Environmental Documents & Local Coastal Program Amendments

In 1970, the California Legislature passed the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requiring cities and other public agencies to consider what effects their discretionary actions might have on the environment before making decisions on a wide range of public and private projects.

Environmental Reviews

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), passed by the California Legislature in 1970, the City of San Buenaventura conducts environmental review of public and private projects before they are heard for approval. The environmental documents produced by the City are provided to both decision makers and the public for their consideration and comment. These environmental documents include Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and Negative Declarations (NDs). The City's Local Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act, Division 2R, Part 4, Chapter 2R.450 of the Municipal Code, specifies exactly how environmental review is carried out in San Buenaventura.

The purpose of the environmental review process is to identify the environmental impacts that might be associated with a project prior to decision making.

It does so by informing decision-makers and the public of what impact a proposed project is likely to have on the environment and what can be done to reduce or mitigate any significant effects. Possible areas of environmental impact include traffic circulation, water quality, archaeological resources and vegetation and wildlife.

Impact Mitigation

In addition to providing information, the process also requires that significant impacts be reduced or mitigated whenever possible. A wide range of City policies and procedures provide a basis for determining impacts and a means for insuring that these impacts are mitigated.

Included within these webpages are environmental documents (EIRs, MNDs, and NDs) that have been produced by the city, an overview of the environmental review process, and links to other relevant sites

Local Coastal Program Amendments

The current LCPA under review until September 25, 2023:

The proposed LCP Land Use Plan (LUP) Amendment requests modifications to the City’s 1978 Comprehensive Plan, to establish a pre-zoning of H-C (Harbor Commercial) and a Comprehensive Plan designation of Harbor Commercial for a site being annexed into the City of Buenaventura as part of a reorganization that will be used for a proposed development of an Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) on a vacant 10-acre site in the Coastal Zone on the southeast corner of Harbor Boulevard and Olivas Park Drive (APN: 138-0-050-090). The proposed Implementation Plan (IP) Amendment includes a Zoning Ordinance Amendment to Chapter 24.238.020 of the San Buenaventura Municipal Code to clarify public service facilities as a land use in the Harbor Commercial Zone District. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE LCP IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AMENDMENT: Comments must be made in writing in order to be considered by the City by September 25, 2023 by emailing Rachel Dimond at [email protected].