Coastal Commission Announces Venice Homeless
Shelter Must Meet Coastal Act Requirements
The California Coastal Commission announced Monday, September 17,
that any new homeless shelter proposed in the Coastal Zone of Venice will be
required to obtain a Coastal Development Permit (CDP).
This
statement came in an electronic message to John Henning, attorney for Venice
Stakeholders Association. Henning had earlier
written to the Commission to ask for confirmation of the VSA’s opinion that
nothing in the State’s new emergency shelter statute exempts shelters from the
Coastal Act, which requires a Coastal Development Permit for any “development”
in the Coastal Zone, however minor.
“The proposed Venice
Homeless Shelters are not exempt from coastal development permit
requirements. Each proposed project will require some type of Coastal
Commission review,” stated Charles Posner, Supervisor of Planning for the
commission, in his message to Henning.
Mark
Ryavec, president of Venice Stakeholders, said, “We are encouraged by this confirmation
of the Coastal Act’s jurisdiction over such a large development as the 100-person
shelter envisioned by Councilman Bonin for the former MTA bus lot on Main Street.
“
“The
CDP requirement will automatically trigger an environmental review under the
California Environmental Quality Act and force the city to quantify and mitigate
effects such as traffic, public safety, aesthetics, and noise, especially night
time noise, and parking demand.”
“Considering
that some of the 100 homeless will include “car campers” who arrive with their vehicles,
the City will have to provide a place to park them without taking street parking
from visitors and existing residents.”
The
CDP and CEQA processes will also force the city to consider alternative sites
and give residents a formal hearing in which to comment on the proposal, which Councilman
Bonin has to date refused to allow.
