Malibu Planning Commission Underestimates Ocean Level Rise By 267 Percent, Coastal Staff Says
Written by 991KBU on February 6, 2020
The City of Malibu has made a big mistake … and is underestimating the effect of global ocean rise on the beaches … and beachfront development.
That’s the conclusion of the California Coastal Commission staff … which is recommending that the state reject the proposed reconstruction of a house on the sand …. at Trancas Beach
A homeowners wants to tear down the existing house … on the beach right next to Trancas Creek.
The house would be higher and bulkier than the existing house … but would occupy the same footprint.
The city Planning Commission approved the plans … because the house would be set back from the wave uprush.
Planning Commissioners say they have heard all sorts of estimates on ocean level increase. … but they settled on planning for an 18 inch ocean level rise.
That’s what local engineers told the commission would be reasonable to expect.
But 18 inches is drastically underestimating what will happen … says the Coastal Commission staff.
Try a minimum of 66 inches – that’s six and a half feet higher … in 80 years … says Coastal.
Not a foot and a half.
267 percent more than that.
The city’s wave uprush study underestimated potential sea level rise by nearly 5 feet.
That means the house would eventually need rock protection … which would block coastal access.
The new house would also block sand supply.… to the beach.
Malibu is not requiring applicants to use the best available science with regard to sea level rise … says the state.
And they say the City should have required the house to be moved as far back as possible from the ocean …
And they say this house would set an important … bad precedent … not just for the City, but also statewide.
The matter goes before the Coastal Commission … at its meeting next week in Long Beach.
