City of Redondo Beach
Community Development Department
415 Diamond Street, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 318-0637
January 19, 2024
EMERGENCY COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT
Please note the following City of Redondo Beach action on an extension to an emergency coastal permit was rendered on January 19, 2024 by the Redondo Beach Acting Community Development Director.
Coastal Development Permit No.: CDP-2021-12
Applicant: County of Los Angeles / Department of Beaches and Harbors 13837 Fiji Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Applicant's Representative: Porsche White
County of Los Angeles / Department of Beaches and Harbors 13837 Fiji Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Location: Esplanade at Avenue A, Redondo Beach
Original Permit Date: November 30, 2021
Original Expiration January 28, 2022 8th Extension Expiration May 20, 2023 2nd Extension Expiration March 29, 2022 gth Extension Expiration July 21, 2023 3rd Extension Expiration May 27, 2022 10t Extension Expiration September 19, 2023 4t* Extension Expiration Sept. 22, 2022 111h Extension Expiration November 19, 2023 5th Extension Expiration November 20, 2022 12' Extension Expiration January 19, 2024 6'h Extension Expiration January 20, 2023 13th Extension Expiration March 18, 2024 7i Extension Expiration March 21, 2023
Description of Request/Nature of Emergency:
On November 30, 2021, the City of Redondo Beach (City) approved emergency coastal development permit (eCDP) No. CDP-2021-12 authorizing the closure of the Avenue A access ramp located at the intersection of Avenue A and Esplanade in Redondo Beach, California. The County of Los Angeles Department of Beaches and Harbors (DBH) requested the closure following an engineering study that found the existing path, railing, top and bottom landings, and the concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall that compose the ramp to be in very poor condition and recommended closure for public safety.
The Avenue A beach access ramp extends 267 feet from the upper level at the western terminus of Avenue A to the beach level and exits adjacent to the beach bike path. The elevation of the upper landing is approximately 70 feet and the elevation of the lower landing is approximately 14 feet with a bluff height of 56 feet. The width of the concrete access path is 4.5 feet with 4 feet
clearance between the railing post and the CMU wall. A 34" high, by 2" diameter anodized aluminum railing extends the length of the access path on the west or downhill side. A CMU retaining wall extends the length of the access path. The CMU wall is constructed of 4" x 6" x 12" open cell block grouted with #4 vertical rebar at 12" on-center. The height of the wall varies from 36" to 60". Please see the attached parcel profile reports for legal descriptions of the property.
On November 19, 2023, the City issued an eCDP extension for the access ramp closure, which expires on January 19, 2024. Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors applied for a Coastal Development Permit to replace the existing ramp. Because construction staging is anticipated to on the beach, DBH must also apply for a Coastal Development Permit with the California Coastal Commission. The Coastal Development Permit for the replacement of the damaged access ramp was deemed incomplete by the City. Because of the application status, DBH requests an additional extension of eCDP No. CDP-2021-12 to allow for more time to complete an initial environmental study. The initial study is necessary as part of the application submittal for the Coastal Development Permit for the replacement of the access ramp.
Construction drawings for the project are complete and permits would be reviewed and approved by the Los Angeles County Department of Building and Safety.
Cause of the Emergency:
Deterioration of access ramp, creating a public safety hazard. Extension is granted for additional time to prepare the construction drawings that will be submitted with a full Coastal Development Permit application.
Remedial, protective, or preventative work required to deal with the emergency:
The emergency condition requires that the access ramp be temporarily closed for public safety, which will temporarily affect public access to the beach at this location.
Findings:
The Community Development Director hereby finds as follows:
1. An emergency exists within an area of the Coastal Zone, as defined in Section 10-5.2204 of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code.
2. The emergency requires action more quickly than allowed by the procedures for obtaining a Coastal Development Permit. Formal applications for a Coastal Development Permit shall be submitted for the repair work.
3. Notice of issuance of this Emergency Coastal Development Permit will be posted at the location on November 16, 2023.
4. Public comment on the emergency action will be reviewed, to the extent possible in the time available.
5. The action proposed is consistent with the requirements of the Certified Local Coastal Program. Although the request will temporarily reduce public access to the beach at the location, the action is necessary to ensure public safety.
6. The action proposed is the minimum necessary to address the emergency and, to the maximum extent feasible, is the least environmentally damaging temporary alternative for addressing the emergency.
Emergency Permit Extension Conditions:
1. The applicant is hereby authorized to temporarily close the access ramp located on Esplanade at Avenue A.
2. Within sixty (60) days of the issuance of this extension, or subsequent extension thereof, to an Emergency Coastal Development Permit, an application for a regular Coastal Development Permit shall be submitted to and properly filed with the City of Redondo Beach Planning Division.
3. Any development or structures constructed pursuant to this Emergency Coastal Development Permit shall be considered temporary until authorized by follow-up regular Coastal Development Permits and that issuance of this Emergency Coastal Development Permit shall not constitute an entitlement to the erection of permanent development or structures.
4. Any installations authorized in this Emergency Coastal Development Permit must be removed unless a complete application for regular Coastal Development Permits are filed within sixty (60) days of approval of this extension to an Emergency Permit and said regular permit is approved. If a regular Coastal Development Permit authorizing permanent retention of the development is denied, then the development that was authorized in the Emergency Permit, or the denied portion of the development, must be removed. Such removal, however, shall be pursuant to a separate permit.
5. This additional extension to an Emergency Coastal Development Permit shall be valid for sixty (60) days from the date of previous expiration, unless extended by submittal of a follow up application. Within sixty (60) days of issuance of an extension to the Emergency Permit, the permittee must submit a follow-up regular Coastal Development Permit application for the development even if only to remove the development undertaken pursuant to the Emergency Permit and restore the site to its previous condition.
Issued By:
Sean Scully
Acting Community Development Director