Santa Monica restarts coastal plan as legislature eyes exemption Play

Coastal Commission officials are trying to work with Santa Monica officials to come up with an agreement on development and use of the city's coastal zone.

That news comes as the state legislature is moving to simply exempt Santa Monica from Coastal Commission oversight. A special state law may be passed this spring to address Santa Monica's difficulties with the commission.

City officials complain that the coastal staff is in the way of city efforts to attract business and revitalize the Third Street Promenade area.

Santa Monica has been trying to get its land use plan approved by the Coastal Commission for eight years. But there have been fundamental disagreements over preferential parking, parking pricing and home sharing.

Santa Monica claims it has unique, urban, multi-modal coastal conditions. The Coastal Commission does not see it that way.

Mayor Laura Negrete spoke last night.

"My understanding that there are more than 30 substantial policy disagreements," Negrete said. "We have the best staff, we trust you. You're very good at this and I think we're going to defer and give you what you need to achieve what we've just given you right now."

Last night, the Santa Monica city council voted to start the LCP process over again. But they are still supporting Assembly Bill 1740, which would simply remove Coastal Commission jurisdiction over much of Santa Monica.