Lower Cost Coastal Accommodations Program - - CA Public Resources

Section § 31411

The California Legislature emphasizes the importance of ensuring public access to the coast, as guaranteed by the state constitution and the California Coastal Act of 1976.

The Parks Forward Commission highlights the need for expanding access to parks and public lands for all community members, including those from low-income backgrounds. Lower cost accommodations like hotels, motels, and camping are vital because they allow diverse groups of people to enjoy the coast.

However, there's a shortage of affordable lodging due to high property values and development pressures. The state should invest in strategies to provide more affordable accommodations and partner with nonprofits and private entities to enhance access to coastal areas.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The right of access to the coast is guaranteed to the people of California by the California Constitution and the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000)), which requires that coastal development be regulated, and public access rights to our state’s beaches be protected.

(b) California’s Parks Forward Commission has emphasized the need to expand access to parks and public lands throughout California to ensure that all Californians and visitors to the state, including those from low-income and underserved communities, are able to benefit from outdoor experiences.

(c) Lower cost accommodations, including hotels, motels, hostels, cabins, and camping opportunities, are essential elements of coastal and park access because they enable Californians and visitors from a variety of backgrounds, including those of low and moderate income, to enjoy California’s beaches and parks and experience the full range of recreational, educational, spiritual, and other experiences offered.

(d) A lack of affordable accommodations remains a barrier to coastal access. California’s historic supply of lower cost coastal accommodations has been reduced, and continues to be diminished, as a result of high coastal property values and economic pressures to develop new coastal accommodations that are too expensive to be affordable to most visitors.

(e) California should invest in new strategies and partnerships to improve the availability of lower cost accommodations along the coast, particularly for low-income and middle-income families. A strategic program to provide affordable accommodations in appropriate areas of our coastal parks and public lands can play an important role in improving public access to the coast. California should also support innovative pilot projects that enable the state to partner with nonprofit organizations and the private sector in order to provide coastal access.

coastal access public access rights California Coastal Act lower cost accommodations parks and public lands low-income communities affordable lodging property values economic pressures park access strategic program innovative pilot projects nonprofit partnerships private sector involvement coastal development regulation

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 838, Sec. 3. (AB 250) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Section § 31412

This law requires the conservancy to set up a program to create and upgrade affordable places to stay within 1.5 miles of the coast. The program should have clear goals and measures to ensure these accommodations are affordable for low- and middle-income families, as well as nonprofits and public organizations that serve young or at-risk groups with educational and recreational opportunities.

To make this happen, the conservancy must consult with various public and community agencies and groups, ensuring the program matches community needs. They must also share their findings and offer help to other agencies interested in funding affordable coastal accommodations.

(a) The conservancy shall develop and implement a Lower Cost Coastal Accommodations Program to facilitate improvement of existing, and the development of new, lower cost accommodations within one and one-half miles of the coast. In implementing the program, the conservancy may undertake projects and award grants, and shall be guided by the lower cost accommodations assessment required to be developed pursuant to Section 31413.

(b) The program shall include both of the following:

(1) Clear and measurable objectives.

(2) Implementation measures designed to ensure that new or improved accommodation projects supported by the program will be affordable and available to low-income and middle-income families and to nonprofit organizations and public entities that provide young or at-risk populations with education, service learning, healthy living, recreational, or similar opportunities.

(1) Consult with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Coastal Commission, local and regional park agencies, open-space districts, and other public agencies regarding development of the accommodations assessment and selection and funding of specific projects to improve existing and new lower cost coastal accommodations.

(2) Engage with parks, conservation, and community groups to ensure that program activities reflect and address community needs and interests.

(3) Provide the department, commission, and other interested agencies and organizations with copies of the completed assessment, as well as technical assistance upon request, for purposes of informing their potential investments in lower cost accommodations along the coast.

Lower Cost Coastal Accommodations affordable accommodations low-income families middle-income families nonprofits public entities education opportunities recreational opportunities Department of Parks and Recreation California Coastal Commission community needs technical assistance coastal access program objectives implementation measures

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 838, Sec. 3. (AB 250) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Section § 31413

This section outlines the duties of the conservancy to produce an assessment focused on affordable lodging options along the California coast. The assessment must include a look at opportunities to enhance or create affordable accommodations on public and nonprofit-managed coastal lands, considering factors like geographic location and seasonality. It must also analyze existing and potential new lodging options, rental rates, project development costs, and prioritize funding based on various criteria such as legal requirements and environmental vulnerability. The assessment should also align with specific program goals and identify funding sources. Furthermore, the conservancy is required to update this assessment every five years, including a review of past implementations and suggestions for program improvements.

(a) The conservancy shall prepare a lower cost coastal accommodations assessment that includes, at a minimum, all of the following elements:

(1)

(A) A description of specific opportunities to improve existing and develop new lower cost accommodations on coastal public lands and coastal lands owned or operated by nonprofit organizations, including a list of potentially suitable sites for the location of these accommodations.

