Community Land Use Planning Challenges Ken Topping, FAICP Lecturer/Project Director 2010 State Hazard Mitigation Plan City and Regional Planning Department Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Monday, May 20, 2013

Community Planning Processes General Plan Zoning – land use regulation Subdivision of land Facilities master plans Transportation and street circulation Construction permitting Environmental review Redevelopment Land acquisition for open space Public hearings

Risk Reduction in Planning: Timing is Everything Two critical points for mitigation during development: 1.General plan adoption — infrequent, far- reaching 2.Subdivision approval — critical in hazardous areas Missing mitigation at these points creates a “hazard multiplier”

Coastal Development Processes General Plans under the Govt. Code Subdivision review under the Map Act Land acquisition and improvements under various authorities EIRs under California Environmental Quality Act Local Coastal Programs under the California Coastal Act overseen by the California Coastal Commission Waterfront and bay fill regulation under the Bay Conservation and Development Commission Local Hazard Mitigation Plans under the Disaster Management Act of 2000

What is Mitigation? FEMA: “sustained action to reduce or eliminate long- term risk to human life and property from natural and human-caused hazards” Examples: Building flood walls Avoiding development in hazardous areas Strengthening structures against earthquakes New flood wall protects previously flooded mobile homes from Napa River, 2005, Yountville, California

2010 State Hazard Mitigation Plan Provides frame of reference for state and local mitigation decisions Helps create more resilient and sustainable urban and rural communities Protects California’s economy and environment from preventable losses Creates benchmarks for future mitigation action and progress

California Emergency Management Agency Julie Norris Hazard Mitigation Planning Division (916)

Factors Exacerbating Tsunami Hazards Coastal areas largely built out New development offers limited hazard mitigation options Tsunami impacts more severe than many other hazards Public risk awareness low to non-existent Regulation/acquisition options lack political support Lost mitigation opportunities

Huntington Beach PTHA Inundation Source: CGS

Tsunami Risk Huntington Beach Source: CGS

Key Tsunami/Land Use Issues Poor existing street circulation limiting evacuation opportunities Presence of vulnerable populations and institutions Vital infrastructure vulnerability – facilities needed to enable response and recovery (city halls, EOCs, highways, key bridges, wastewater treatment plants, etc.) Economic impacts – ports, tourism Integration with climate adaptation – PTHA must include sea level rise projections

Learning from Experience: Superstorm Sandy The reality of sever coastal storms is now evident to business, government, and ordinary people Hurricane Sandy etched this into the minds of homeowners and decision-makers alike in New York and New Jersey Tens of thousands of people remain displaced Rebuilding is overshadowed by the specter of future repeat occurrences Source: Tulsa World, Wayne Parry, AP

Why Adapt to Climate Change?

Sea Level Rise Scenarios Current projection: 1.4 meters by 2100 Stay tuned…

Sea Level Rise and San Francisco Airport Light blue = 16 inches by 2050 Dark blue = 55 inches by 2100

Sea Level Rise and the Central Coast Source: Pacific Institute Morro BayPismo Beach/Grover Beach

Sea Level Rise Impacts Tidal encroachment (50:1 beach slopes) Storm surge Low-land flooding Beach and bluff erosion and instability Infrastructure impacts: Harbor facilities Sewer plants and storm drains Pipelines Bridge elevations

Coastal Development Policy Choices Harden coastline – seawalls, levees Prohibit development in hazard areas – beachfront, bluffs, floodplain Improve evacuation Acquire coastal open space Elevate structures Status quo Source: EPA

Routine Mitigation Strategies in Existing Communities  Buy out hazardous properties Elevated home, New Orleans, January 2008 Source: K. Topping Source: City of Roseville  Elevate structures

AB 162: Flooding and Land Use Planning Handbook 1.Statewide: A. Cities and counties must address floodplains in general plan land use, conservation, housing as well as safety elements 2.Regional: Additional requirements for parts of CentralValley B. Land use element must annually review areas subject to flooding

Looking Forward Need to integrate tsunami hazards assessment with sea level rise considerations Coastal Act/Local Coastal Program revisions are needed to clarify safety aspects Special tsunami legislation is needed beyond the SHMA, modeled after AB 162 (flooding) SB 5 (Central Valley Flood Protection Plan) SB 1241 (Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones) Scale is a major consideration - may have to think small to get started