West Marin residents are invited to an August 26 learning session about proposed amendments to land use and housing rules in the coastal zone.
Updates to Marin County’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) are in the works, coordinated by staff members from the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA). In the coming months, the County government will recommend amendments to implement the County’s Housing Element updates approved in 2023, including updated land-use plan, zoning requirements, and implementing design requirements specific to the coastal area.
The proposed amendments are detailed on the County’s website. They primarily affect the creation of new housing (multi-unit or subdivisions) with minimal effect on single-family dwellings. However, some minor changes would incorporate state mandates for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs.
The learning session is scheduled for 6 PM Tuesday, August 26, at The Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes Station. It will include a short presentation and discussions in breakout groups.
All residents and stakeholders are invited, although the proposed LCP amendments would only affect residents who live within Marin’s unincorporated Coastal Zone. The zone is defined as the area generally located between the first coastal ridgeline and a point 3 miles past the line of mean high tide. That area includes:
- Muir Beach
- Stinson Beach
- Bolinas
- Olema
- Point Reyes Station
- Inverness
- Marshall
- Tomales
- Dillon Beach
Those living on federal property – notably the Point Reyes National Seashore and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area – are not subject to LCP regulations.
Marin’s LCP, which dates back more than 40 years, is the key document used by the County to manage conservation, beach access, and development in West Marin’s coastal zone. As mandated by state housing laws, the proposed LCP amendments are essential for implementing long-term housing plans and synchronized policies from recent state housing laws affecting the coastal areas. The LCP must undergo a thorough review and receive approval from both the local Board of Supervisors and the Coastal Commission, which oversees development along the coast.
CDA seeks to add transparency and streamlining to the permitting processes for multi-unit residential development and simplify complex zoning language. The proposed amendments will be introduced to the Planning Commission at a workshop scheduled for October 13 followed by consideration by the Board of Supervisors this fall.
CDA is keeping coastal residents and stakeholder groups apprised through learning sessions, in-person learning session, webinars, webpage updates, and e-mailed notifications to clarify the reasons why the development-related changes are necessary. Anyone may sign up to receive emailed notifications about the LCP amendments.
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