019.
Figure 2-2: Sharp Park Specific Plan Area
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SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
CONTEXT, PROCESS, AND PLAN ORGANIZATION | 2-5
PAST PLANNING EFFORTS
Many years ago, the 10-block stretch of Palmetto
Avenue between Clarendon and Paloma avenues was
identified in the Pacifica General Plan as the future
site of a ‘Main Street’ for Pacifica. To support this
vision, the City developed the Palmetto Streetscape
Project in 2014 to make the area more pedestrian and
bicycle friendly as well as support business success.
Palmetto Avenue went through significant improvements in 2018, including the addition of dedicated bike lanes, bulbouts, streetlamps, plantings, sidewalks, and new striping. While new improvements, utility undergrounding, and other improvements have
vastly improved the streetscape, the constrained
public right-of-way required balancing tradeoffs, and
street trees and public seating are limited. While most buildings on Palmetto Avenue front the street, empty
lots and blank walls represent opportunities for infill mixed-use buildings that bring additional commerce
and enhance the street character.
In February 2020, the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area
was designated a Priority Development Area (PDA)
by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission
(MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments
(ABAG) due to its potential to support new housing
and employment near transit. PDAs are an integral
part of Plan Bay Area 2040 (preparation of Plan Bay
Area 2050 is underway as of 2021), the regional sustainable growth strategy that coordinates housing plans, open space conservation efforts, economic
development strategies, and transportation investments. With the collaboration of local governments throughout the Bay Area, MTC/ABAG estimates that
about 80 percent of the region’s future housing needs
can be met within PDAs. This designation qualifies the
City to receive potential future additional grants for
specific projects and public improvements consistent
with the Specific Plan.
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SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
2-6 | CHAPTER 2
2.2 PLANNING PROCESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
www.planpacifica.org
over 100 community members received an overview of key concepts and strategies to achieve a vision of a more vibrant, well-connected, and
appealing Sharp Park and indicated their concept
preferences. Animated walkthroughs showed
existing and future possibilities side-by-side, and
shared on YouTube, and viewed several thousand times. This was followed by an accompanying concepts survey to quantify some of the topics with less consensus, which received over
300 responses. Other community engagement
methods included a community learning session and example visualizations of three mixed use, higher-density sites along Palmetto Avenue.
These comments were taken to City Council and
informed development requirements and design
guidelines in Chapter 4 of the Specific Plan.
— Draft Plan Preparation and Environmental
Review (Fall 2020-Winter 2021). Based on these
approved concepts, the draft Specific Plan was
then prepared, focusing on land use, mobility,
design and development standards, infrastructure and public services, environmental hazards, and implementation measures. The Specific Plan
has been further revised to ensure consistency
with the concurrent planning efforts that are all
being evaluated under the same program EIR. A
Draft EIR accompanies this Specific Plan, which
also evaluates the General Plan.
Community engagement was integral to the development of the Sharp Park Specific Plan. More than simply hosting or attending a meeting, the process
involved proactively initiating conversations, maintaining ongoing dialogue, collaboration, and the creation of new relationships with community members with the goal of reaching a place where decision-making and processes are shared by staff and community stakeholders.
A designated website, www.planpacifica.org, was
maintained to provide the community with updates,
resources, and information. The website also served
as a platform for administering surveys and other
data-gathering tools. At each phase of the work,
a variety of different methods was used to provide
opportunities for discussion and meaningful input
and build community ownership of the Specific Plan.
These methods are described below.
— Visioning and Background Studies (SummerWinter 2019). The planning team engaged with the community, property owners, and other stakeholders to develop a cohesive vision for the Sharp Park area, while concurrently analyzing existing
conditions to identify key issues and opportunities that the Specific Plan should address. Community engagement methods included a series of stakeholder interviews; five neighborhood meetings where community members discussed their vision, thoughts, and ideas for the Sharp Park
Specific Plan Area; and an online survey with
close to 125 respondents. Key project documents
informing the Sharp Park Specific Plan included
the Existing Conditions Report and Market
Demand Study.
— Concepts (Winter 2019-Fall 2020). Based on community vision and input, staff developed various land use concepts which represented options
for achieving community-identified goals for the
Sharp Park Specific Plan Area. These concepts
were intended to serve as the building blocks for
more focused policies to be developed later in the
process. At the Sharp Park concepts workshop,
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CONTEXT, PROCESS, AND PLAN ORGANIZATION | 2-7
2.3 REGULATORY CONTEXT
Park Specific Plan, an updated Local Coastal Land
Use Plan is in the process of being reviewed by the
California Coastal Commission, and the new Bike
and Pedestrian Master Plan was adopted in February
2020. The Zoning Ordinance will need to be updated
to reflect the General Plan. The Sharp Park Specific
Plan will function in the context of these plans, as further outlined below.
PACIFICA GENERAL
PLAN
A General Plan is a longrange planning document
that acts as the foundation
upon which all land use
decisions are made, based
on expressed community
values. The Pacifica General Plan 2040 is made up of a collection of “elements,” or chapters, that regulate different aspects of Pacifica’s built and natural environments.
Its purpose is to establish a long-range vision for
the community and to plan for important community issues, such as new growth, housing needs, public services, and environmental protection. It also
expresses broad community values and goals, gives
a picture of how the community should look in the
future, and outlines steps to get there.
The General Plan 2040 includes policies to transform West Sharp Park into the City’s civic and cultural core, with higher-intensity mixed-use buildings along
the Highway 1 and Palmetto Avenue corridors, including at the Eureka Square site. Policies in the 2014 Draft General Plan supported a vision of Palmetto
Avenue as a pedestrian-oriented main street with
retail, restaurants, and services as well as multi-family housing and mixed-use development to foster a character that will attract residents and tourists. Policies for Francisco Boulevard would create a core of higher-intensity uses to support retail and restaurants along Palmetto Avenue by bringing more residents
and workers and enhancing visibility from Highway 1.
SPECIFIC PLAN PREPARATION
California Government Code (Section 65450 et seq.)
states that planning agencies may prepare specific
plans for the systematic implementation of the general plan for all or part of the area covered by the general plan. “A specific plan shall include a text and a diagram or diagrams which specify all of the following in detail:
— The distribution, location, and extent of the uses
of land, including open space, within the area
covered by the plan.
— The proposed distribution, location, and extent
and intensity of major components of public and
private transportation, sewage, water, drainage,
solid waste disposal, energy, and other essential
facilities proposed to be located within the area
covered by the plan and needed to support the
land uses described in the plan.
— Standards and criteria by which development
will proceed, and standards for the conservation,
development, and utilization of natural resources,
where applicable.
— A program of implementation measures including regulations, programs, public works projects, and financing measures necessary to carry out
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)” (Government Code §
65451(a)).
— The specific plan must also include a statement of
the relationship of the specific plan to the general
plan. (Government Code § 65451(b)).
The Sharp Park Specific Plan is consistent with these
requirements of State law.
LEGAL CONTEXT AND RELATIONSHIP
TO OTHER PLANS
Several existing plans and regulations establish
development directives relevant to the Sharp Park
Specific Plan Area. The Pacifica General Plan 2040
is slated to be adopted concurrently with the Sharp
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SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
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While the Pacifica General Plan 2040 addresses
issues relevant to the entire city, the Sharp Park
Specific Plan addresses development of a more narrowly defined area. It acts as a tool for the targeted implementation of broader General Plan policies and
includes a high level of specificity. The Sharp Park
Specific Plan has been drafted in a manner to ensure
consistency with the long-range vision and implementation plan set forth in Pacifica General Plan 2040.
PACIFICA ZONING ORDINANCE
Zoning is the primary tool governing land use and is
meant to shape the form and character of development to reflect General Plan 2040 goals and other official policies. Zoning ordinances provide standards
for development, including height restrictions, setbacks, parking regulations, allowed uses, and signage requirements, among others. These standards set the pattern and character of development in the
city. The City’s Zoning ordinances are found in Title 9 of the City of Pacifica Municipal Code, which is often
referred to as the City’s Zoning Code. The Specific
Plan proposes two new mixed use classifications to
create areas where housing and active commercial
uses may be integrated within the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area. The Zoning Code will be amended in the future to reflect the new designations to ensure
consistency and facilitate implementation.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
An accompanying Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
has been released to inform the community and decision-makers on the environmental implications of this complete plan, as well as potential alternatives. The
Specific Plan, like the other plans evaluated under
the EIR, is “self-mitigating” in that it includes policies and programs to mitigate potential significant environmental impacts associated with development under the Sharp Park Specific Plan, where possible.
LOCAL COASTAL
PLANNING
A Local Coastal Program, or
LCP, consists of a land use
plan and implementing programs such as zoning and
subdivision ordinances.
All of Pacifica west of and
including State Route 1 is
part of the State-defined
Coastal Zone, and subject to the regulatory requirements of the California Coastal Act of 1976. This includes a majority of the Sharp Park
Specific Plan Area. A small area east of State Route
1 in central Pacifica, known as Shelldance Nursery, is
also located within the Coastal Zone. The Coastal Act
sets forth guiding policies for the California Coastal
Commission and local governments to follow when
establishing land use and development regulations
for the coast.
