Marin LCP: Get the Facts!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

• What is the Local Coastal Program?


• What is the Marin County Local Coastal Program (LCP)?


• What is the Coastal Zone?


• What are the goals of the Coastal Zone?


• What are the Coastal Act Policies?


• Why is the Marin LCP being amended?


• What is the status of the Marin LCP amendment?


• How can I get involved and stay informed?

What is the Local Coastal Program?

In 1976, the California Legislature enacted the Coastal Act, which created a mandate for coastal counties to manage the conservation and development of coastal resources through a comprehensive planning and regulatory program called the Local Coastal Program (LCP).

The Local Coastal Program (LCP) is a planning document that identifies the location, type, densities, and other ground rules for future development in the coastal zone. Each LCP includes a land use plan and its implementing measures. These programs govern decisions that determine the short and long term conservation and use of coastal land, water, and other resources.

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What is the Marin County Local Coastal Program (LCP)?

Marin County was among the first local governments to complete, and have the California Coastal Commission certify, its LCP. The Marin LCP is divided into two units: Unit I and Unit II. Unit I was certified in 1980 and includes the communities of Muir Beach, Stinson Beach, and Bolinas. Unit II was certified in 1981 and includes the communities of Olema, Point Reyes Station, Inverness, Dillon Beach, Marshall, and Tomales. The primary goal of the LCP is to ensure that the local government’s land use plans, zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, and implemented actions meet the requirements of, and implement the provisions and polices of the Coastal Act at the local level.

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What is the Coastal Zone?

The Coastal Zone is defined in Section 30103 of the Coastal Act. The Coastal Zone generally extends inland 1,000 yards from the mean high tide of the line of the sea. In significant coastal estuarine, habitat, and recreational areas it extends inland to the first major ridgeline paralleling the sea or five miles from the mean high tide line of the sea, whichever is less, and in developed urban areas the zone generally extends inland less than 1,000 yards. The Coastal Zone does not include the area of jurisdiction of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, nor does it include land owned by the Federal Government.
Map of Marin County Coastal Zone

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What are the Goals of the Coastal Zone?

According to Section 30001.5 of the Coastal Act, the basic goals of the state for the coastal zones are to:

• Protect, maintain, and, where feasible, enhance and restore the overall quality of the coastal zone environment and its natural and artificial resources.
• Assure orderly, balanced utilization and conservation of coastal zone resources taking into account the social and economic needs of the people of the state.
• Maximize public access to and along the coast and maximize public recreational opportunities in the coastal zone consistent with sound resources conservation principles and constitutionally protected rights of private property owners.
• Assure priority for coastal-dependent and coastal-related development over other development on the coast.
• Encourage state and local initiatives and cooperation in preparing procedures to implement coordinated planning and development for mutually beneficial uses, including educational uses, in the coastal zone.

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What are the Coastal Act Policies?

Coastal cities and counties must incorporate the following Coastal Act policies into their individual LCPs. These policies require:

• Protection and expansion of public access to the shoreline and recreational opportunities and resources; including commercial visitor-serving facilities;
• Protection, enhancement, and restoration of environmentally sensitive habitats, including intertidal and nearshore waters, wetlands, bays and estuaries, riparian habitat, certain wood and grasslands, streams, lakes, and habitat for rate or endangered plants or animals;
• Protection of productive agricultural lands, commercial fisheries, and archeological resources;
• Protection of the scenic of coastal landscapes and seascapes;
• The establishment, to the extent possible, of urban-rural boundaries and directing new housing and other development into areas with adequate services to avoid wasteful urban sprawl and leapfrog development;
• Provision for the expansion, in an environmentally sound manner, of existing industrial ports and electricity-generating power plants, as well as for the siting of coastal-dependent industrial uses;
• Protection against loss of life and property from coastal hazards.

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Why is the Marin LCP being amended?

More than 30 years have passed since the original Marin LCP was adopted. Beginning in late 2008, the Board of Supervisors directed planning staff to review the policies and provisions of the LCP to determine which might require amendments based upon new knowledge, emerging trends and the experience of administering the LCP.

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Has there been any public outreach for the Marin LCP amendment?

The public outreach effort was kicked off in the winter of 2008 with community meetings in Muir Beach, Stinson Beach, Point Reyes Station, Tomales, and other locales. A second series of community meetings was held in July 2011. At each meeting, the public was asked to identify key issues of concern, and was provided with an opportunity to ask questions about the LCP. The Planning Commission held a series of 19 workshops during 2009 and 2010, followed by a series of 9 public hearings in 2011 and 2012, to methodically review each section of the existing LCP in a public forum, during which time interested members of the public were able to testify. A number of additional meetings were conducted by staff with agricultural operators, community and environmental organizations, and other involved agencies.

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What is the status of the Marin LCP amendment?  [updated 06/01/12]

On February 13, 2012, the Planning Commission (PC) officially approved a comprehensive set of amendments to the Marin LCP, which they have recommended to the Board of Supervisors for adoption. The Board held two public workshops in March 2012 to get an introduction and overview of the proposed LCP amendments, and to hear from the public about their concerns. The Board will begin their official review of the PC-recommended amendments at the upcoming public hearing on August 7, 2012.   Hearing Schedule

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How can I get involved and stay informed?

There are several ways to get involved with and stay informed about the LCP amendment process. You can write a letter to the Board of Supervisors. You can attend an upcoming community workshop or public hearing. You can sign up for email updates to stay informed about the latest news and events. Also, you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Map of Marin's Coastal Zone

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* Website design: Vivian Lo, Alisa Stevenson * Background photo: "Stinson Beach" by Christine Gimmler