The Capitola Planning Commission on Oct. 2 recommended that the City Council adopt Local Coastal Program (LCP) and land‑use amendments needed to advance the Cliff Drive Resiliency Project, endorsing a direction that would accommodate a continuous bluff‑protection approach and associated shoreline and multi‑modal improvements.

Staff told the commission that City Council in August selected Alternative 3 — a full bluff protection strategy — and that the proposed LCP amendments are intended to enable a future coastal development permit for the project by updating policy language and implementation steps in Chapters 2 and 7 of the city’s Land Use Plan. The draft amendments also clean up references (for example, replacing or removing an outdated "RTC" reference), refine bicycle‑and pedestrian‑related language to "multi‑modal transportation," and remove a stormwater filtration requirement that staff said is not appropriate for the present planning stage.

Staff noted the Cliff Drive project will include a Class‑1 multi‑use path in key segments and called for phased construction focusing first on the portions of bluff most at risk. The staff presentation included conceptual cross sections showing vehicle lanes, the multi‑use path and public overlooks; staff emphasized the designs are not yet final and will be refined as the project moves through design and permitting.

Commissioners asked for clarity about continuity of protection around Hooper’s Beach and the trestle area and urged staff to coordinate closely with private property owners where the bluff protection interfaces with private parcels. Staff said the city will work with property owners and noted that public funds cannot be used for improvements that are solely on private property; nevertheless staff said city planning will seek to coordinate designs so private and public work tie together seamlessly.

A public speaker and several commissioners made editorial and technical suggestions that staff incorporate. The commission asked that one implementation subsection tied to policy 2‑7 be moved into the implementation list for policy 2‑6, and requested deletion of a redundant sentence in policy 2‑14 referencing an evaluation of a Grand Avenue bluff top path. Staff confirmed those edits were made and asked the commission to transmit the amended LCP language to the City Council.

A motion to recommend the amendments with the two textual edits passed by roll call vote; the recommendation will be scheduled for City Council consideration. The commission also reiterated that final engineering and coastal permitting will occur during subsequent project review and that the city will continue outreach as designs are refined.