LCPs must account for land use issues that are local
in scope, as well as coastal resource issues that have
regional or statewide relevance. There are two components of the LCP, the Land Use Plan and the Implementation Program. The Local Coastal Land Use Plan (LCLUP) specifies the kinds, locations, and intensities of land uses; the applicable resource protection and
development policies; and where necessary, a listing
of implementing actions. The Implementation Program consists of zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, and other legal instruments to implement the
Land Use Plan. The current planning process does
not include the development of an Implementation
Program. The LCLUP must address public access,
to ensure that development of coastal access and
support facilities by various public agencies and
private actors is coordinated. After adoption by the
local governing body (in Pacifica’s case, City Council) the LCP is submitted to the Coastal Commission for
review for consistency with the Coastal Act policies,
which cover six areas: public access, recreation, the
marine environment, land resources, development,
and industry. The policies articulate requirements for
public access and for protection of marine resources
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CONTEXT, PROCESS, AND PLAN ORGANIZATION | 2-9
and environmentally sensitive habitat areas. They lay
out priorities for concentrating development in urbanized areas, preserving agriculture and open space, protecting fishing and coastal-dependent industry,
promoting recreational use of the coast, and giving
priority to visitor-serving commercial uses over general commercial or residential development. The Coastal Commission must certify the elements of an
LCP before they may take effect.
In Pacifica, the existing LCLUP is both a standalone
document and a part of the General Plan. The LCLUP
is being updated in tandem with the Pacifica General Plan 2040. A draft of the updated LCLUP was approved by the City Council for forwarding to
Coastal Commission for its review in February 2020.
The City sent the Certification Draft LCLUP to the
Coastal Commission on June 12, 2020. The certification process may take up to a year or longer. A subsequent LCP amendment will be necessary to make the LCP consistent with the Sharp Park Specific Plan.
Policies in the LCLUP are incorporated into the Sharp
Park Specific Plan by reference.
BICYCLE AND
PEDESTRIAN
MASTER PLAN
The 2000 Pacifica Bicycle
Plan proposed improvements to the City’s primary
north-south route, including upgrades from Class III
to Class II facilities along
segments of Palmetto
Avenue, Francisco Boulevard, and Highway 1.
As of 2018, Class II bike lanes have been completed
on the southern portion of Palmetto Avenue in the
West Sharp Park neighborhood. Additional information about bike and pedestrian ways can be found in Chapter 4: Mobility and Parking.
A new comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Master
Plan for the City of Pacifica was adopted in February
2020. It establishes a long-term vision for improving walking and bicycling on city streets as well as on trail and beach access in Pacifica through policy,
program, and project recommendations. Recommendations for future bike and pedestrian enhancement within the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area include
better connections on Paloma Avenue to Oceana
High School, bike connections down Oceana Boulevard, bike and pedestrian enhancements along Clarendon Road, and improved coastal access along
the Coastal Trail and Beach Boulevard. The Sharp
Park Specific Plan incorporates all Master Plan recommendations for the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area and makes some additional pedestrian infrastructure
improvements outlined in Chapter 4. The Master Plan
should be updated for consistency with Sharp Park
Specific Plan recommendations and will remain the
guiding document for bicycle and pedestrian network
improvements.
2.4 PLAN ORGANIZATION
The following chapters of this document present
guiding goals and accompanying policies; design
standards and guidelines; and recommendations for
implementation:
— Chapter 1: Sharp Park Past, Present, and Future.
Provides background and history of the Sharp
Park Specific Plan Area, as well as the purpose,
vision and guiding principles of the Sharp Park
Specific Plan.
— Chapter 2: Context, Process, and Plan Organization. Provides location and context, information regarding the planning process and community engagement, relationship to other plans, and the contents of the Sharp Park Specific Plan
document.
— Chapter 3: Vibrant Sharp Park - Land Use. Presents key features of the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area, including existing land use, land use framework and designations, opportunity sites where significant change may be expected to occur,
development potential, and affordable housing
strategies.
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2-10 | CHAPTER 2
— Chapter 4: Accessible Sharp Park - Mobility
and Parking. Addresses the Sharp Park Area’s
roadway network and circulation, pedestrian and
bicycle connectivity, transit and transportation
demand management measures, and parking
management strategies.
— Chapter 5: Attractive Sharp Park - Urban Design
and Public Space. Provides guidance for the
development of the built environment in the
Sharp Park Specific Plan Area, including street-
scape improvements and the public realm, civic
spaces, policies regarding coastal view preser-
vation, compatibility with existing development,
as well as detailed development standards and
criteria by which development will proceed.
— Chapter 6: Livable Sharp Park - Public Facili-
ties and Infrastructure. Addresses public ser-
vices and infrastructure needed to ensure public
health and safety in the Sharp Park Specific Plan
Area, including schools, library services and rec-
reational facilities. Strategies related to main-
tenance of public infrastructure such as water,
stormwater, sewer, solid waste disposal, and
energy are also described.
— Chapter 7: Resilient Sharp Park - Environmental
and Coastal Resilience. Identifies and addresses
key environmental issues that will potentially
have an impact on the design and location of
new development, including noise and hazardous
materials, air and water quality, flooding, geology
and seismicity, and conservation and protection
of biological and natural resources within the
Sharp Park Specific Plan Area. Strategies related
to coastal resilience are also described.
— Chapter 8: Attainable Sharp Park – Implementa-
tion. Outlines measures for consistency with the
General Plan and Municipal Code and provides
an infrastructure cost assessment, preliminary
financing strategies for infrastructure and public
improvements, and a phased implementation
program for the Sharp Park Specific Plan.
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Land Use
3 The Sharp Park of the future is a place full of vibrancy and life, where visitors, residents, and workers create a vital and balanced ecosystem of residences, businesses, amenities, and well-loved places. The Sharp Park Specific Plan envisions a harmonious mixed-use
coastal hub for Pacifica, oriented along a pedestrianoriented central “spine” along Palmetto Avenue. To promote this vision, a land use framework and designations shape the use and feel of Sharp Park’s north-south corridors while preserving the charm of
its existing smaller scale residential neighborhoods.
This chapter also describes development potential
and includes policies to support new, diverse housing opportunities and continued economic vitality in the neighborhood.
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65.2%
Mixed Use
14.2%
Commercial
6.1%
Public and
Community Facilities
9.9%
Vacant
3.6%
SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
3-2 | CHAPTER 3
3.1 EXISTING LAND USE
Figure 3-1: Existing Land Use Distribution
The Sharp Park of today presents a solid foundation
for vibrancy-enhancing changes. This section provides a context for the Sharp Park Specific Plan with a summary of the existing land uses within the Sharp
Park Specific Plan Area.
EXISTING LAND USE PATTERN
The 104-acre Sharp Park Specific Plan Area is
comprised of a mix of land uses, with a majority
of commercial, mixed-use, and office uses located
along Sharp Park’s two main corridors, Francisco
Boulevard and Palmetto Avenue. The blocks fronting Palmetto Avenue are considered Sharp Park’s main commercial core and contain a variety of small
restaurants and cafes, bookstores, personal services, antique shops, and other uses. Eureka Square, a large auto-oriented shopping center to the east of
Highway 1, contains a mix of retail and small offices.
A variety of public and community facilities are
located throughout Sharp Park, including Pacifica
City Hall, the decommissioned wastewater treatment plant (currently serving as the City Council Chambers), the Sharp Park Library, and the Little
Brown Church/Pacifica Coastside Museum. Two
public schools, Oceana High School and the Ingrid
B. Lacy Middle School, and one private school at
Good Shepherd Catholic Church, are located just
outside of the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area to the
north and attract families attending swim meets and
other school and sporting events to the Sharp Park
Specific Plan Area. The 410-acre Sharp Park Golf
Course, owned by the City and County of San Francisco, borders the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area to the south. Although the small Palmetto Park is the
only public park space within the Sharp Park Specific
Plan Area, the Pacifica Pier and beach are close by.
Residential uses make up the majority of the Sharp
Park Specific Plan Area (see Table 3-1). Seaside
bungalows and smaller scale single-family homes
are found on most of the east-west streets to the
east of Palmetto Avenue. To the west of Palmetto,
multi-family and single-family homes are mixed
along the neighborhood blocks and Beach Boulevard. Single-family and multi-family residential uses
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FRANCISCO BLVD
OCEANA BLVD
PALMETTO AVE
PALOMA AVE
BEACH BLVD
CLARENDON RD
PACIFIC AVE
SALADA AVE
MOANA WAY
CARMEL AVE
SAN JOSE AVE
BRIGHTON RD
MONTECITO AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
SANTA MARIA AVE
HILTON WAY
TALBOT AVE
MIRADOR TER
KOHALA AVE
SHOREVIEW AVE
CARMEL AVE
LAKEVIEW AVE
PACIFIC AVE
PALOMA AVE
Pacific Ocean
EUREKA DR
Sharp Park
Beach
Sharp Park
Golf Course
Oceana
High School
Ingrid B.
