A California beach road repair project has erupted into a bitter local fight after state regulators approved the long-awaited fix only if the county permanently bans vehicles from the beach to protect a federally threatened shorebird.<\/p>\n
The California Coastal Commission<\/a> voted unanimously earlier this month to grant Humboldt County<\/a> a coastal development permit<\/a> to reconstruct a 900-foot stretch of Centerville Road in Eureka.<\/p>\n The low-lying coastal route frequently floods with ocean water and sand during high surf<\/a>, threatening to leave eight nearby homes completely cut-off.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n An area of proposed road work and parking lot proposed by Humboldt County is seen at Centerville Beach County Park. Decades of erosion have worn away the parking lot that once held about 100 cars, leaving visitors to park along the narrow edge of the road. kymkemp.com\/<\/p>\n The county\u2019s proposed solution would raise the roadbed and add a designated parking lot.<\/p>\n But the commission attached a major condition that Centerville Beach must be permanently closed to public vehicle traffic.<\/p>\n The proposed project is considered new construction rather than a repair, requiring a full review by the Coastal Commission. kymkemp.com<\/p>\n Coastal Commission staff argued the driving ban is necessary to protect the western snowy plover \u2014 a federally threatened shorebird that nests in the area\u2019s coastal dunes \u2014 and to curb reports of off-roaders trespassing onto adjacent private property. Centerville Beach\u00a0is\u00a0one\u00a0of the only places in the state where\u00a0vehicles\u00a0were\u00a0allowed\u00a0to access the\u00a0beach<\/p>\n The conditional approval immediately ignited outrage among local officials and residents who view the requirement as an overreach that penalizes recreational beachgoers.<\/p>\n First District Supervisor Rex Bohn voiced his frustration on social media after the Wednesday meeting last week. \u201cThey did do an Amendment saying the County can come back with a plan to address their perceived issues and they will reconsider. No one spoke for the ban but it was pretty obvious what commission and staff had already decided,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> Coastal Commission staff argued the driving ban is necessary to protect the western snowy plover \u2014 a federally threatened shorebird. Getty Images\/Connect Images<\/p>\n Environmental advocates argue that vehicle tires destroy sensitive plover nesting habitat and disturb wildlife. Getty Images\/500px<\/p>\n Humboldt County Planning Commissioner Iver Skavdal, who represents the district encompassing Centerville Beach, accused the state regulators of using the road project as leverage to force a closure without local input.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Coastal Commission has attached a totally unrelated condition shutting down beach vehicular access to the project,\u201d Skavdal said during the meeting\u2019s public comment period, reported SF Gate<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been no community discussion as to why this is necessary. \u2026 This just appears to be a backroom deal stuck into the project, holding the project, the residents and the county hostage simply because you can,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n Centerville Beach has long been a popular destination for driving on the sand, surf fishing, and coastal recreation. While environmental advocates argue that vehicle tires destroy sensitive plover nesting habitat and disturb wildlife, local opponents maintain that cutting off vehicular entry severely restricts public access, particularly for anglers and visitors with mobility limitations.<\/p>\n Centerville Beach\u00a0is\u00a0one\u00a0of the only places in the state where\u00a0vehicles\u00a0were\u00a0allowed\u00a0to access the\u00a0beach. jerzy \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n \u201cI view this condition on the county to repair a county road as an act of extortion,\u201d said longtime fisherman, Dave Sirkovic, adding that banning vehicles from the beach would limit access for older and disabled people and fishers. <\/p>\n \u201cTo staff, I have this to say: The California Constitution and California Coastal Act both prioritize the protection and survival of the commercial and recreational fishing and provides the absolute right of the people to fish,\u201d Sirkovic said, reported the news outlet. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t
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