As required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), passed by the California Legislature in 1970, the City of Half Moon Bay conducts environmental review of public and private projects before they are heard for approval. The environmental documents produced by the City are provided to both decision makers and the public for their consideration and comment. These environmental documents include Initial Studies/Negative Declarations (IS/ND), Initial Studies/Mitigated Negative Declarations (IS/MND) and Environmental Impact Reports (EIR). 

Some projects require a biological assessment. This takes place when there is a need to evaluate the potential effects of the proposed project on specified plant and animal species and habitat. The biological assessment determines whether any such species or habitat are likely to be adversely affected by the project. 

PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW:

Biological Resource Assessment Review (Local Coastal Program) And Environmental Review (CEQA):

1. Proposed Hyatt Place Project - Draft EIR Circulation Period: July 15 – September 13, 2022 The Draft EIR is available for public review. The public review and comment period is 60 days, which includes an extension beyond the statutory requirement to give interested parties more time to review the Draft EIR and provide comments. Hard copies are available for review at the Half Moon Bay Library (620 Correas Street) and Half Moon Bay City Hall (501 Main Street). Hard copies and CD format copies are also available for purchase. Contact the Community Development Department at 650-726-8270 to order.

Proposed Hyatt Place Project Information Link

08/09/2022 Planning Commission Meeting Agenda includes meeting link

2.  Pilarcitos Avenue Outfall Repair Project at Kehoe Watercourse – Repair of existing culvert at southerly terminus of Pilarcitos Avenue 

A Biological Resource Evaluation (BRE) was prepared evaluating the project area for the Pilarcitos Outfall Repair Project at Kehoe Watercourse. The BRE was distributed for a 45 day comment period on November 4, 2021.  Comments on the BRE may be submitted in writing by mailing to 501 Main Street, Half Moon Bay CA 94019 or via email to Douglas Garrison, Senior Planner at dgarrison@hmbcity.com no later than 5:00pm on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. 

Pilarcitos Avenue Outfall Repair Project at Kehoe Watercourse BRE

Contact: Douglas Garrison, Senior Planner, (650) 712-5836 or dgarrison@hmbcity.com 

3.  CALTRANS READER BOARD ON CABRILLO HIGHWAY SOUTH – Installation of a message reader board on the east side of Cabrillo Highway just south of Miramontes Point Road

Biological analysis with an addendum was prepared evaluating biological resources within The new message reader board is included in a larger Caltrans project that includes multiple other message reader boards within the surrounding jurisdictions. Below are links to the biological assessment and addendum evaluating the message reader board proposal in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 18-38, Coastal Resource Conservation Standards, and Chapter 18-20, Local Coastal Development Permits, of the City of Half Moon Bay Zoning Code and the policies 6-7 and 6-8 of the City’s Local Coastal Land Use Plan. Plans and Re-validation form / photo simulations are also included below. The biological assessment was distributed for a 45 day comment period on March 3, 2022. The comment period closes on April 22 at 5 PM.

Caltrans Message Sign Plans And Visual Simulations

CEQA State Route 1 Traffic Operational System Improvements with Bio Revalidation

CALTRANS Reader Board Biological Assessment and Revalidation (PDF)

CALTRANS Reader Board Plans (PDF) 

3.Revalidation Form and Photo Simulations (PDF)

Contact: Scott Phillips, Project Planner, (650) 726-8299 or sphillips@hmbcity.com

4. Poplar Beach Gateways Plan - Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR): The City has prepared this NOP to provide responsible agencies, trustee agencies, and other interested parties with a description of the proposed Poplar Beach Gateways Plan and to identify potential environmental effects pursuant to State CEQA requirements. An Initial Study was also prepared to focus the impacts that will be studied in the PEIR. The NOP was circulated for a 30-day review period on September 29, 2021. Comments on the NOP may be submitted in writing by mailing to 501 Main Street, Half Moon Bay CA 94019 or via email to Jill Ekas, jekas@hmbcity.com

Poplar Beach Gateways Plan project page

5.  Coastside Land Trust  (CLT) North Wavecrest Trail Project – installation of a trail, parking lot, restroom and two coastal access stairways

A Draft Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) has been prepared as required by CEQA. The comment period for the Draft IS/MND begins on June 23, 2021 and ends at 5:00 PM on July 23, 2021. North Wavecrest Draft IS/MND (PDF) The following includes a link to the most recent plans. Coastside Land Trust Trail Plans (PDF) Review of this project by the Planning Commission is scheduled for July 27, 2021.

A biological resource assessment was prepared for this project and distributed on July 10th. The 45 day comment period for the report ends on August 24th. Here is a link to the biological resource assessment: North Wavecrest BRE with Coastal Access

The biological resource assessment is intended to support the issuance of a Coastal Development Permit in accordance with Chapter 18.20 of the City of Half Moon Bay Municipal Code. The City’s Zoning Code requires that agencies review the biological resource evaluation and have 45 days from the date the report is received to provide the City with comments on the adequacy of the reports and any suggested mitigation measures deemed appropriate.

Contact: Scott Phillips, Project Planner, (650) 726-8299 or sphillips@hmbcity.com

6. Magnolia Park (APN: 064-332-310) – Master Planning and Improvements to an existing undeveloped City park.

A biological resource assessment update was prepared evaluating an existing City parcel for master planning and improving the site for a new City park. The biological resource assessment report was distributed for a 45 day comment period on July 14, 2021. Here is a link to the biological resource assessment report.

Magnolia Park Biological Resource Evaluation

Contact: Scott Phillips, Project Planner, (650) 726-8299 or sphillips@hmbcity.com

7. Half Moon Bay State Beach (APN: 048-104-120) – Culvert replacement below a driveway access to a beach parking lot and Coastal Trail.

A biological resource assessment was prepared evaluating a culvert replacement along the western end of Pullman watercourse within Half Moon Bay State Beach. The biological resource assessment report was distributed for a 45 day comment period on July 19, 2022. Below are links to the biological resource assessment report and CEQA Exemption.

Biological Report for Culvert Replacement

CEQA Exemption

Contact: Scott Phillips, Project Planner, (650) 726-8299 or sphillips@hmbcity.com

8. Smith Field Park Facilities Master Plan (APN: 065-011-050 and APN: 065-011-040) Master Planning and Improvements to an existing City park, water main extension, parking lot improvements.

A Biological Resource Evaluation and Wetland Delineation was prepared for the Smith Field Park Facilities Master Plan project and distributed to resource agencies for review on January 20, 2023. The 45-day comment period for the report ends on March 6, 2023. Here is a link to the Biological Resource Evaluation and a link to the Preliminary Jurisdictional (Wetland) Delineation.

Both documents are intended to support the issuance of a Coastal Development Permit in accordance with Chapter 18.20 of the City of Half Moon Bay Municipal Code. The City’s Zoning Code requires that agencies be able to review the documents and have 45 days from the date reports are received to provide the City with comments on the adequacy of the reports and any suggested mitigation measures deemed appropriate.

Contact:  Kristi Bascom, Project Planner, (415) 625-4702 or kbascom@smwlaw.com

GENERAL REFERENCES:

The references below provide more information about the required environmental review process:

• California Coastal Commission
• Governor’s Office of Planning and Research