Lacy Middle
School
City
Hall
Library
Palmetto
Park
CLARENDON RD
FRANCES AVE
Pacifica
Beach
Park
Eureka
Square
Shopping
Center
Pacifica Pier
BEACH BLVD
Pedestrian
Bridge
1 0 250 500 1,000
Feet
Highways
Single Family Residential - Detached
Single Family Residential - Attached
Duplex/Two Family Residential
Multi-Family Residential
Mixed Use - Residential
Mixed Use - Commercial
Hotel/Motel/Lodging Commercial
General Commercial
Office
Church
Public/Community Uses
Parks
Open Space
Vacant
Sharp Park Specific Plan
Figure Figure 3-2: Existing Land Use 3-1: Existing Land Use
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EXISTING LAND USE CATEGORY ACRES PERCENTAGE
Residential 44.1 65.2%
Single Family Residential - Detached 19.8 29.3%
Single Family Residential - Attached 1.3 1.9%
Duplex/Two Family Residential 4.6 6.8%
Multi-Family Residential 18.4 27.2%
Mixed-use 9.6 14.2%
Mixed-use – Residential (Office/Retail and Residential uses) 3.6 5.3% Mixed-use – Commercial (Office and Retail uses) 6.0 8.9% Commercial 4.1 6.1%
Hotel/Motel/Lodging Commercial 0.4 0.6%
Commercial 3.2 4.7%
Office 0.5 0.7%
Public and Community Facilities 6.7 9.9%
Church 0.4 0.6%
Public/Community Uses 6.0 8.9%
Parks and Open Space 0.3 0.4%
Vacant 2.4 3.6%
Sub-Total Land Uses: 67.6 100%
Streets and Other ROWs 35.9
Total 103.5
Notes: Numbers do not add due to rounding.
Source: City of Pacifica, 2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2019.
SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
3-4 | CHAPTER 3
are intermixed along with commercial and mixed-use
commercial/residential uses along the north-south
Francisco Boulevard. A mix of commercial, mixeduse commercial/residential, and nonconforming residential uses comprise the uses on Palmetto Avenue.
Single-family residential makes up about 48 percent
of the total land developed for residential use while
multi-family and duplex residential makes up the
other 52 percent. A few areas of multi-family residential concentration exist, including east of Highway 1 above the Eureka Square Shopping Center, along
the northern edge at Paloma and Palmetto avenues,
and at the southern tip of the Sharp Park Specific
Plan Area past Clarendon Road.
Streets and other rights-of-way consist of approximately 35.9 acres (35 percent) of the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area, leaving a total of approximately
68 acres of developable land. Figure 3-1 shows
the existing land uses of Sharp Park in a pie chart,
excluding rights-of-way, and Figure 3-2 shows a map
of existing uses, also broken out in Table 3-1.
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VIBRANT SHARP PARK: LAND USE | 3-5
3.2 LAND USE FRAMEWORK
In the future, Sharp Park is envisioned to become
many things at once: a vibrant community hub with
new restaurants, shops, art and entertainment
venues; an attractive place for new and existing residents to live; and a cohesive and charming area with strong connections to the ocean and to history. To
support this vision of the Sharp Park Specific Plan
Area, the Specific Plan presents a blueprint for balance, including changes that add higher intensity mixed-uses along key corridors and at major opportunity sites, stewardship of natural amenities along the coastline, and preservation of residential uses
in between. Visions for each of these areas where
change may occur are described below.
PALMETTO AVENUE
Palmetto Avenue serves as Sharp Park’s vibrant
“spine”, a mixed-use corridor with new housing
opportunities that support the vitality of existing
businesses and development of new amenities.
After enjoying time along the Beach Boulevard
promenade, pier, or Sharp Park Beach, residents and
visitors will enjoy shopping at unique and eclectic
shops, dining at a variety of restaurants and cafes,
taking in Sharp Park’s arts and cultural offerings, or
meeting their other daily needs. New four- to fivestory buildings activate the Palmetto corridor at multiple levels. At the ground floor, streets are enlivened with attractive window displays, storefronts, and
enticing uses. At the upper stories, residences and
office uses include balconies, windows, and rooftop
green spaces. While the entirety of Palmetto Avenue
is envisioned to become mixed-use, the “energy
center” is focused south of San Jose Avenue, where
new, active uses complement the hotel and visitorserving commercial uses at the 2212 Beach Boulevard site as well as the revitalized civic jewel, the new Sharp Park library. North of San Jose Avenue,
the ambiance is more community-focused, with an
emphasis on accommodating more housing in buildings of slightly smaller scale than southern Palmetto.
Envisioned Palmetto Ave and Santa Maria Ave
Envisioned Palmetto Ave and Santa Rosa Ave
Envisioned 2100 Palmetto Ave
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3-6 | CHAPTER 3
FRANCISCO BOULEVARD
As a key gateway into Sharp Park, the Francisco
Boulevard corridor capitalizes upon its location
without detracting from the energy of Palmetto
Avenue as Sharp Park’s primary commercial street.
While most of Francisco is envisioned as a mixeduse corridor, either a mix of uses within a block, or at the parcel level, different segments of Francisco
Boulevard have finer-tuned character. From Carmel
Avenue to Northern Paloma Avenue, smaller scale
mixed-use buildings with residential and retail uses
help to provide foot traffic to Palmetto Avenue while
also serving as Sharp Park’s northern entry point, as
Paloma Avenue is a street prioritized for an improved
east-west bicycle and pedestrian connection. From
Carmel Avenue to Montecito Avenue, higher density
mixed-use residential with flexible ground floor commercial space, or visitor-serving uses welcome visitors into the area at the San Jose Avenue/Francisco Boulevard intersection, the Sharp Park Specific Plan
Area’s link to Eureka Square. Flexibility of this area
helps new development adapt to future economic
trends. South of Montecito Avenue, Francisco Boulevard retains its primarily residential feel. green spaces and a public plaza or gathering place
for shoppers, workers, and residents to enjoy their
lunch or a coffee, relax, and chat. Eureka Square
retains its view corridors to the Pacific Ocean and
pier, and streets and sidewalks point people toward
the San Jose pedestrian bridge, the primary connection between Eureka Square and West Sharp Park.
EUREKA SQUARE
The Eureka Square shopping center is envisioned to
transform into a mixed-use node complete with office,
retail and commercial, and multi-family residential
uses rising up in taller buildings to meet the bluffs.
Redevelopment of Eureka Square is oriented to the
pedestrian, with parking behind buildings, active
frontages along sidewalks, and a varied building
form. New development at Eureka Square includes
RESIDENTIAL AREAS
There are several areas in Sharp Park where higher
density residential buildings already exist, including along east-west streets to the west of Palmetto Avenue, and in the southern portion of the Sharp
Park Specific Plan Area. Some of these blocks have
residential buildings already at the higher ends of
their density allowances. To promote cohesive
neighborhoods at similar scales, existing residential areas between the corridors should be infilled at residential densities compatible with those existing. These infill areas are carried forward from the 1980 General Plan. This housing infill ensures that
high-quality housing, in a mix of types and sizes, will be provided close to Sharp Park amenities, workplaces, and transit, and that the character of lower density residential uses is preserved in key areas.
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VIBRANT SHARP PARK: LAND USE | 3-7
3.3 LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
FAR
Floor Area Ratio, or FAR, expresses the ratio of building square footage to land square footage, and it is a tool used to determine the intensity of development. For example, an FAR of 2.0 means that for every square foot of land, a developer may build two
square feet of building. However, an FAR of 2.0 does
not require that a developer build a two-story building covering the entire lot; rather, there are many different ways that a building can be constructed while meeting the FAR requirement, as shown below. In
each of the three examples shown in the figure, the
building square footages and FAR are equal, but
the building footprints and heights change. In addition to complying with FAR requirements, development in Sharp Park must also be constructed in accordance with required development standards,
such as setback and lot coverage standards, which
are described in Chapter 5 and not illustrated in this
figure.
The Land Use Diagram is a graphic representation
of planned land use classifications, used in conjunction with policies established in the Plan to review and approve, modify or deny proposed development
projects. The Land Use Diagram, shown in Figure
3-3, includes Mixed-use, Residential, and Public
classifications. These classifications are described
in detail below, and intensity and density standards
for each are summarized in Table 3-2. Intensity is
described by Floor Area Ratio (FAR), or the permitted ratio of gross floor area to net site area. Gross floor area excludes portions of the building devoted
to parking from the FAR calculation, and net site area
excludes any access corridors or access easements.
Density is defined as the number of housing units
per acre. Following each description are images that
reflect the intended scale and character of the proposed classification.
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FRANCISCO BLVD
OCEANA BLVD
PALMETTO AVE
PALOMA AVE
BEACH BLVD
CLARENDON RD
PACIFIC AVE
SALADA AVE
MOANA WAY
CARMEL AVE
SAN JOSE AVE
BRIGHTON RD
MONTECITO AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
SANTA MARIA AVE
HILTON WAY
TALBOT AVE
MIRADOR TER
KOHALA AVE
SHOREVIEW AVE
CARMEL AVE
LAKEVIEW AVE
PACIFIC AVE
PALOMA AVE
Pacific Ocean
EUREKA DR
Sharp Park
Beach
Sharp Park
Golf Course
Oceana
High School
Ingrid B.
