Carlsbad Dispute Resolution for Bluff Retaining Wall

The Coastal Commission upheld staff’s rejection of a proposed permit amendment to construct multiple bluff improvements including retaining walls, grading and landscaping. The original permit was for a 5,450 sq.ft. house in Carlsbad that was conditioned to prohibit any future shoreline armoring.

In order to protect the California Coast from rising sea levels over the coming decades, the Coastal Commission has applied a permit condition that prohibits coastal armoring for new development. Armoring makes erosion worse and fixes the back of the beach, limiting coastal resiliency and adaptation options and ultimately drowning the public beach. It is crucial that the Commission uphold this permit condition consistently across the state in order to protect public resources. It is a primary mechanism for ensuring a balance between protecting public resources and private property.