Coastal Zone Experience

For 19 years, LWC has worked closely with coastal communities to ensure regulatory compliance, consistency across planning documents and to assess the value of coastal infrastructure and develop feasible strategies to achieve planning goals of resilience, prosperity and equity.

Implementation Plan and Zoning Code Update

Pismo Beach | June 2019 - Present

The City of Pismo Beach hired LWC as part of a team to update their Zoning Code and Implementation Plan (IP).

The City’s aims are to produce a comprehensive, updated Zoning Ordinance and IP grounded in modern best practices, that ensures compliance with federal and state laws, allows for greater flexibility and ease of use, and corrects for the inconsistencies with the General Plan (GP).

LWC prepared a Zoning Ordinance and IP Revisions memo, identifying revisions aimed at a more modern, streamlined code, ensuring consistency with the GP and LUP, and updating development standards. LWC worked closely with the City  and the team to prepare an updated Zoning Ordinance and Coastal Implementation Plan, focusing on greater consistency, modern uses, and regulations specific to the Coastal Zone (including appealable and non-appealable areas) and areas outside the coastal zone. The updates also include standards for coastal development bluff top setbacks, coastal access, and parking, as well as revisions to overlay zones, development standards, and the permitting process.

The final Zoning Ordinance and Coastal Implementation Plan are anticipated to be submitted to the California Coastal Commission in 2025, with adoption of the new standards expected the same year.



Comprehensive Local Coastal Program Amendment, Fiscal Impact Report, and Cost Benefit Analysis

Pismo Beach | June 2019 - Present

The City of Pismo Beach hired LWC as part of a team to update their Zoning Code and Implementation Plan (IP).

The City’s aims are to produce a comprehensive, updated Zoning Ordinance and IP grounded in modern best practices, that ensures compliance with federal and state laws, allows for greater flexibility and ease of use, and corrects for the inconsistencies with the General Plan (GP).

LWC prepared a Zoning Ordinance and IP Revisions memo, identifying revisions aimed at a more modern, streamlined code, ensuring consistency with the GP and LUP, and updating development standards. LWC worked closely with the City  and the team to prepare an updated Zoning Ordinance and Coastal Implementation Plan, focusing on greater consistency, modern uses, and regulations specific to the Coastal Zone (including appealable and non-appealable areas) and areas outside the coastal zone. The updates also include standards for coastal development bluff top setbacks, coastal access, and parking, as well as revisions to overlay zones, development standards, and the permitting process.

The final Zoning Ordinance and Coastal Implementation Plan are anticipated to be submitted to the California Coastal Commission in 2025, with adoption of the new standards expected the same year.

SLO ED_Annual Earnings Graphic_LWC.jpg

LWC Projects with Market & Financial Components 2006 - Present

  • Alameda County, CA, Ashland Cherryland Business District Specific Plan and Code

  • Burlingame, CA, Market Analysis

  • Beaumont, CA, Economic and Fiscal Element, Market Study, and Code Update

  • Benicia, CA, Mixed-Use Master Plan and Form Based Code

  • Beverly Hills, Economic Sustainability Plan Update

  • Chino, CA, Economic Analysis

  • Cincinnati, OH, Code, Comprehensive Plan, Economic Element

  • Grover Beach, CA, Zoning Code Update and West Grand Ave. Master Plan

  • Guadalupe, CA, Mobility and Revitalization Plan

  • University of Hawaii, HI, Infrastructure Master Plan

  • Hermosa Beach, CA, General Plan / Coastal Land Use Plan Update

  • Kingsburg, CA, Development Code Update, and Economic Study

  • Livermore, CA, General Plan Land Use Conversion Study

  • Local Government Commission, CA, Local Funding Guide

  • Long Beach, CA, Coastal Hotel Market Study

  • Port of Long Beach, Economic Cost Benefit Analysis Facility Upgrade

  • Malibu, CA, Local Implementation Plan Update

  • Menlo Park, CA, Analysis of Initiative to Amend Camino Real Downtown Specific Plan

  • Merced, CA, Bellevue Community Plan

  • Moraga, CA, Downtown Specific Plan Implementation

  • Ojai, CA, Short-Term Transient Rentals White Paper & Facilitated Workshop

  • Petaluma, CA, SMART Rail Station Plan: TOD Master Plan

  • Piedras Blancas, CA, Motel Feasibility Study and Design Alternative

  • Port of San Diego, CA, Economic Revitalization Plan

  • Port San Luis Harbor District, CA, Economic Impact Report

  • Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood and Conservation Plan

  • Richmond, CA, Liveable Corridors Plan

  • Richmond, CA, Richmond Bay Specific Plan

  • San Luis Obispo, CA, Economic Development Strategic Plan

  • San Luis Obispo, CA, San Luis Ranch Specific Plan

  • Santa Maria, CA, Market Analysis, Fiscal Analysis, and Economic Element

  • Seaside CA, General Plan Update Market Study

  • Soledad, CA, Vision Program and Downtown Specific Plan

  • Tesoro Viejo, CA, Financial Model and Meeting

  • Tuolumne, CA, Big Oak Flat Village Economic Impact Analysis

  • Winton, CA, Walkable Winton Town Center Plan

LWC Working Waterfront Projects 2006 - Present

  • Environmental Defense Fund, Pacific Sardine Fishery Analysis

  • Eureka, CA, Cold Storage Facility Feasibility Analysis

  • Fort Bragg Groundfish Association, CA, Market Assessment and Strategy

  • Giovanni's Fish Market CMP, First Receiver Catch Monitoring Program

  • Long Beach, CA, Port of Long Beach Economic Benefit Analysis

  • Morro Bay and Monterey, CA, Community Sustainability Plans

  • Morro Bay, CA, 715 Embarcadero commercial Fishing Off-Loading Pier Project

  • Morro Bay, CA, Commercial Fisheries Economic Impact Reports, 2011 - 2015

  • Morro Bay, CA, EFP Participant Evaluation Process Facilitator, 2008 - 2010

  • Morro Bay, CA, Morro Bay Boatyard/Haulout Demand Analysis

  • Morro Bay, CA, Port San Luis Commercial Fisheries Business Plan and Industry Analysis

  • Moss Landing, CA, Marine User Economic Development Strategy

  • National Marine Fisheries Service, CA, West Coast Albacore Fishing Industry Movement of Goods Report

  • The Nature Conservancy, CA, Central Coast Groundfish Project Economic and Social Impact Analysis

  • NOAA/ Southwest Fisheries Science Center, CA, Economics and Organization of Community Sustainability Cooperatives

  • Port of Los Angeles, CA, Terminal Island Land Use Plan

  • Port San Luis Harbor District, Harbor Terrace Feasibility Analysis

  • San Diego Port District, CA, Commercial Fisheries Revitalization Plan

  • San Diego Port District, CA, Economic Revitalization Plan

  • San Mateo County Harbor District, CA, Strategic Business Plan

  • Santa Barbara, CA, Commercial Fisheries Economic Impact Report