SC Planning Commission Reviews Coastal Resiliency Plan This Week

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — San Clemente is within weeks of closing its Coastal Resiliency Plan, a long-range planning and guidance document to address future potential sea-level rise and its effects in the city.

The current report reviews the future potential sea-level rise and its effects on storm surge, shoreline erosion and coastal flooding in the city. The plans are even more important in light of recent closures to the area's Metrolink traks due to unstable cliffs in southern San Clemente.

From mid-September until early October, Metrolink paused service north of Oceanside due to "movement of the railroad tracks." The city of San Clemente worked with Metrolink, The Army Corps of Engineers, the Orange County Transportation Authority, and Cypress Shores' community for the stabilization project. The stoppage affected all trains on the Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines and suspended Metrolink and Surfliner. This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to coastal resiliency, further drawing importance to San Clemente's Coastal Resilience Plans.

The current Coastal Resiliency Plan builds on the findings obtained in 2018 and recommends a "phased approach" to improving long-term coastal resiliency for existing structures and critical public infrastructure, according to a recent release from the city.

"While the City has a long history of addressing existing coastal hazards, this is the first focused endeavor by the City to identify possible responses to climate change impacts at the coast, including adaptation strategies based on preparedness, avoidance, and/or protection from the risks projected to occur over time," the report reads. "Ideally, this planning will lead to securing a dedicated funding source to protect the community and natural resources, which make San Clemente such a desirable location to live, work, play, and visit."

The Coastal Resiliency Plan was presented on Oct. 12 and will be presented to the City's Planning Commission on Wednesday, according to Community Development Director Cecillia Gallardo-Daly.

The final presentation will occur at a city council meeting in December.

"This is one of the last deliverables of a Local Coastal Planning Grant awarded to the city in 2017," Gallardo-Daly says.

Read the full Draft of the San Clemente Coastal Resiliency Plan that will be presented to the San Clemente Planning Commission.