SURF! Bus Rapid Transit Line Coastal Development and Tree Permits

UPDATES:

The Coastal Development Permit (CDP) approved by the Planning Commission on April 11th has been appealed. The Tree Permit was not appealed. The Appeal hearing for only the CDP portion of the project will be held by the City Council at a regular meeting on May 21, 2024. Please check the Agenda Center as we get closer to the meeting date for more information.

BACKGROUND:

The Tree Committee met on January 10th and February 26th, received public comment, deliberated on the project and adopted TC Reso. 2024-01 recommending that the Planning Commission approve the tree permit portion of the application as provided. The Planning Commission approved the TP/CDP on April 11, 2024.

Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) submitted an application for the development of the SURF! Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line within the TAMC/Monterey Branch Line right-of-way in Marina. A portion of the proposed development of the BRT line will occur within the Coastal zone; the development of a new transit center at MST's 5th Street property to the east of the Hwy 1 corridor is not in the Coastal zone. Development in the Coastal zone requires a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) from the City of Marina. The proposed development includes the removal of 92 trees, primarily at the 5th St. transit center.

A full project description can be viewed here and additional information, including environmental review documents, can be found on MST's SURF! website. 

The application submittal includes an Arborist Report (Denise Duffy & Assoc., Nov. 2023) that identifies the trees proposed for removal and describes the regulatory setting for tree removal and replanting. The Marina Municipal Code (MMC) requires the replacement of trees removed on a 2:1 basis. 

CEQA - the City Council will consider a statutory CEQA exemption under Public Resources Code § 21080.25(b). 

Approximately 15 members of the public attended MST's pop-up event on February 10th at the 5th St. Transit Center site to learn more about the tree removal and site preparation needed to create the proposed multi-modal transportation hub.

About 20 people attended the SURF! public workshop on December 12th at the Marina Library.

Questions? 

Please contact Planning staff at 831-884-1220 or via email: planning@cityofmarina.org