The battle between preservation and access along the Oceanside shoreline has taken a new turn, as the California Coastal Commission gave the green light for the reconstruction of two critical beach revetments, with some strings attached. Homeowners along South Pacific Street will have the chance to pile up the boulders that once formed their rock seawalls but have since rolled away while simultaneously tearing down unauthorized barriers keeping the public at bay, as the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
In a no-nonsense move by the commission, mandating the removal of a wall, a fence, and a private stairway to the beach erected sans permits, the protective efforts are being closely regulated. Yet, on the consent calendar and without comments, the commission approved two distinct applications at its meeting in Santa Cruz, even though almost simultaneously, the commission had issued similar terms to another homeowner in October for their lengthy seawall repair involving illegal private stairways and more.
Not everyone is convinced by the necessity of such constructions, however. The Surfrider Foundation has made its stance clear, with policy coordinator Mitch Silverstein stating in a December 8 letter to the commission that "Surfrider is opposed in principle to coastal armoring because of the proven negative consequences it inflicts upon our public beaches and people’s access to them," a sentiment that underscores the clash between personal property safety and public domain.
The projects have historical roots, with most revetments dating back to the more lenient '70s and '80s regarding coastal construction control. These efforts, while protective for the homes they front, have also brought about the side effect of contributing to beach erosion, which is particularly acute in Oceanside and the specific projects at 1101 South Pacific Street, calling for the restacking of 120 tons of rock and 1301 and 1303 South Pacific Street, involving an additional 66 tons of rock, illustrate the scale of these interventions.