(B) For purposes of the description required by this paragraph, all of the following shall apply:

(i) Lands may include, but are not limited to, state, regional, and local parks, lands held by harbor or open space districts, lands owned by the public but not yet designated as parks, lands owned by nonprofit organizations, and national parks and other federally managed lands.

(ii) Qualifying accommodations may include, but are not limited to, campgrounds, cabins, and hostels.

(iii) A site for potential lower cost accommodations shall not be included in the assessment without consultation from the agency or nonprofit organization that owns or operates the site. A site shall not be included in the assessment if so requested by the entity that owns or operates the site.

(2) An analysis of daily occupancy or rental rates, based on geographic location, seasonality, and other relevant factors, that the conservancy will consider for purposes of identifying existing lower cost accommodations as well as potential future projects for program support. Any analysis developed pursuant to this paragraph shall not be interpreted to conflict with any rights and responsibilities of the Department of Parks and Recreation to establish rental rates or fees for accommodations within its jurisdiction.

(3) Data and analysis regarding the existing supply of and need for lower cost coastal accommodations within the program area, anticipated costs of new project development, and the supply of lower cost accommodations relative to population within 150 miles of the California coast.

(4) Criteria for prioritizing investment of program funds in lower cost accommodation projects, such as any applicable legal requirements that may apply to those funds, geography, the vulnerability of potential projects to sea level rise or coastal hazards, existing disparities in park or coastal access, availability of public agency or nonprofit partners, adequacy of existing infrastructure and services, and financial feasibility.

(5) A description of needed and anticipated measures to ensure that accommodation projects that may be supported by the program will be consistent with the purposes described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 31412.

(6) A list of appropriate public and private funding sources and potential financing mechanisms to support development and operation of lower cost accommodation projects.

(b)

(1) The conservancy shall update the assessment not less than every five years, and maintain a current list of potential lower cost accommodation projects that may be implemented, subject to available funding.

(2) Each five-year update of the assessment shall include an evaluation of the conservancy’s implementation of the program over the preceding five years, and shall describe any recommended changes that may be needed to improve the program’s effectiveness.

lower cost coastal accommodations public lands coastal lands nonprofit organizations suitable sites campgrounds cabins hostels rental rates program support population supply sea level rise vulnerability funding sources project development five-year update

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 838, Sec. 3. (AB 250) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Section § 31414

This law allows the conservancy to create a pilot program aimed at supporting affordable accommodation options. The conservancy can select projects they want to help based on specific criteria. In this program, the conservancy can buy and manage low-cost accommodations, resell them, or provide financial support like loans or grants to improve accommodations.

The conservancy sets conditions to ensure each project's financial stability and compliance with program goals. If the conservancy sells property to private buyers, it must remain affordable for 30 years. Purchases by the conservancy aren't subject to standard property laws. Accommodations can be campgrounds, hostels, and motels, but not private homes.

(a) The conservancy may develop and implement a pilot program for the purposes of identifying and testing measures that support development, improvement, maintenance, and operation of lower cost accommodations by nonprofit or for-profit private entities. The conservancy shall establish criteria for selection of projects that are eligible to receive assistance under the pilot program.

(b) In carrying out a pilot program, the conservancy may do all of the following:

(1) Purchase existing lower cost accommodations from willing sellers and operate those accommodations through leases or operating agreements with qualified regional or local park agencies, concessionaires, or nonprofit organizations.

(2) Purchase existing accommodations from willing sellers and resell them to willing buyers, including private entities.

(3) Provide loans, grants, or other financial assistance to private entities for purposes of acquiring or improving accommodations.

(c)

(1) Any project or transaction undertaken pursuant to this section shall be subject to terms and conditions prescribed by the conservancy to ensure that the project or transaction advances the purposes of the program, is based upon the economic soundness of the project itself, and provides a reasonable expectation that all financial obligations of the project can be met by participating parties.

(2) Any sale of real property to a private entity pursuant to this section shall be subject to deed restrictions or other legally enforceable instruments that require the property to be used for the provision of lower cost coastal accommodations for at least 30 years following the date of sale.

(3) Any purchase of property by the conservancy pursuant to this chapter shall not be subject to the Property Acquisition Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 15850) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(d) For purposes of this section, accommodations may include, but are not limited to, campgrounds, cabins, hostels, limited stay recreational vehicle parks, motels, and hotels, but shall not include private residences.

pilot program lower cost accommodations nonprofit for-profit entities project selection criteria conservancy's role property purchase lease agreements resell properties financial assistance deed restrictions coastal accommodations property acquisition exemption economic soundness accommodation types

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 838, Sec. 3. (AB 250) Effective January 1, 2018.)