Lacy Middle
School
City
Hall
Library
Palmetto
Park
CLARENDON RD
FRANCES AVE
Pacifica
Beach
Park
Eureka
Square
Shopping
Center
Pacifica Pier
BEACH BLVD
Pedestrian
Bridge
ÆÃ1
0 250 500 1,000
Feet
Residential
Low Density Residential
Medium Density Residential
High Density Residential
Mixed Use
Mixed Use Neighborhood
Mixed Use Center
Other
Public and Semi-Public
Park
Active Ground Floor Overlay
Sharp Park Specific Plan
Figure 3-3: Sharp Park Specific Plan Land Use Diagram Figure 3-3 Land Use Diagram
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LAND USE
RESIDENTIAL DENSITY
(GROSS UNITS PER ACRE): RANGE1
NON-RESIDENTIAL INTENSITY
(FAR): MAXIMUM2,3
Residential
LDR Low Density Residential 3 to 9
MDR Medium Density Residential 10 to 15
HDR High Density Residential 16 to 21
Mixed-use
MUN Mixed-use Neighborhood 16 to 26 1.0
MUC Mixed-use Center Up to 50 2.5
Public and Community Uses
PSP Public and Semi-Public 1.0
U Utilities 1.0
BCP Beach and Commuter Parking -
Parks and Open Space
P Park
C Conservation
Notes:
1. Density ranges are rounded to the nearest whole number, except where less than 1 unit per acre.
2. For mixed-use designations, the following maximum total FAR, including both residential and non-residential uses, is established:
— MUN: 2.0 FAR maximum; MUC: 2.5 FAR maximum
For all land use designations, density and intensity ranges apply to the developable portions of a site.
3. The following shall be excluded from FAR calculations:
— All areas of a building devoted to parking;
— Crawl spaces, breezeways, attics without floors, below-grade structures; — All unenclosed or open space (common, public, or private), including porches, balconies, terraces; and — Active ground floor uses in areas where active ground floor requirements apply as shown on Figure 3-3.
SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
VIBRANT SHARP PARK: LAND USE | 3-9
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RESIDENTIAL
The three residential classifications provide for a
range of densities, consistent with neighborhood
character and planned land use.
Low Density Residential
The Low Density Residential (LDR) designation is
intended for single-family housing development
ranging from three to nine dwelling units per gross
acre. Residential care facilities, schools, and com-
munity uses are permitted. Clusters of small-lot
development as well as subdivisions will be allowed.
Buildout is calculated at 6.5 units per gross acre.
Medium Density Residential
The Medium Density Residential (MDR) designation
is intended for a mix of housing types, including
small-lot single-family, attached single-family, apart- ments, duplexes, and townhomes at densities of up
to 15 units per gross acre. Residential care facilities, schools, and community uses are permitted. Build-
out is calculated at 12.5 units per gross acre.
High Density Residential
The High Density Residential (HDR) designation is
intended for multi-family apartments, condominiums
and townhomes, in multi-story buildings located near
shopping areas and transit. The density will be 16 to
21 dwelling units per gross acre. Sites of 0.5 acres or more in size may develop up to 30 dwelling units per
gross acre. Residential care facilities, schools, and
community uses are permitted. Buildout is calculated
at 25 units per gross acre.
Low Density Residential
Medium Density Residential
High Density Residential
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Mixed-use Neighborhood
Mixed-use Center
MIXED-USE
The Specific Plan provides two mixed-use classifications to create areas where housing and active commercial uses may be integrated. Visitor-oriented
commercial uses are allowed as-of-right in all mixeduse areas within the Coastal Zone.
Mixed-use Neighborhood
The Mixed-use Neighborhood (MUN) classification is intended for medium-density multi-family housing with ground-floor retail, restaurant or service uses and housing or offices above or behind the street-facing ground floor. Residential uses are
allowed in the same building as commercial uses
above the ground floor (vertical mixed-use) and in
other locations on the same site (horizontal mixeduse). Public or community uses and hotels may be permitted at appropriate locations. The MUN classification allows a density range of 16 to 26 units per gross acre for sites less than 0.5 acres in size, and
non-residential development with an FAR up to 1.0.
Sites of 0.5 acres or more in size may develop up
to 30 dwelling units per gross acre. The total FAR
(residential and non-residential) cannot exceed
2.0. Buildout is calculated based on a 0.25 FAR for
non-residential uses and 25 residential units per
gross acre.
Mixed-use Center
The Mixed-use Center (MUC) classification is
intended for high-density multi-family housing with
ground-floor retail, restaurant or service uses and
housing or offices above or behind the street-facing ground floor. Residential uses are allowed in the same building as commercial uses above the
ground floor (vertical mixed-use) and in other locations on the same site (horizontal mixed-use). Public or community uses and hotels may be permitted at
appropriate locations. The MUC classification allows
a density range of 30 to 50 units per gross acre and
non-residential development with an FAR up to 2.5.
Total FAR (residential and non-residential) cannot
exceed 2.5. Buildout is calculated based on 0.35
FAR for non-residential uses and 32 residential units
per gross acre.
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3-12 | CHAPTER 3
PARKS, PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY
USES
Designations for public uses such as schools, civic
buildings, utilities, and public parking areas are designated on the Land Use Diagram, and summarized below. Public park land is covered separately in the
following section.
Public and Semi-Public
The Public and Semi-Public (PSP) designation indicates public or private schools, libraries, police and fire stations, and other civic and community uses. In
the case that public facilities are converted or sold
for new uses, Plan land use classifications shall be
updated. If a public school is discontinued, any proposed new use should be compatible with the adjacent neighborhood. The maximum FAR in this district is 1.0. Buildout is assumed at 0.35 FAR.
Beach and Commuter Parking
The Beach and Commuter Parking (BCP) designation applies to areas where the priority use is public parking to serve beach visitors and/or transit users.
Sites are located adjacent to Pacifica State Beach
and at Crespi Drive and Highway 1. Beach parking
at the City’s 2212 Beach Boulevard property, which
serves the Pacifica Pier and Sharp Park, should be
conserved as part of redevelopment of that site.
Park
The Park (P) designation is applied to public land
either now developed for active recreation use or
intended for future recreation development. The
designation applies to city parks as well as to park
or open space whose primary character is undeveloped and natural.
ACTIVE USE FRONTAGE OVERLAY
The heart of Palmetto Avenue from Paloma Avenue
to Pacific Avenue is shown with an Active Use Frontage Overlay on the Land Use Diagram. This designation requires that the ground level has uses that are accessible to the general public, are engaging
to pedestrians walking by, and generate walk-in
pedestrian clientele and thus contribute to a high
level of pedestrian activity. This overlay requires
that new development activate the ground floor of
buildings with uses and/or design techniques that
engage the street and enhance the pedestrian environment. Active ground floor uses include retail and service establishments, restaurants, cafes, bars and
brew pubs, co-working spaces, art and craft studios,
and other substantially similar uses. While office and
other less active non-residential uses may be permitted at ground level on an interim basis at the discre-tion of the City, all spaces must be designed to accommodate active uses, and optimize pedestrian
access; facade length and articulation; and window
coverage, as defined (See Figure 3-3 and Policy
3-I-2 in this chapter, and Standard DS-3 in Chapter
4, Urban Design).
Public and Semi-Public
Beach and Commuter Parking
Park
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VIBRANT SHARP PARK: LAND USE | 3-13
3.4 DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY SITES
for Pacifica, and anchor Palmetto Avenue as Sharp
Park’s historic main street. Land use designations
outlined in the Specific Plan would provide greater
certainty to a potential developer.
The Pacifica Library Modernization Project seeks
to rebuild and transform the current library facility, which was built in the 1960s, into a seven-day full-service library with additional community-serving
gathering spaces and facilities. The Project could
greatly enhance the quality of life of residents living within the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area by increasing access to community space and library resources as well as becoming an attraction for other residents
of Pacifica to visit Sharp Park.
The Eureka Square Shopping Center is also identified as an opportunity site with potential for new development. The site’s location along Highway 1, at
the base of a hill and directly across from the existing civic cluster, and connected to west Sharp Park via a pedestrian bridge makes the site well-suited
for higher-intensity development that can help meet
Pacifica’s housing needs and support economic
vitality across the entirety of the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area.
Eureka Square
OPPORTUNITY SITES
Opportunity sites are those that may have potential
for land use changes over the long term. Sites in the
Sharp Park Specific Plan Area that are vacant, have
a low assessed value (AV) ratio, or City-owned with
reuse possibilities are shown in Figure 3-4, totaling
about 13 acres (sites that are subject to applications filed with the Planning Department have been excluded). The County Assessor’s data was used
identify parcels with a low AV ratio, defined as the
ratio of the value of existing permanent improvements (i.e., buildings) to the value of the land. When the monetary value of the land is worth substantially
more than the monetary value of the structure on it
(parcels with AV ratios of less than 1.0), a property
owner may have incentive to redevelop the parcel at
their discretion.
Analysis of potential opportunity sites serves as a
tool to identify and quantify areas in the Sharp Park
Specific Plan Area where, if any, future development
is most likely to occur. It is possible that some, or
all, of these sites may not experience redevelopment and that sites not identified in this analysis will undergo redevelopment. Though many of these parcels are vacant or have higher redevelopment potential, they are privately owned. Actual redevelopment would depend on owner interest and timing.
Two major sites with potential for catalytic change in
Sharp Park have been the subject of planning efforts
for some time. These include the 2212 Beach Boulevard site, the current location of the City Council Chambers, and Sharp Park Library.
