Al Franzoia
Public Land Management Specialist
California State Lands Commission
100 Howe Avenue, Suite 100 South
Sacramento, CA 95825
al.franzoia@slc.ca.gov
Dear Mr Franzoia,
I am writing in response to the request for public input for the restoration and use of 450 Airport Blvd Burlingame CA.
I desire accommodation made for recreational water access, this includes a beach or wide ramp for non powered vessels to get to the water. I mean windsurfing, kite-boarding, Kayak, Standup Paddle boards. We also require a rigging/ Launching area land side for launching and landing kite- boarders kites. You may not be aware that 300 Airport Blvd. has 7 high rise building in construction just down wind of 450 Airport Blvd. This will impact wind sailing at Coyote point park downwind of these new high rises. To repurpose this 8.8 acres with water access in mind would be very helpful to mitigate the impact of loss of recreational water wind powered water sports from the 300 airport Blvd. buildings.
Please see the mandated water access codified in the California constitution, Federal Coastal Zone Management Act and the Macteer-Petris act. Below.
ACCESS TO THE WATER FOR NAVIGATION HAS CONSTITUTIONAL STANDING IN CALIFORNIA
Section 4 of Article 10 of the California Constitution provides:
No individual ... shall be permitted to exclude the right of way to such water ... or obstruct the free navigation of such water; and the Legislature shall enact such laws as will give the most liberal construction to this provision, so that access to the navigable waters of this State shall always be attainable for the people thereof. (emphasis added)
In any weighing of competing interests in the shoreline, the recognition in the Constitution that navigational access, including access to the shoreline to launch a craft, is a fundamental right must be given great weight.
BOTH THE FEDERAL COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT AND THE MACATEER-PETRIS ACT MANDATE INCREASED ACCESS FOR WINDSURFING AND KAYAKING
Section 303(2)(D) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 calls for states to develop coastal management programs that provide "...priority consideration ... to coastal dependent uses and orderly processes for siting ... facilities related to ... recreation." In California, this provision is implemented through the McAteer-Petris Act, the parent legislation for the regulatory programs of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Various policies under that Act apply, including Section 66605, which gives "water-oriented recreation" priority consideration, and Section 66602 that declares that uses such as "water-oriented recreation" are "essential to the public welfare of the bay area." The latter section also includes the legislative finding that "existing public access to the shoreline and waters of the San Francisco Bay is inadequate and that maximum feasible public access, consistent with a proposed project, should be provided. (emphasis added)" This provision must be read in conjunction with the constitutional mandate cited above.
Without doubt, windsurfing and kayaking are coastal dependent and water-oriented recreational uses that warrant priority consideration in planning.”
Thank You
Sample letter #2
Al Franzoia
Public Land Management Specialist
California State Lands Commission
100 Howe Avenue, Suite 100 South
Sacramento, CA 95825
al.franzoia@slc.ca.gov
Dear Al: I read the post at https://www.burlingame.org/news_detail_T19_R44.php with great interest. This post included a request for public input for the restoration and use of 450 Airport Blvd Burlingame CA.
The post reads "This is a site where there could be a large open space area for community use with picnic tables and a restroom. This is one of the last areas in the City where there is an opportunity for a good sized park."
As a local resident, I agree with that view and I believe it would be great to consider use of this area for a park. I believe it would also provide a unique opportunity (only available once) for recreational water access.
Water access includes a beach or ramp allowing non powered small personal craft to get to the water. Examples include windsurfing, kite-boarding, kayaks, standup paddle boards and other recreational craft that allow people to enjoy our precious natural resource, the Bay.
Such water access facilities require almost no extra space. A simple area to park, unload and assemble or rig recreational craft is all that is needed to provide access. For various reasons, mostly large building development, we are slowly losing other viable water access sites (including nearby locations such as Coyote Point).
I know you will be aware of the mandated water access requirements that are codified in the California constitution, Federal Coastal Zone Management Act and the Mcateer-Petris Act.
Thank You
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