Bill Text: CA SB968 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Public lands: Martins Beach property: access road.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3)

Status: (Passed) 2014-09-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 922, Statutes of 2014. [SB968 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SB968-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 968	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hill

                        FEBRUARY 10, 2014

   An act to add Section 6213.5 to the Public Resources Code,
relating to public lands.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 968, as introduced, Hill. Public lands: Martin's Beach
property: access road.
   (1) Existing law establishes the State Lands Commission in the
Natural Resources Agency and prescribes the functions and duties of
the commission. Under existing law, the commission has jurisdiction
over various state lands, including coastal lands. Existing law
authorizes the commission to acquire a right-of-way or easement
across private land in certain circumstances.
   This bill would require the commission to consult, and enter into
any necessary negotiations, with the owners of a specified property
known as the Martin's Beach property, as described, in the
unincorporated area of the County of San Mateo, to acquire all or a
portion of that property for the creation of a specified public
access road on the property, including the sandy beach. If the
commission is unable to reach an agreement to acquire all or a
portion of the Martin's Beach property by January 1, 2016, the bill
would require the commission to acquire all or a portion of that
property, as described, by eminent domain, as prescribed.
   (2) The bill would declare that due to the unique circumstances
and features of the Martin's Beach property, a general statute within
the meaning of specified provisions of the California Constitution
cannot be made applicable and a special statute is necessary.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Section 4 of Article X of the California Constitution mandates
that no individual shall be permitted to exclude the right of way to
coastal waters of the state whenever it is required for any public
purpose.
   (b) Section 4 of Article X of the California Constitution further
mandates that "the Legislature shall enact such laws as will give the
most liberal construction to this  beach access] provision, so
that access to the navigable waters of this State shall be always
attainable for the people thereof."
   (c) The California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing
with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code) was enacted, in
part, to maximize constitutionally protected public access to and
along the coast.
   (d) Martins Beach Road transects a 53-acre property at 22325
Cabrillo Highway in San Mateo County.
   (e) Martins Beach Road is the only terrestrial access to Martin's
Beach, a 200-acre sandy beach that is a significant local coastal
resource that has been accessible to local residents and visitors for
more than 100 years.
   (f) The unique geography and tidal regime at Martin's Beach make
it exceptionally valuable for surfing, fishing, and swimming.
   (g) From early in the 20th century until 2008, public access to
Martin's Beach via Martins Beach Road off of Highway 1 south of Half
Moon Bay had been allowed for recreational use.
   (h) Generations of families have enjoyed public access to Martin's
Beach, which has contributed to the local economy.
   (i) The recent sale and subsequent closure of Martin's Beach
eliminated this historic access and has cut off a large sandy beach
that had for decades been open to visitors, including families,
surfers, fishermen, tourists, and beach goers.
   (j) The closure of beach access at Martin's Beach is now the
subject of two separate lawsuits filed in San Mateo County Superior
Court.
  SEC. 2.  Section 6213.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   6213.5.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall
consult, and enter into any necessary negotiations, with the owners
of the property known as Martin's Beach, consisting of two parcels of
land, APN: 066-330-230 and APN: 066-330-240, in the unincorporated
area of the County of San Mateo, to acquire all or a portion of that
property for the creation of a public access road to and along the
shoreline, including the sandy beach, at Martin's Beach at the South
Cabrillo Highway.
   (b) If the commission is unable to reach an agreement to acquire
all or a portion of the Martin's Beach property, pursuant to
subdivision (a), by January 1, 2016, it shall acquire all or a
portion of that property for the creation of a public access road to
and along the shoreline, including the sandy beach, at Martin's Beach
at the South Cabrillo Highway by eminent domain in accordance with
the procedures set forth in Article 2 (commencing with Section
1245.210) of Chapter 4 of Title 7 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
  SEC. 3.  Due to the unique circumstances and features of the Martin'
s Beach property, the Legislature finds and declares that a general
statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of
Article IV of the California Constitution. Therefore, the special
legislation contained in Section 1 of this act is only applicable to
that property in the County of San Mateo.