The 2212 Beach Boulevard Hotel Project was the
previous location of the city’s wastewater treatment
facility. The City of Pacifica released a request for
proposal (RFP) for a developer to build a hotel and
conference center in 2018 but withdrew developer
solicitation in early 2019 due to limited responses.
One of the goals of the Project is to enhance the
City’s economic base, strengthen the tourist industry
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OPPORTUNITY SITE CATEGORY ACRES
Vacant 2.4
Vacant with Project Applications Submitted to the City 1.2 Vacant 1.2
Underutilized 3.9
AV Ratio less than 1.0 3.6
FAR equal or lower than 0.25 0.3
Other Opportunity Sites 8.2
2212 Beach Boulevard 3.2
Eureka Square 5.0
Total: 14.5
Source: City of Pacifica, 2020; Dyett & Bhatia, 2020.
SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
3-14 | CHAPTER 3
Figure 3-4 illustrates the location of parcels that are potential opportunity sites in the Sharp Park Specific
Plan Area, and Table 3-3 summarizes the types and
acreage of opportunity sites. Many of these parcels
contain existing structures, which can be more challenging to redevelop than vacant sites. The legacy of the Salada Beach and Brighton Beach subdivisions from 1907 and 1908, respectively, is that many of the vacant lots within the Sharp Park Specific
Plan Area are narrow lots with small lot area, often
5,000 square feet (0.115 acres) or less per parcel
(some parcels are as small as 2,250 feet or 0.052
acres in area). This small size presents challenges for redevelopment at higher densities/intensities, and
this Specific Plan includes incentives for small-lot
consolidation.
BUILDOUT
Development resulting from implementation of Specific Plan land use designations and assumed densities and intensities is referred to as “buildout.” Although the proposed Plan applies a 20-year planning horizon, the Plan does not specify or anticipate when buildout will actually occur. New development
is expected to occur on opportunity sites; some sites
may not be built or redeveloped with the anticipated
use over the next 20 years, while some other sites
that are not considered opportunity sites today may
actually do so. Because Sharp Park is mostly built
out, there are limited opportunities for new development to occur— much of the new housing, office, and retail will be focused on a few clusters of infill
development opportunities in the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area including redevelopment of existing developed sites.
To calculate the net new development potential on
opportunity sites, the amount of existing development on potential opportunity sites was subtracted from the projected amount of new development
on potential opportunity sites. This net new development on potential opportunity sites was added to the amount of existing development on all other
Beach Boulevard
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kj
kj
Beach
Boulevard
Hotel
FRANCISCO BLVD
OCEANA BLVD
PALMETTO
AVE
PALOMA AVE
BEACH BLVD
CLARENDON RD
PACIFIC AVE
SALADA AVE
MOANAWAY
CARMEL AVE
SAN JOSE AVE
BRIGHTON RD
MONTECITO AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
SANTA MARIA AVE
HILTONWAY
TALBOT AVE
MIRADOR TER
KOHALA AVE
SHOREVIEW AVE
CARMEL AVE
LAKEVIEW
AVE
PACIFIC AVE
PALOMA AVE
Pacific Ocean
EUREKA DR
Sharp Park
Beach
Sharp Park
Golf Course
Oceana
High School
Ingrid B.
Lacy Middle
School
City
Hall
Library
Modernization
Palmetto
Park
CLARENDON RD
FRANCES AVE
Pacifica
Beach
Park
Eureka
Square
Shopping
Center Pacifica Pier
BEACH BLVD
Pedestrian
Bridge
ÆÃ1
0 250 500 1,000
Feet
Potential Development Opportunity
Current Development Projects
Vacant
Underutilized
AV Ratio less than 1.0
FAR equal or lower than 0.25
kj Additional Opportunity Sites
City Owned Properties
Study Area Parcels
Sharp Park Specific Plan
Highways
Figure 3-4: Potential Opportunity Sites Figure 3-4: Opportunity Sites
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EXISTING
(2020)
NET
INCREASE
PROJECTED (2040)
Housing Units 920 2701 1,190
Population 2,530 7402 3,270
Non-Residential Square
Feet
314,000 17,4603 331,460
Jobs 750 454 795
Notes:
1. Calculated by multiplying housing units by vacancy rate of 3.8% (California Department of Finance, 2020)
2. Based on assumption of 2.86 people per household and housing vacancy rate of 3.8% (California Department of
Finance, 2020)
3. Net increase represents 140,000 square feet of existing commercial buildings to undergo redevelopment, subtracted from gross development of 157,460 square feet.
4. Based on assumptions of 400 sq ft./job for MUN, MUC
SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
3-16 | CHAPTER 3
sites in the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area. Then,
using assumptions about average household size
and employee intensity, population and job totals at
buildout were calculated.
Table 3-4 shows the potential housing units and
non-residential building area, and population and
jobs that could result from buildout of the proposed
Plan. Total housing unit increase is anticipated to be
270 units (an increase of 29 percent), while total commercial floor space is likely to increase only modestly – while there will be new commercial development
at the City-owned site, there is also expected to be
a marginal decrease in commercial space on other
sites as existing commercial sites are redeveloped
with mixed-use developments. This total represents
development that could be expected in 2040 if the
Specific Plan is implemented according to the Land
Use Diagram (Figure 3-3) and land use classifications
described in this chapter.
Based on the Sharp Park Market Report developed
as part of this Specific Plan’s existing conditions
analysis, Sharp Park has the opportunity to see new
local small businesses and incremental and finegrained improvements to existing properties. A relatively small net total of nonresidential square footage results from replacement of existing nonresidential
square footage with a mix of residential development
and nonresidential square footage. It is expected
that some of the jobs in the Sharp Park Specific Plan
Area will change to uses that more closely align with
the vision of more eating and drinking, visitor-oriented, hospitality, and experiential retail-type uses.
Most new residential development in the Sharp Park
area is expected to be multi-family. More than half of
the housing projected for Sharp Park is expected to
occur as part of Eureka Square redevelopment. New
housing growth will provide additional “rooftops,”
providing a larger market to support existing businesses and promote development of new ones, as well as promote pedestrian activity and vitality.
Beachfront restaurants such as the Taco Bell at Linda Mar are an example of the type of visitor-oriented experiential retail envisioned for Sharp Park.
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VIBRANT SHARP PARK: LAND USE | 3-17
VIBRANT SHARP PARK
Guiding Policies
3-G-1 Pacifica’s Vital Hub. Establish Sharp Park
as Pacifica’s vital shopping, employment,
activity, and community center, with
compact, walkable, pedestrian-scaled
development.
3-G-2 Balanced Mix of Uses. Foster a balance of
housing, retail, office, and institutional uses
in Sharp Park, complemented by activities
and amenities that cater to the needs of the
Sharp Park community and Pacifica as a
whole.
3-G-3 Vibrant North-South Corridors. Focus the
location of new higher-energy mixed-uses
in the north-south corridors to preserve
the residential character of neighborhoods
between Beach Boulevard, Palmetto
Avenue, and Francisco Boulevard corridors.
Implementing Policies
3-I-1 Mixed-use. Allow for a flexible mix of uses,
with a variety of permitted uses at the
ground floor as well as on upper stories,
except where active ground floor uses or
building design features are required. Allow
horizontal mixed-uses (a mix of uses on a
site) in addition to vertical mixed-use (a mix
of uses within an individual building).
3-I-2 Activated Ground Floor: Require that
development in areas shown in Figure
3-3 provide “active” ground floor uses.
Active uses are those that are accessible
to the public, generate walk-in pedestrian
clientele and thus contribute to a high level
of pedestrian activity, and are engaging to
pedestrians walking by.
Active uses may include (but are not limited
to): stores, restaurants, cafés, markets,
bars, theaters and the performing arts,
commercial recreation and entertainment,
personal and convenience services, yoga
Activated ground floor example in San Francisco
and athletic studios provided ground-level
building transparency is maintained, coworking spaces, tourism-oriented services, hotel lobbies, banks, childcare services,
libraries, museums, and galleries. While
office and other non-residential uses may
be permitted on an interim basis at the
discretion of the Planning Commission, all
spaces must be designed to accommodate
active uses. Building design features that
optimize the pedestrian experience and
access shall be provided as detailed in
Standard DS-3 in Chapter 5.
3-I-3 Neighborhood Services. Promote a mix of
commercial uses that provides adequate
neighborhood and community services for
residential development in Sharp Park to
reduce the need for driving for everyday
needs. In particular, encourage these uses
along Palmetto Avenue and Francisco
Boulevard.
3-I-4 Day and Nighttime Uses and Attractions.
Promote the addition of uses, activities,
and attractions that draw both day and
nighttime visitors to Sharp Park, such as
more restaurants (full-service as well as
cafés), entertainment venues, and art and
cultural destinations. Encourage these uses
along Palmetto Avenue and allow them on
Francisco Boulevard.
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3-I-5 Auto-Oriented Uses. Allow existing autooriented establishments along Francisco Boulevard to remain but not expand in the
Sharp Park Specific Plan Area. Prohibit
new auto-oriented establishments, such
as service or repair uses or drive-thru
establishments, in the Sharp Park Specific
Plan Area.
