Government Affairs
OUR CITY COUNCIL AND CIVIC LEADERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DECISIONS THAT HAVE DIRECTED
THE DEVELOPMENT
OF OUR CITY.
THIS PAGE INCLUDES LINKS TO GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
WHICH STILL GOVERN THE
LAND USE IN MORRO BAY.
The way that land is used in any city is directed by the City's General Plan. Morro Bay's General Plan is called Plan Morro Bay. Plan Morro Bay was adoped after a seven-year process, including extensive community input, and was approved and certified by the California Coastal Commission in 2022.
The current land use designation for the property known as the "power plant property", as well as the beaches on the west side of the Embarcadero and Coleman Drive, is consistent with the city's desire to promote tourism, recreation and fishing. It is also consistent with the goals of the California Coastal Act.
The California Coastal Act guides how the land along the coast of California is developed (or protected from development). It prioritizes 1) the public's access the coast; 2) the preservation of sensitive coastal and marine habitat and biodiversity; 3) the preservation of open space and coastal agricultural lands; 4) prioritizes coastal recreation; 5) protects commercial and industrial uses that need a waterfront location. The California Coastal Commission is the regulatory body that oversees that the Coastal Act is followed in all coastal development. The California Coast Act covers the oceans approximately three miles offshore and 1,000 yards from the mean high tide line of the sea. This area is known as the Coastal Zone. (An introduction to the Coastal Act is here.) Our Measure A-24 is within the Coastal Zone and is covered by the Coastal Act.
Please email us if you have questions about any of these documents.
1976 (revised 2024) California Coastal Act - https://www.coastal.ca.gov/coastact.pdf
Introduction to the California Coastal Act - https://www.coastal.ca.gov/coastalvoices/IntroductionToCoastalAct.pdf
Estero Bay Coastal Zone map - https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Planning-Building/Forms-Documents/Coastal-Zone-Maps/Estero-Planning-Area-Maps/Estero-Planning-Area-Land-Use-Map.pdf
June 8, 1981 - Measure D, Citizens Initiative to protect commercial fishing between Beach Street and Target Rock, See pg. 29 of this August, 2016, Document for text of the Ordinance:https://www.morrobayca.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4482
3/25/2013 - Tidelands Trust: https://www.morrobayca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6755/Harbor-Tidelands-Trust-Study-Session-32513?bidId= pg. 16 for map, pg. 17 for uses allowed in perpetuity in the Tidelands Zone
8/20/16 - Cal Coast News, “Morro Bay Officials Attempting to Chip Away at Measure D” - https://calcoastnews.com/2016/08/morro-bay-officials-attempting-chip-away-measure-d/
“Measure D and It’s Impact on Morro Bay Commercial Fishing”: http://historicalmorrobay.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Measure-D-and-Its-Impact-on-Commercial-Fishing-in-Morro-Bay.pdf
6/9/21 - MB Special Meeting during which Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was approved. By this MOU, MB acquired an easement for the Sewage Treatment Plant Transfer Infrastructure for $1.00. MB gave up the right to purchase the Power Plant property for $1 in 2033, and agreed to work with the property owner to develop BESS. The property owner agreed to remove power plant and stacks after BESS is built or pay the city $3m. John Headding was Mayor. Councilpersons Addis, Heller, Barton & Davis all voted yes to MOU. (See pg. 8 for terms of agreement): https://www.morrobayca.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5674
Youtube of the Special Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xazcz4HT3X4
6/30/22 - Assembly Bill - AB 205 - This much-discussed California Bill was passed in order to streamline the permitting process for large renewable energy projects. Opponents of our Citizens Initiative point to this Bill as the possible bypass process that the property owner could use to over-ride the Initiative. However, careful reading of the bill states that if the property owner were to bypass the citizens of Morro Bay by implementing AB205, the California Coastal Commission has the final say in the approval. We feel that successful passing of the Citizens Initiative cements our community’s rejection of a property owner plans.
See sections 25545.1 b.(2) & (3), 25545.5, d. (1) & (2) : https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB205
9/15/23 - January-February 2023 Survey Results reveal majority of Morro Bay Citizens prefer Open Space and Visitor-serving usease for the Land East of N. Embarcadero: https://www.morrobayca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18067/Master-Plan-Survey-Response-Results