Goleta Beach 2.0 and Its Discontents

The California Coastal Commission has evolved into a heavy handed behemoth seeking to pre-empt local control over zoning and land use. [“Back to the Future”, 7/8/10.] What is at stake in the drama unfolding at the Board of Supervisors is nothing less than local control versus bureaucratic state centralism. Given a free hand, the Commission will take over every facet of coastal life. Got beach access behind your beach house? The CCC wants to convert your backyard a public utility. Wanna sell lemon aid at the Farmer’s Market? Fine, just shell out a couple thousand for attorney’s fees, go through public hearings, interminable appeals and you will receive your land use “intensification” permit. Ever notice how narrow the sand beach is at Goleta Beach? The CCC would have most of it wash away. But don’t worry; as long as any beach remains, you’ll be able to go through a toll gate to paid parking in the industrial zone. From there, you can take a (water) taxicab through the fragile Goleta slough estuary. The confiscatory coastal commission wants to rule paradise and put in a paid parking lot. If you wish to defend the herons, egrets,cormorants, swifts and other wetland residents put in jeopardy by the latest edicts of junk science, rage against the machinations of the Goleta Beach 2.0 proposal as it wends its way into the star chamber of the CCC.—Geoffery Bard