3-I-6 Community Gathering Spaces and
Placemaking Strategies. Ensure that
sufficient community gathering spaces,
open spaces, and recreational facilities
are part of any mixed-use development,
consistent with the requirements in Chapter
5. Encourage the creation of visually
appealing, comfortable, and memorable
places with a variety of amenities and
facilities to meet different needs, such as
plazas, paseos, playgrounds, green spaces,
and small pocket parks.
3-I-7 Existing Densities/Intensities. Uses that
have a higher existing FAR or density
than the land use density and intensity
limitations shall remain conforming and
allowed to build to the existing densities/
intensities when rehabilitating or reconstructing.
3-I-8 Community Amenities. Monitor market
conditions and assess opportunities
to provide additional incentives for
developments that offer significant
community-serving amenities such as
3-bedroom units, childcare, grocery stores,
publicly accessible urban open space,
on-site performance space, public art,
and green building features. Incentives
may include expedited permitting, or fee
reductions.
3-I-9 Temporary Uses. Explore options for
improving vacant sites with interim
improvements, such as landscaping, or
temporary uses via Temporary Activity
Permits, such as pop-up events and
activities.
AREA-SPECIFIC LAND USE POLICIES
Palmetto Avenue
Guiding Policy
3-G-4 Sharp Park’s Main Street. Promote Palmetto
Avenue as a pedestrian-oriented main
street with a balanced, energetic mix of
retail, restaurants, and services as well as
multi-family housing.
Implementing Policies
3-I-10 Palmetto Avenue Redevelopment. Foster
reuse of underutilized sites along Palmetto
Avenue—several of them occupied by
single-story commercial or utilities/serviceoriented buildings—into vibrant mixed-use structures that promote active uses at the
ground level, with housing above.
3-I-11 Palmetto Avenue Building Height. Permit
55 feet as the maximum height of new
development south of San Jose Avenue,
and 45 feet north of San Jose Avenue.
See Implementing Policy 3-I-40 for
affordable housing height provisions north
of San Jose Avenue.
3-I-12 Palmetto Avenue Setbacks. Require “buildto” lines or maximum setbacks along Palmetto Avenue to ensure that the street
is fronted with development rather than
parking.
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VIBRANT SHARP PARK: LAND USE | 3-19
3-I-13 Palmetto Avenue Active Ground Floor Uses.
Require 75 percent of first floor spaces that
have frontage on Palmetto Avenue to be
devoted to active uses.
Francisco Boulevard
Guiding Policy
3-G-5 Sharp Park Gateway. Support continued
development of Francisco Boulevard as a
“gateway” street to Sharp Park with a mix
of commercial and residential uses that
capitalize on its access and visibility from
Highway 1.
Implementing Policies
3-I-14 Neighborhood-Serving Northern Francisco
Boulevard. Encourage neighborhood
serving commercial, office, and residential
mixed-use development along the three
blocks of Francisco Boulevard north of City
Hall.
3-I-14 Flexible Central Francisco Boulevard. Allow
existing commercial uses to remain while
encouraging new mixed-use development
with flexible ground-floor workspaces
or visitor-serving commercial uses along
the three blocks between City Hall and
Montecito Avenue.
3-I-14 Francisco Boulevard Building Height.
Increase building heights of MUN and
MUC designations to 55 feet to encourage
visibility from Highway 1.
2212 Beach Boulevard Site
Guiding Policy
3-G-6 Sharp Park Anchor. Facilitate the
development of 2212 Beach Boulevard
site as an anchor for Palmetto Avenue, and
a community and tourist destination for
Pacifica.
Implementing Policies
3-I-17 2212 Beach Boulevard Height. Permit
building height up to 55 feet.
3-I-17 2212 Beach Boulevard Public Space.
Incorporate a small new plaza or public
gathering space as part of Beach Boulevard
redevelopment.
3-I-17 2212 Beach Boulevard Design. As
part of the design of the site, consider
incorporating a restaurant or cafe at
the corner of Montecito Avenue/Beach
Boulevard or at a terrace level overlooking
the waterfront.
3-I-17 2212 Beach Boulevard Uses. Prioritize
full-service hotel use at the 2212 Beach
Boulevard site. For any non-hotel project,
emphasize land uses that are of interest to
visitors and generate revenues for the City.
Eureka Square
Guiding Policy
3-G-7 Mixed-use Node. Facilitate redevelopment
of the Eureka Square Shopping Center
as a high-quality mixed-use node, with a
combination of housing, office, and retail.
Implementing Policies
3-I-21 Eureka Square Height. Permit building
heights up to 55 feet.
3-I-22 Eureka Square Public Space. Require
inclusion of public gathering space as part
of mixed-use design at Eureka Square.
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3-20 | CHAPTER 3
3.5 ECONOMIC VITALITY
2019 and 2020 Fogfest posters, designed by Aaron John
Gregory of Cotton Crustacean
ECONOMIC VITALITY
Guiding Policies
3-G-8 Commercial Heart. Ensure a positive
business climate that supports a thriving
pedestrian-friendly commercial district that
maintains Sharp Park as the “heart” of the
community.
3-G-8 Diversified Economy. Strengthen Sharp
Park’s diversified economic base with
measures that increase business viability,
and that allow businesses to respond to
market demands.
3-G-8 New and Existing Business. Retain existing
businesses and attract new businesses
through the development of programs and
assets that add value to Sharp Park and the
City.
3-G-8 Flexible Use. Ensure that development is
designed to accommodate flexible uses
that can accommodate a pivot in business
type to residential as economies evolve.
The Sharp Park Specific Plan envisions creating a
vibrant mixed-use “heart” for Pacifica, with an appealing and diverse range of businesses along the corridors that draw people for dining, shopping, personal services, arts and entertainment, and enjoyment of
the area’s beachside amenities. Palmetto Avenue and
Francisco Boulevard are home to a number of smallscale, locally-owned shops, unique restaurants, and visitor-oriented uses, but there is potential to encourage even more commercial uses desired by the community. Given the current largest industry in the City is Accommodation and Food Services and that the
City is interested in growing its visitor and resident
serving sectors, the current job market could function
as a foundation from which to expand this sector of
the local economy. Equally important is an emphasis on home-based businesses, startups, creatives, and maker-oriented businesses. Creating a favorable
business climate that values flexibility, diversity, and entrepreneurship will ensure that Sharp Park remains
economically viable, even as market changes occur.
Building on Sharp Park’s coastal identity and enhancing its sense of place will be a powerful attractor. Targeted public investments in the Sharp Park Specific Plan area can help to catalyze new retail and visitor-serving opportunities, as well as incremental and fine-grained improvements to existing properties with
a focus on creating a differentiated experience for
residents and visitors. The Sharp Park Specific Plan
emphasizes a people-scaled approach to development which will translate into a walkable, friendly, safe, and appealing pedestrian realm.
Art, history, and culture have an important role to
play in building this sense of place. From the Pacifica Coastside Museum, to the imitable Fog Fest, to quirky
and charming seaside signage and imagery, preserving and enhancing Sharp Park’s eclectic streak can continue to positively impact its social and business
environment.
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VIBRANT SHARP PARK: LAND USE | 3-21
Implementing Policies
3-I-23 Business Attraction. In collaboration with
business advocacy groups, maintain a
Sharp Park business attraction program
to assist with site identification, incentive
programs, permitting assistance, and other
aspects related to establishing or relocating
a business.
3-I-24 Predictable Business Environment.
Support a predictable and welcoming
business environment by continuing to
refine and improve the City design review
and permitting process to ensure it is
as expedient and business-friendly as
possible.
3-I-25 Accommodating Smaller Uses. Encourage
the integration of commercial tenant
spaces designed to accommodate small
businesses within new development,
and make it easy for smaller commercial
establishments to continue operating,
including through techniques such as
exempting the first 2,000 square feet of
non-residential building area in a building
from parking requirements.
3-I-26 Evening Activity. Encourage businesses
to remain open at night and to light their
storefront displays in the evening in order to
encourage activity and promote safety.
3-I-27 First Floor Design. Ensure that new
buildings in the Active Use Overlay are
designed to accommodate a range of firstfloor uses such that a variety of uses may occupy the space.
3-I-28 Home Based Business. Ensure that Sharp
Park zoning allows for home-based
businesses in all areas.
3-I-29 Marketing Integration. Integrate
businesses and attractions located in Sharp
Park into city branding and promotional
material.
3-I-30 Pop-Up Activities and Kiosks. Conduct a
study to consider allowing pop-up activity
spaces, cultural or artistic exhibitions, public
and private events, temporary uses for
vacant storefronts and parcels, and kiosks
in Sharp Park to encourage increased
activity.
3-I-31 Façade Improvement. Establish a Facade
Improvement Basics (FIB) program that
supports efforts to create attractive facades
on existing buildings.
3-I-32 Sharp Park Partnerships. Partner with the
Pacifica Coastside Museum, Historical
Society, Sharp Park library, Sharp Park
businesses, cultural organizations, and arts
groups to develop and expand the program
of activities and events that activate public
spaces.
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3.6 AFFORDABLE HOUSING
As an area capable of supporting higher intensity residential and mixed-use development, the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area plays an important role in helping the city address the housing affordability crisis.
