By Neil Farrell
A large crowd is expected Wednesday, Feb. 10, when the California Coastal Commission comes to Morro Bay for three days of meetings, including what promises to be a hotly contested attempt to fire the executive director.
The Commission will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way. Then on Thursday and Friday the meetings will be held at the Inn at Morro Bay.
On Wednesday, the Commissioners will debate whether to fire Executive Director Charles Lester, a move that has environmentalists up and down the state in an uproar. According to news stories over the past couple of weeks, four commissioners — all appointees of Gov. Jerry Brown — are attempting to dismiss Lester for “personnel” reasons, meaning they have not actually explained the actions.
Lester demanded a public hearing and that is scheduled for Wednesday. It’s the only issue they have on the agenda that day, adding items about how to replace him and how to name an interim director.
Indeed, the attention of the whole state will be focused on Morro Bay, with protests possible, and local businesses can expect to have a lot of folks in town on what would normally likely be a pretty slow time of year.
In a letter to the Commissioners in his defense, Lester wrote, “I believe that my vision has been clear and incisive, and that my performance and accomplishments in the administration of the coastal program have been exceptionally strong. I have asked for a public hearing on the consideration of my possible dismissal as much for the public as for my desire to continue as the Commission’s executive director.”
The letter goes on for some 17 pages listing examples — both of enforcement cases of the Coastal Act and projects that were approved — making a pretty strong case against his dismissal.
Thursday’s agenda has one local item, “Appeals by Barry F. Brannin and Linda Stedjee of City of Morro Bay decision granting permit with conditions to Greg and Jeanne Frye for construction of single-family home, at 3420 Toro Lane, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County.”
The Fryes want to build a home on an oddly shaped vacant lot at Toro Lane and Yerba Buena Street. Their plan would encompass a dirt path that leads down to the beach used for many years by local residents, offering to relocate it and improve it as mitigation.
The Coastal Commission staff had looked at the project previously and wrote a letter to the City saying so long as the path was kept open for public use, it was OK to re-route it.
The item is a “Substantial Issue” type hearing, as Commissioners will be asked whether they believe the appeals are worthy of further scrutiny or should be denied without further work. The staff is recommending they find “No Substantial Issue.”
Another local issue, an appeal of the County’s approval for a new home to be built on Studio Drive in Cayucos was postponed. The other items involve projects ranging from San Diego to Northern California and will bring people to town from throughout the state.
Readers can check out the Commission’s agenda online at: www.coastal.ca.gov/mtgcurr.html.
