Pacifica, California Development News

Mid Coast Community Council Addresses Safety Element Update, Housing Cap Amendment, and Inter-agency Coordination

The Mid Coast Community Council meeting commenced with administrative matters, including council members attending remotely and voting on their participation. Following this, David Cosgrave, a representative from the Board of Supervisors, provided an update on county business, including the purchase of a property on East Hillsdale Boulevard in Foster City to consolidate county facilities and save costs. He also addressed constituent issues, particularly noise complaints related to San Francisco Airport due to runway rehabilitation and FAA flight path changes, noting a reduction in hourly flights but an increased impact on the peninsula. Cosgrave also clarified funding for PRIME, confirming a one-time Measure K grant concluded but emphasizing ongoing support and efforts to secure new funding. Council members then addressed constituent questions regarding a mobile health clinic. The meeting proceeded to the consent agenda, approving minutes from June 10th and June 24th, 2026. The main agenda item focused on the San Mateo County Draft Safety Element of the General Plan, presented by Katie Faulner, a long-range planner. This update aims to incorporate climate adaptation and resiliency, identify areas with insufficient evacuation routes, and align with the Peninsula Resilience Planning collaborative. The safety element covers seismic, geologic, flooding, sea-level rise, fire, drought, and severe weather hazards. Public comments included concerns about communication during emergencies, infrastructure resilience, emergency preparedness, and equitable resource distribution. The council discussed the process for updating the safety element, including policy development, community feedback, and integration with other plans like the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The discussion on the safety element concluded with plans for public comment periods and adoption hearings. Subsequently, the council deliberated on a proposed amendment to the county's 40-unit housing cap policy, stemming from the Cypress Point project exceeding the cap in 2025. The amendment, option E, was proposed to look back to 2013 for averaging units, aiming to avoid Coastal Commission intervention and retain the 40-unit cap. Public comments and council discussions revealed concerns about survey methodology, the impact on existing residents versus new development, infrastructure capacity, and the influence of state mandates. Ultimately, the council voted 5-2 to support option E, with some members expressing reservations about the cap's validity and the process. The meeting then shifted to discussing the progress of a multi-jurisdictional coordination effort for mid-coast projects, initially focused on parking issues at Surfers Beach. The discussion involved clarifying the facilitator's role, the contract scope, and inter-agency collaboration, with a commitment to further define the structure and address specific issues like parking. Finally, Nicholas Cauldron provided an update on a CPU rule-making proceeding regarding wireless carrier service quality, emphasizing the need for timely service restoration and reduced exemptions. The council approved a letter to the CPU supporting this proceeding. Council activity included discussions on forming an alternate member group for county referrals and updates on local initiatives like a mobile clinic and harbor district retail space.