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Stop Shady Development

Defeat bill that sets a dangerous precedent for coastal development

The California State Senate is currently voting on a bill, Assembly Bill 1991 (Mullin), that would sacrifice wetlands to the construction of a 129-unit development in order to eliminate the City of Half Moon Bay’s lawsuit debt to a developer. AB 1991 would set a dangerous precedent by allowing a project wholly within the Coastal Zone to be completely exempted from Coastal Act requirements. The Coastal Commission and many environmental groups strongly object to AB 1991 because of the precedent it would create.

AB 1991 codifies a settlement with developer Charles “Chop” Keenan following a U.S. District Court judgment. The terms of the settlement are excessively weighted in favor of the developer. It turns over to Keenan additional property in the Coastal Zone which contains naturally occurring wetlands and is not part of his original property. A provision would forgive the city of its debt if it delivers total development rights to Keenan by the end of 2011, with exemptions from environmental protections—including the Coastal Act, the CA Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the Fish and Game Code—and low-income housing requirements. If the city does not comply by turning over the property, then it would owe Keenan $18 million.

Assembly Bill 1991 raises these major concerns:

• Both properties have naturally occurring wetlands on them as well as endangered species habitat;
• There are no previous circumstances in which a project wholly within the Coastal Zone has been completely exempted from the Coastal Act and other environmental requirements; and
• This precedent would aid developers in removing environmental laws on land, one parcel at a time.

AB 1991 is not the only solution to keep Half Moon Bay from facing bankruptcy. The city could appeal to the 9th Circuit Court; and, the Coastal Commission and Attorney General’s office have pledged to help the city do so. Or, Half Moon Bay could pay Keenan $18 million for title to the property, and recoup its costs through the sale or development of the site, through the regular regulatory review process including compliance with the Coastal Act.

The city and Assemblymember Mullin assert that AB 1991 will not create a precedent because it is specific to these two properties. However, the events leading up to this legislation set out a clear path for other cities and developers to follow, thereby opening up a dangerous course.

What You Can Do

AB 1991 is now in the State Senate. Please call or write your State Senator, urging her or him to vote against AB 1991 to prevent a precedent-setting allowance for development that disregards environmental protections and review processes.

See our sample letter and send one to your State Senator!

Your State Senator
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 651-40_ _
(fill in the last two digits with your Senate district number)
Fax: varies (look up your State Senator)

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