Measure A-24
This is MEASURE A-24 ON THE NOVEMBER 5, 2024 BALLOT
VOTE YES ON BALLOT MEASURE A-24 IN THE FALL ELECTION
CITY OF MORRO BAY ATTORNEY'S SUMMARY
OF THE INITIATIVE
INITIATIVE MEASURE TO BE DIRECTLY
SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS
TITLE: INITIATIVE MEASURE TO AMEND CITY OF MORRO BAY'S GENERAL PLAN (PLAN MORRO BAY), ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 25, 2021, TO PROHIBIT, UNLESS APPROVED BY MORRO BAY VOTERS, ANY CHANGE TO LAND USE DESIGNATIONS OF VISITOR-SERVING COMMERCIAL OR COMMERCIAL/ RECREATIONAL FISHING, ON CERTAIN DESIGNATED PARCELS WITHIN THE CITY.
SUMMARY: Plan Morro Bay serves as the General Plan and Local Coastal Program/Coastal Land Use Plan for the City of Morro Bay ("City"). Plan Morro Bay was adopted by the City Council on May 25,2021 and certified by the California Coastal Commission on August 12, 2021 ("Approval Date").
The measure prohibits, unless otherwise approved by a majority of City of Morro Bay voters, any change to the land use designations under Plan Morro Bay, of Visitor-Serving Commercial and/or Commercial/Recreational Fishing, in effect on the Approval Date, for approximately 103 acres of real property ("Subject Property"). The Subject Property is located east of Morro Rock by the Morro Bay harbor and includes certain parcels situated both on each side of Embarcadero Road (from Beach Street to Atascadero Road) as well as on Coleman Drive. The Subject Property includes restaurants, commercial /recreational fishing oriented uses, certain parking lots, Coleman park, the Harbor Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, City property, Morro Dunes RV Park and approximately 63 acres of the former Morro Bay Power Plant property.
Visitor-Serving Commercial has a land use designation defined under PlanMoro Bay as "Visitor oriented services and uses located at easily accessible locations and tourist destinations within the coastal zone. In general, ground-floor development should be reserved for retail shops, restaurants and bars, and visitor accommodations, with the upper floors reserved for additional visitor accommodations and offices" with 1.25 floor area ratio ("FAR"). Commercial/Recreational Fishing has a land use designation defined under Plan Morro Bay as "Implements Measure D, which protects the tidelands area between Beach Street and Target Rock. Development and use permits are limited to fishing ativities only" with 0.5 FAR.
The measure directs the City to take all appropriate actions needed to implement the measure and provides that any provisions of local code, ordinance or resolution inconsistent with the measure shall not be applied or enforced. Any inconsistency between the measure, and any amendment or update to Plan Morro Bay adopted after May 1, 2023, shall be amended to ensure consistency with the measure. The measure directs the City to make necessary amendments to Plan Morro Bay, the City's Zoning Code, and other City plans, ordinances and policies to ensure consistency with the measure's provisions. The City Council is authorized to adopt implementing ordinances, guidelanes, rules and/or regulations to further the purposes of the measure.
The measure applies to any City planning application, not approved as of the effective date of the measure, which seeks Subject Property to be re-designated from a VisitorServing Commercial land use designation. The measure provides that the City Council shall take all steps reasonably necessary to enforce the measure and to defend the measure against any challenge to its validity.
