Grossman Seawall Amendment

This item involved an amendment to a previously approved Coastal Development Permit for a full-bluff seawall fronting a private residence in Pismo Beach. The changes stemmed from a legal settlement between the applicant and the Commission after the 2023 permit approval. The amendment slightly reduced the overall scope of armoring, authorized after-the-fact residential construction, and, most controversially, lowered the mitigation fee for sand supply and recreational impacts from $1.29 million to $548,170. It also removed the requirement for regular surveys of the mean high tide line.

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This vote highlights the risk of litigation pressuring the Commission to weaken core mitigation tools, particularly those related to sand loss valuation and public trust impacts. Reducing the fee based on a low erosion rate and questionable real estate comps may undermine the credibility of the mitigation methodology and set a precedent for future armoring cases. Likewise, removing high tide monitoring shifts the burden of proving public access encroachment away from the permit holder and onto the public. This decision raises concerns about accountability and long-term beach preservation in the face of sea level rise.

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