A couple of days ago, I ran Save Our Bay’s press release saying that the Coastal Commission was appealing San Mateo county’s approval of the Devil’s Slide Tunnel.  That press release implied that Oscar Braun’s lawsuit was the reason for the appeal.

According to the San Mateo Times, the Coastal Commission is appealing the tunnel to hold up final approval until Caltrans transfers the bypass right-of-way to state parks in accordance with Measure T and the LCP. This is being accomplished by Senate Bill 792, which is on its way to the governor. According to the executive director of the commission,  "Once the legislation gets to the governor’s desk—and we’re told the governor will sign it—that takes care of it". The Pacifica Tribune also has a very good account of the situation.

The San Mateo Times says that Braun’s appeal was described as "patently frivolous," by the commission’s executive director.

Beginning today, we’re adding comics to Coastsider.  Our first comic is "Boy on a Stick and Slither". I picked it because I think it’s smart and funny, and I hope you agree.

Steven L. Cloud, who created the comic, says "Boy on a Stick and Slither is a comic strip about a boy on a stick and his friend ‘Slither’". I couldn’t have said it better myself. For more information about Steve and his strip, visit the BOASAS Web site.

We’ll be adding more comics to the site in the near future, and I’ve added a "Comics" section to the site, where you’ll be able to see the previous month’s comics and keep up to date.

Meanwhile, let me know what you think.

Your story will be reviewed by a moderator before it is released.

If you have any questions, or want to attach a photo, please email [email protected]

The Cabrillo Unified School District has signed a new agreement with Wavecrest Village LLC. 

The purchase agreement, summary, and report from its closed session on July 29 have been posted on the District Web site. You can also view or purchase signed copies of the agreement at the District office. The terms of the agreement have shifted in favor of the developer:

• The amount of land the District receives drops from 25 specific acres to 23 acres that are less clearly defined. There is no estimate given in the summary for the value of two acres of developable land at Wavecrest.
• The District’s cash payment (in addition to its trade of real estate in El Granada) to Wavecrest Village LLC has increased from $1.0 million to $1.2 million.
• The District’s share of street improvements increases from 21.5% to 23.5% and drainage from 17.0% to 23.5%

The three documents were posted at 12:52 pm today on the District’s Web site. Although the links on the Board’s page are broken, here are working links to the three documents.

Report of its closed session

Amended purchase agreement

Summary of main points and changes to the agreement

I’ll post more on this as it develops, but I wanted to make sure everyone had access to the documents right away.

The California Coastal Commission has filed an appeal of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors coastal permit decision of July 6, 2004, which approved the development and mitigation permits for the Caltrans Devil’s Slide tunnel. According to Save our Bay, which appealed the tunnel to the commission, the commission’s appeal blocks the issuance of permits for construction of the tunnel.

So far, the only information on this comes from a Save Our Bay press release. I’ve called the Coastal Commission for more information. Click on "read more" to see the Save Our Bay press release.

Plans for Mirada Surf West project will be discussed at a public workshop August 10, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Ted Adcock Center, 535 Kelley Avenue, Half Moon Bay.  The San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Division will host the workshop. The county recently acquired the Mirada Surf Parcel in El Granada with funding from The California Coastal Conservancy. The conservancey will also fund site improvements.

Plans include a paved pathway from the intersection of Coronado Road and Highway 1, and Magellan Avenue between Highway 1 and Mirada Road [map]. This path will help complete the portion of the California Coastal Trail which extends from Half Moon Bay through Princeton Harbor.

For more information contact Senior Park Planner Sam Herzberg at (650) 363-1823 or [email protected]

Wight’s Paintbrush, Castilleja wightii (or is it the Indian Paintbrush, C. affinis?), blooms in huge clumps on the bluffs overlooking the big beach, Montara, CA, Saturday, June 15, 2002, 10:35am. Reference:  Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Chris Church has been running a daily digital photo on his weblog for two years now.  I’ve especially enjoyed his pictures of local wildflowers. I’ve gotten his permission to run occasional pictures from his site. —Barry Parr

With the deadline for filing coming on Friday, San Mateo County has released the names of those who have filedfor candidacy.

So far, six candidates have filed for the three open seats on the County Harbor Commission. No candidates have yet filed for the two open seats on the Cabrillo Unified School District. Three candidates have filed for seven open seats on the Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council.

Click "read more" to see the list of candidates as of Friday July 30.

Classics by the Sea Car Show is coming to the Ritz on Sunday, August 8, 11am to 4pm. “Travel in Style” will be the theme.   The show will include 50’s and 60’s American classics with special award categories for Best Rolls Royce, Best of Show, Best Cadillac, and People’s Choice. There will be a special Mercedes Benz Trunk Show. The funds raised at this event will benefit the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber’s Scholarship Fund, Coastside Education and Senior programs.  Admission will be $15 to the public.

The Peninsula Open Space Trust has acquired 151 acres of a half-mile west of Skyline Boulevard at the Western boundary of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s Russian Ridge Preserve. POST President Audrey Rust said, "The property has tremendous recreation potential as an extension of the preserve. The existing ridgeline trails offer stunning views of the coastal hills, mixed forest and grassland. Ultimately, when POST transfers this land to a public agency, it will form a wonderful, scenic loop trail system to Russian Ridge."

The property overlooks Mindego Hill, San Mateo County’s only extinct volcano [picture]. Does anyone else think it’s cool that there’s an extinct volcano in San Mateo County?

Click the "Read more" link for the press release.