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 City of Solana Beach
Section 5
Shoreline and Coastal Bluff Management Strategies Draft MEIR
Growth-Inducing Impacts
5.0 GROWTH-INDUCING IMPACTS
Section 15126.2(d) of the CEQA Guidelines requires a discussion of ways in which the
proposed project and alternatives could foster economic or population growth, or the
construction of additional housing, whether directly or indirectly, in the surrounding environment.
This MEIR will assess potential growth-inducing impacts of each alternative and subsequent
projects. Induced growth is distinguished from the direct employment, population, or housing
growth of a project. If a project has characteristics that "may encourage and facilitate other
activities that could significantly affect the environment, either individually or cumulatively," then
these aspects of the project must be discussed as well. Induced growth is any growth that
exceeds planned growth and results from new development that would not have taken place in
the absence of the proposed alternative. The CEQA Guidelines also indicate that the topic of
growth should not be assumed to be either beneficial or detrimental.
The No Project Alternative would involve the continuation of the existing policy, which allows for
limited permitting of seawalls, revetments, seacave notch infills, and other shoreline structures.
These projects are for the benefit of the existing population and more specifically the existing
homeowners with shoreline fronting property; they do not contribute to growth locally or
regionally. The bluff tops are currently built out; therefore, any shoreline protection structure
allowed under this policy would be for the protection of an existing structure or home. Further,
the population has remained the same since the Shoreline and Coastal Bluff Protection
Ordinance was implemented in 1994, and therefore would not have any growth-inducing
impacts in the future.
Alternative 2 would have similar impacts as the No Project Alternative. Shoreline protection
structures permitted through the California Coastal Commission would also be at the request of
existing homeowners in Solana Beach and would not induce growth.
Alternative 3 would involve sand replenishment and retention activities, which would help
maintain recreational opportunities at Solana Beach. As a result of sand replenishment, beach
use would likely remain at existing levels. Even if beach use were to increase slightly, this
would have no discernable effect on growth in the area. The City is virtually built out already.
Even if improved beach conditions, by making the City a more attractive place to live or visit,
might draw additional people to the area, the resulting environmental impacts associated with
that increase are too speculative to be able to quantify or predict without speculation.
Alternative 4 would involve the gradual loss of residences along the bluff top, and eventually a
potential decrease in the current population. Therefore, this alternative would not have growth-
inducing impacts, but potentially would have the opposite effect of a reduction in population
within the City. Although displaced residents would have to move elsewhere, it is impossible to
predict where they might go. The number of people involved, moreover, is not large enough to
create any growth pressures in areas in San Diego County that are not currently developed.
Project No. 323530000
Page 5-1
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