New development opportunities include residential
or mixed-use infill on vacant or opportunity sites
and redevelopment of large publicly owned parcels.
Sharp Park Specific Plan includes numerous policies
to increase the supply of both market rate and affordable housing in Sharp Park.
Sharp Park’s vitality is also inextricably linked to its ability to support diversity. The most vibrant places
have a mix of housing and employment types, as well
as residents from a variety of demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. To this day, Sharp Park remains a neighborhood with housing options
that are more affordable to renters and families with
lower incomes. Approximately 70 percent of occupied households within the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area are renters, nearly double to the rate of renter
occupied units in Pacifica as a whole (32 percent).
Approximately 31 percent of Pacifica households are
spending more than 30 percent of household income
on housing costs. Cost burden affects renters more
than owners: 29 percent of owners and 36 percent
of renters are spending more than 30% of incomes
on housing.
As with any plan, new development without protections and proactive strategies can have direct and indirect consequences, such as gentrification and
displacement. To ensure everyone can enjoy the
new amenities that will be created in Sharp Park, the
Specific Plan includes policies to increase availability of affordable housing, monitor indicators that may signal displacement is occurring, and work directly
with affected communities to identify gentrification
and displacement issues and strategies to address
them. To support current and future residents’ housing needs, the Sharp Park Specific Plan promotes creation of a mix of housing unit types, sizes, and price points, especially smaller units that are affordable by design, live/work units for creatives, and home-based
business operators.
Additional Dwelling Units, or ADUs, like the one pictured above, are a form of infill housing.
The Pacifica community has identified housing affordability as a critical issue. Similar to other Bay Area communities, the price of housing in Pacifica for both
owners and renters has increased substantially in
recent years due to high land prices and an undersupply of housing relative to demand. As a result, market rate housing is unaffordable for purchase or
rental for many households in Pacifica. Lack of housing affordability can lead to overcrowded housing and overpayment for housing, resulting in less income for
transportation, food, and medical costs. It can also
force households with moderate or low incomes to
move elsewhere, resulting in impacts to Pacifica’s
social fabric from displacement or, for those who work
in Pacifica, resulting in longer commutes and more
traffic. Lack of affordable housing is also a major contributing factor to homelessness.
In Pacifica, average rents have been rising since 2010
and have increased from $1,600 in 2010 to $2,300
in 20191
. Vacancy rates have decreased over the last
seven years as well, from around 5.3 percent in 2010
to 2.5 percent in 2019. The slow growth of residential inventory and steadily increasing rents, home values, and low vacancies suggest pent up demand
for housing in the City, reflecting the high demand
for housing in the San Mateo County region and Bay
Area generally.
1 More recent, comprehensive rent data are not available. However, anecdotal information suggests rents have continued to increase between 2019 and adoption of this Plan.
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VIBRANT SHARP PARK: LAND USE | 3-23
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Guiding Policies
3-G-12 Housing Opportunity. Support
development of a diverse range of housing
opportunities suitable for people of all
incomes, abilities, and stages of life.
Implementing Policies
3-I-33 Renting and Owning. Encourage a mix of
for-sale and rental housing units in all Sharp
Park areas.
3-I-34 Specialty Housing. Promote the provision
of affordable, live-work, and special-needs
housing.
3-I-35 Preserve Affordability. Preserve and
expand affordable housing in Sharp Park
with the following actions:
— Provide funds to renovate older buildings in
exchange for rent restrictions;
— Encourage the integration of deedrestricted affordable units within housing developments;
— Discourage the conversion of older rental
apartments to condominiums.
3-I-36 Displacement Indicators. Monitor indicators
such as change in share of low-income
households, average rent and sales price,
supply of affordable units, and evictions
and foreclosures within the Sharp Park
Sharp Park Specific Plan Area.
3-I-37 Supportive Housing. Facilitate
opportunities to incorporate innovative
design and program features into affordable
housing developments, such as on-site
health and human services, community
gardens, car-sharing, and bike facilities.
Support the development of projects
that serve homeless and special needs
populations.
3-I-38 Small-Lot Consolidation. Support assembly
and development of smaller parcels
to enable development of multi-story
structures, such as by offering higher
maximum density/intensity for larger lots.
3-I-39 Northern Palmetto Density and Height. To
encourage and support development of
affordable housing, the density and height
of projects along northern Palmetto Avenue
(north of San Jose Avenue) shall be allowed
at a density of 16 to 26 dwelling units per
gross acre (or up to 30 dwelling units per
gross acre if sites are 0.5 acres or more),
and at heights up to 45 feet. To maintain
a compatible scale while incentivizing
affordable housing development, allow
projects that include more affordable
housing than required by the City’s
current inclusionary housing ordinance
requirements (15% affordable units) the
following densities and height:
— Densities between 26-50 dwelling units per
acre.
— Heights over 45 feet.
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Mobility and Parking
4 Sharp Park includes several features that provide
a solid foundation for an accessible circulation network, including walkable streets, existing bicycle connections, parking amenities, and transit access.
As Sharp Park adds more amenities, land uses, and
people visiting and living in the area, more trips will begin and end in Pacifica’s community hub. An integrated network of Complete Streets will provide a range of safe, convenient, and enjoyable options for
getting around, enhance the experience of visiting
or living in the neighborhood, and support economic
vitality.
An accessible mobility network, in which people will
be able to get around comfortably, efficiently, and
in the manner that they choose, will build on Sharp
Park’s strengths to further improve the environment
for pedestrians and bicyclists, expand connections
to other Pacifica neighborhoods, and accommodate
needs of drivers while planning for future technology changes. This chapter articulates policies to improve connections to and within Sharp Park, with
an emphasis on improvements that support walking,
biking, and transit, as well as parking.
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SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
4-2 | CHAPTER 4
4.1 TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
The circulation network will be designed to balance
mobility, economic health, safety, and vibrancy in
Sharp Park. Complete Streets are roadways that
meet the needs of all users including motorists,
pedestrians, bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, seniors, movers of commercial goods, and users of public transportation. To achieve this balance, multiple strategies are needed to promote alternative modes, manage parking and traffic more effectively,
and make street- and parking-related improvements.
STREET NETWORK
Streets constitute one of the largest publicly-owned
spaces in the City. The Sharp Park Specific Plan
Area’s road network consists mainly of freeways,
arterials, collector streets and local roads, shown in
Figure 4-1. Because of its geography and low development intensities, Pacifica today is largely car-oriented. The Sharp Park Specific Plan Area has grid system of streets with blocks approximately 200 feet
by 500 feet in size, with a mix of uses. Accommodating the needs and comfort of drivers will be balanced with the City’s priorities for pedestrians, bicycles, and transit. To achieve this balance, the Sharp Park Specific Plan includes strategies to promote
alternative modes of transportation, manage parking
and traffic more effectively, and make street-related
improvements to enhance the public realm.
Freeways
Highway 1 is the major regional route that bisects the
Sharp Park Specific Plan Area into eastern and western halves. State Route 35 (also known as Skyline Boulevard) provides a connection to Interstate 280
and runs about two miles to the east of Sharp Park.
Arterials
The main arterials in the Sharp Park Specific Plan
Area include Palmetto Avenue, Oceana Boulevard,
and Paloma Avenue to the west of Highway 1. Sharp
Park Road borders the southern portion of the Sharp
Park Specific Plan Area and connects Highway 1 to
State Route 35.
Collector
Collectors funnel traffic from local roads to arterial
networks. Main collectors in the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area include Talbot Avenue, Moana Way, Clarendon Road, Francisco Boulevard, and Paloma
Avenue to the east of Highway 1. Francisco Boulevard
serves as the southbound exit from Highway 1, and
in the northbound direction, Moana Way and Clarendon Road take drivers into east and west Sharp Park, respectively.
Local Streets
Local Streets are neighborhood streets that provide
access to homes and schools, typically with low
vehicular speeds, street trees, and street lighting at
intersections. These include most of the East-West
streets within the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area. In
the western portion of the Sharp Park Specific Plan
Area, all east-west streets, with the exception of
Montecito, Brighton, and Clarendon roads, are oneway, with directions in an alternating pattern.
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FRANCISCO BLVD
OCEANA BLVD
PALMETTO AVE
PALOMA AVE
BEACH BLVD
CLARENDON RD
PACIFIC AVE
SALADA AVE
MOANA WAY
CARMEL AVE
SAN JOSE AVE
BRIGHTON RD
MONTECITO AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
SANTA MARIA AVE
HILTON WAY
TALBOT AVE
MIRADOR TER
KOHALA AVE
SHOREVIEW AVE
CARMEL AVE
LAKEVIEW AVE
PACIFIC AVE
PALOMA AVE
Pacific Ocean
EUREKA DR
Sharp Park
Beach
Sharp Park
Golf Course
Oceana
High School
Ingrid B.
