Sonoma County’s Local Coastal Plan helps protect the Sonoma Coast from development and gives extra protection to its unique landscape, plants and animals. The current Local Coastal Plan was last amended in 2001. Permit Sonoma staff and consultants are currently in the process of updating the plan.
Decision makers: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
- The first public hearing before the Planning Commission is anticipated February/March 2020.
- Go to Permit Sonoma’s Local Coastal Plan Update page to see the Draft Plan and scroll down to Upcoming Public Meetings to subscribe to County meeting notifications.
Opportunities to improve the Local Coastal Plan:
- Include protection for forested areas, especially the redwoods in the floodplain of the Gualala River that are threatened with logging.
- Include language to ban large-scale wineries and event centers on the coast. There is already more traffic on Hwy 1 in the summer than it can handle, and tourist events out at the coast cause more greenhouse gas emissions than a similar event near Hwy 101.
- The LCP update has a section about the Sonoma County fishing industry and its problems, yet there is no mention of the 10 Marine Protected Areas, which appear to be making strides in bringing back fish stock.
- Ban ocean aquaculture of salmon, which harbors disease and threatens wild salmon.
- Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas are listed in the update, but categorization of ESHAs have been eliminated. There is no mention of areas of future potentially sensitive habitat.
- Encourage visitors to use public transit, reducing traffic and the need for new parking. See this report on the successful use of shuttles at Muir Woods.
Links & DocumentsComment Letters
County Local Coastal Program page
Permit Sonoma’s Local Coastal Plan Update page
Public Review Draft – Local Coastal Plan
Permit Sonoma’s Local Coastal Plan Update page
Public Review Draft – Local Coastal Plan
2/17/2020 Jenner resident comment letter
2/16/20 Richard Charter LCP Comments
1/28/2020 Sonoma County Conservation Action update
9/30/2015 Comment Letter – Rue Furch
9/21/2015 Sebastopol Water Information Group (SWiG)
9/7/2015 Preserve Rural Sonoma County
2/16/20 Richard Charter LCP Comments
1/28/2020 Sonoma County Conservation Action update
9/30/2015 Comment Letter – Rue Furch
9/21/2015 Sebastopol Water Information Group (SWiG)
9/7/2015 Preserve Rural Sonoma County