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 City of Solana Beach
Section 3
Shoreline and Coastal Bluff Management Strategies Draft MEIR
Environmental Impact Analyses
Alternative 1 No Project Continuation of Existing Policy
Alternative 1 promotes the implementation of seacave plugging and filling over the construction
of seawalls, bluff retaining walls, gunite covering, and similar permanent armoring for shoreline
protection. Alternative 1, therefore, reduces the direct visual impacts associated with the
implementation of seawalls or gunite covering to below a level of significance. The City's
Shoreline and Coastal Bluff Ordinance takes a more proactive approach in reducing erosion of
the bluffs and minimizes the visual effects that could result in a future need to construct a
more intrusive device such as a seawall. The details regarding how the Ordinance addresses
visual impacts are described below. Examples of "typical sea cave fills/plugs" are shown in
Figure 3.6-3. Although in the long-term the entire coastal bluffs would probably be covered with
a combination of seawalls, gunite, and seacave infills; for CEQA purposes, a worst case
scenario was considered where the predominant coastal bluff protective device would consist of
seawall or gunite covering. Because the City's ordinance does not mandate the implementation
of seacave plugging and filling over seawalls or gunite covering, significant cumulative visual
impacts associated with armoring the entire coastal bluffs with seawalls or gunite covering could
result even with mitigation (see Section 4.0).
Visual Impacts and Impact Management
Significant visual impacts would include an increase in incompatible elements such as form,
line, color, and texture introduced onto the bluffs from the construction of seawalls, gunite
covering, and seacave fills and plugs. The sharp and angular forms and lines from some
seawalls result in a high contrast against the natural, undulating bluffs. Gunite covering results
in a moderate degree of contrast due to its flat form and vegetation. The color and textures of
some seacave fills and plugs result in a moderate contrast to the bluffs. The addition of future
shoreline and coastal bluff protection structures along the bluffs could result in significant
cumulative visual impacts.
The City's Shoreline and Coastal Bluff Ordinance (Alternative 1) requires the following
measures in order to reduce visual impacts to the existing bluffs from the construction of
shoreline and coastal bluff protection devices:
Construct and maintain structures to incorporate an earth-like appearance, which will
resemble as closely as possible the natural color and texture of the adjacent bluffs.
Construct and maintain structures to reasonably conform to the natural form of the bluff.
Appropriately landscape and maintain structures to blend in with the existing environment.
Design seacave plugs and fills with a "leaner" cement mix on the external faade and a
"stronger/greater" mix internally to facilitate plug erosion to match the rate of natural erosion
Project No. 323530000
Page 3-83
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