Lacy Middle
School
City
Hall
Library
Palmetto
Park
CLARENDON RD
FRANCES AVE
Pacifica
Beach
Park
Eureka
Square
Shopping
Center
Pacifica Pier
BEACH BLVD
Pedestrian
Bridge
1 0 250 500 1,000
Feet
Street Classification
Highways
Arterial
Collector
Local Street
Pedestrian Bridge
Roadway
Improvement for Study
Study Area Parcels
Sharp Park Specific Plan
Figure 4-1: Street Network Figure 4-1: Street Network
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SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
4-4 | CHAPTER 4
STREET NETWORK IMPROVEMENTS
While implementation of the Sharp Park Specific Plan
is not expected to generate a significant amount
of traffic, analysis of future traffic levels at buildout (2040) in the context of citywide and regional development indicates that one roadway improvement would be required within the Sharp Park Specific
Plan Area.
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’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.
The intersection of Paloma Avenue and Oceana
Boulevard currently operates at LOS F during the
AM peak hour and meets a peak hour signal warrant.
Signalization of this intersection would improve the
operation for both existing conditions and buildout
conditions to LOS D during the morning peak hours
and would maintain LOS C during the evening peak
hours, 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.
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN NETWORK
The Sharp Park Specific Plan focuses on the quality
of streets as public spaces and their role in creating an attractive, interconnected public realm that encourages walking, bicycling, and social activity. Overall, the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area has well-connected streets and sidewalks and a significant share of bicycle and pedestrian amenities. The recent streetscape improvements along Palmetto
Avenue reflect the City’s commitment to providing
alternative transportation options, and the Beach
Boulevard promenade is one of Pacifica’s most wellloved resources. However, several issues, such as cracked, incomplete sidewalks, lack of signage and
wayfinding, and limited bicycle and pedestrian amenities on some streets present challenges to the existing bicycle and pedestrian network.
EXISTING BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
NETWORK
Pedestrian Network
Sidewalks and Crossings
Sidewalks are provided along most arterial and residential streets in the Sharp Park Specific Plan Area.
Most sidewalks are generally narrow, between four
to five feet wide, except for Palmetto Avenue, which
has sidewalks closer to seven feet wide, and Beach
Boulevard, where additional Coastal Trail and promenade access extend sidewalks between 10 to 18 feet wide. The quality of sidewalks throughout the Sharp
Park Specific Plan Area varies, with a few stretches
of roads that lack sidewalks, or heavily cracked sidewalks that could pose a threat to safety and ADA compliance. Palmetto Avenue has the newest pedestrian infrastructure upgrades and the best sidewalk
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FRANCISCO BLVD
OCEANA BLVD
PALMETTO
AVE
PALOMA AVE
BEACH BLVD
CLARENDON RD
PACIFIC AVE
SALADA AVE
MOANAWAY
CARMEL AVE
SAN JOSE AVE
BRIGHTON RD
MONTECITO AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
SANTA MARIA AVE
HILTONWAY
TALBOT AVE
MIRADOR TER
KOHALA
AVE
SHOREVIEW AVE
CARMEL AVE
LAKEVIEW
AVE
PACIFIC AVE
PALOMA AVE
Pacific Ocean
EUREKA DR
Sharp Park
Beach
Sharp Park
Golf Course
Oceana
High School
Ingrid B.
Lacy Middle
School
City
Hall
Library
Palmetto
Park
CLARENDON RD
FRANCES AVE
Pacifica
Beach
Park
Eureka
Square
Shopping
Center
Pacifica Pier
BEACH BLVD
Pedestrian
Bridge
1 Multi-Lane Highway
Sidewalk exists on one side
Sidewalk exists on both sides
Sidewalk does not exist
Study Area Parcels
Sharp Park Speci c Plan
Barriers
(trees, cracks in sidewalks, etc.)
Sidewalk Status
0 250 500 1,000
Feet
Figure 4-2: Existing Sidewalk Network Figure 4-2: Existing Sidewalk Network
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ACCESS POINT NAME BEACH ACCESS? OWNERSHIP DETAIL
1. Northern Beach Boulevard No City Seawall along Beach Boulevard and armored bluff shoreline. No parking.
2. Pacifica Pier and Vicinity Yes City Access to beach at San Jose Avenue across armored bluffs, and to Pier at end of Santa Rosa
Avenue. Popular fishing area. Erosion concerns.
Parking at City-owned lot.
3. Beach Boulevard Promenade Yes City and State Low bluffs between beach and park. Popular for walking, jogging, fishing, ocean viewing, beachcombing. Access to beach at Birch Lane. Parking available along Beach Boulevard.
4. Clarendon Road Yes City and State Access to long beach across very low bluffs, protective berm. Parking available along Beach Boulevard. quality. Figure 4-2 shows the sidewalk network in the
Sharp Park Specific Plan Area.
Pedestrian connectivity across Highway 1 is provided
at three locations in Sharp Park, including Paloma
Avenue, Clarendon Road and a pedestrian bridge
connecting to San Jose Avenue.
Coastal Access
Sharp Park’s proximity to the coast provides residents and visitors with numerous opportunities to enjoy the beach and other recreational activities. The
California Coastal Act also requires that land in the
Coastal Zone (which includes the Sharp Park Specific
Plan Area) maximizes opportunities for the public to
travel to and along the shoreline, and to recreate on
the beach and in the ocean. The Sharp Park Specific
Plan Area provides four access points to the coast,
described in Table 4-1 below and shown in Figure 4-3.
A key pedestrian feature in Sharp Park is the Beach
Boulevard Promenade, which provides public access
to the ocean as far south as Mori Point. The promenade is located above the seawall along the oceanfront and is popular for walking, jogging, or accessing the Pier and Sharp Park Beach.
The Sharp Park Specific Plan Area is also a major hub
along the California Coastal Trail. Starting from Sharp Park Beach, the Coastal Trail is a seven-mile long
trail crossing Mori Point, passing through Rockaway
Beach, and ending at Pacifica State Beach near the
Linda Mar District.
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FRANCISCO BLVD
DVLB ANAE CO
PALMETTO
AVE
PALOMA AVE
BEACH BLVD
CLARENDON RD
PACIFIC AVE
SALADA AVE
MOANAWAY
CARMEL AVE
SAN JOSE AVE
BRIGHTON RD
MONTECITO AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
SANTA MARIA AVE
HILTONWAY
TALBOT AVE
MIRADOR TER
EVA
AL AHOK
SHOREVIEW AVE
CARMEL AVE
LAKEVIEW
AVE
PACIFIC AVE
PALOMA AVE
Pacific Ocean
EUREKA DR
Sharp Park
Beach
Sharp Park
Golf Course
Oceana
High School
Ingrid B.
Lacy Middle
School
City
Hall
Library
Palmetto
Park
CLARENDON RD
FRANCES AVE
Pacifica
Beach
Park
Eureka
Square
Shopping
Center
Pacifica Pier
BEACH BLVD
Pedestrian
Bridge
1 0 250 500 1,000
Feet
Coastal Access Points
(Bluff-top/View)
Coastal Access Points
(Beach)
Highways
Study Area Parcels
Parks, Recreation & Open Space
Sharp Park Speci c Plan
Figure 4-6: Coastal Access Points
Source: City of Paci ca, 2019; San Mateo
County, 2019; Dyett & Bhatia, 2019.
1 2
2 3
4 Figure 4-3: Coastal Access Points
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SHARP PARK SPECIFIC PLAN
4-8 | CHAPTER 4
Bicycle Network
The Sharp Park Specific Plan Area has one main
bikeway; a class II bicycle lane that runs along the
length of Palmetto Avenue from Paloma Avenue to
the north, to Clarendon Road to the south. This bicycle lane was installed as part of the Phase I Palmetto Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project, completed in 2018. At Clarendon Road, the Class II facility continues on the eastern side of the Sharp Park Golf Course as a Class III Bicycle Route, and on the
western side as a Class I Shared Use Path. There are
several areas for bicycle parking at Eureka Square,
and three facilities in western Sharp Park, including
at the Pacifica Resource Center at 1809 Palmetto
Avenue, in front of the Pacifica mural at Montecito
and Palmetto Avenue, and at the Chit Chat Café on
Beach Boulevard.
BICYCLE FACILITIES
The 2020 Pacifica Bicycle and Pedestrian Master
Plan classifies bicycle facilities into the following
types:
— Class I Shared-Use Path. Class I shared-use
paths are paved trails wholly separated from
the street. They allow two-way travel by people
bicycling 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.
— Class II Bicycle Lane. Class II bicycle lanes are
striped preferential lanes on the roadway for oneway bicycle travel. — Class IIB Buffered Bicycle Lane. Bicycle lanes
that include a striped “buffer” area either
between the bicycle lane and the travel lane or
between the bicycle lane and parked cars, (sometimes in both areas). — Class III Bicycle Route. Class III bicycle routes
are signed routes where people bicycling share a
travel lane with people driving. Because they are
shared facilities, bicycle routes are only appropriate on quiet, low-speed streets with relatively low traffic volumes. Some Class III bicycle routes
include shared lane markings or “sharrows” that
recommend proper bicycle positioning in the
center of the travel lane and alert drivers that
bicyclists may be present.
— Class IIIB Bicycle Boulevard. Bicycle routes that
are further enhanced with traffic calming features
or other treatments to prioritize bicyclist comfort.
— Class IV Separated Bikeway. Class IV separated
bikeways are on-street bicycle facilities that are
physically separated from motor vehicle traffic by
a vertical element or barrier, such as a curb, bollards, or vehicle parking aisle. They can allow for one- or two-way travel on one or both sides of
the roadway.