Local Coastal Program (LCP)

Background

The California Coastal Act of 1976 requires local governments to prepare and implement Local Coastal Programs to protect natural and man-made coastal resources and maximize public access to the shorelines. Local Coastal Program (LCP) is a planning tool used by local coastal governments to guide development in the coastal zone and contain ground rules for future development and protection of coastal resources. The LCP contains two components – the Coastal Land Use Plan (LUP) and a Local Implementation Plan (LIP). 

The City of Oxnard adopted its LCP in 1982, which includes the City’s Coastal Land Use Plan (LUP) and Implementation Plan (Chapter 17, Coastal Zoning Ordinance). The City’s LCP was certified by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) in 1985. While the components of LCP were amended several times over the years to address the evolution of coastal planning in Oxnard and the changing needs of the City, a LCP Amendment has not been completed since 1982.

Timeline for LCP Amendment

The City of Oxnard is preparing an amendment to the LCP, which is a document that provides policy directives for future development in the coastal zone and protection of coastal resources. The LCP defines City’s policies, programs, land use regulations, and adaptation strategies that address rising threats and concerns of climate change, such as sea level rise (SLR). The amendment of the City’s LCP will address a range of California Coastal Commission (CCC)’s new SLR policy guidelines, the Coastal Act, environmental conditions, housing policies, coastal protection regulations, as well as other applicable State of California’s laws and development protocols. The amendment will reflect updates to both the Coastal LUP and LIP/Coastal Zoning Ordinance.

The City began amending the LCP in 2018 to respond to CCC’s updated policy guidelines. However, the City’s work was paused in 2021 to consider varied coastal conditions and SLR scenarios. In 2023, the City joined Smart Coast California, a consortium of coastal communities promoting local coastal policy solutions, to support the development of policies and approaches unique to Oxnard.

The City’s LCP/LIP Consulting team (Dudek, and subconsultants) was hired on February 20, 2024, with work re-initiated in March 2024. The LCP/LIP work is envisioned to take approximately three (3) – years to complete.

An amendment to the LCP will help the City secure CCC approval while:

1. Supporting the community’s vision for the future;
2. Addressing the City’s specific coastal hazard risks;
3. Conforming with the Coastal Act policies as approved by the City Council;
4. Generally following CCC SLR Policy Guidance, with consideration to the outcome of the City’s SLR model and analysis as appropriate for the City of Oxnard; and
5. Providing the City with more adaptation strategies to reduce impacts from rising concerns of climate change and hazardous events.

Documents & Links