Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a Local Coastal Plan (LCP) to set development standards for the Coastal Zone in the county. The plan was aimed at protecting the environment, while still condoning equestrian use and preservation of trails. New vineyards will not be permitted in the coastal zone.
About 100 residents of Malibu Canyon, Topanga, Monte Nido, and Malibu, along with environmentalists, came to the public hearing in downtown LA - many spoke to support the Local Coastal Plan approval. A handful of property owners and developers voiced opposition.
Supervisor Mike Antonovich abstained from voting. Antonovich thought the individual property rights should trump the protections afforded by the LCP - or at least more time was needed to address concerns. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky reminded the Board that the LCP was seven years in the making. Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, wrote a letter in support, hailing the plan as “the result of a long and thoughtful process” designed to protect ”a rich and fragile set of ecosystems.”
As a result of the LCP, building permits can be issued by the county, without the applicant also needing to obtain Coastal Commission approval. The new plan also clarifies what is, and what is not allowed in the Coastal Zone. In the past, each application was evaluated by the Coastal Commission on a case by case basis.
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