Politics & Government

Coastal Commission Welcomes New Members

The California Coastal Commission swears in three new voting members and selects a new chairwoman.

The California Coastal Commission started its three-day meeting in Marina del Rey on Wednesday by swearing-in three new members and selecting a new chairwoman and vice chairman.

Hollywood producer and environmentalist Dayna Bochco, of the Pacific Palisades, Del Norte County Supervisor Martha McClure, of Crescent City, and artist Jana Zimmer, of Santa Barbara, were sworn-in as new commissioners.

The commissioners then installed Mary Shallenberger as the new chairwoman and Santa Cruz County Supervisor Mark Stone as the vice chairman.

Find out what's happening in Marina Del Reywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The 12-member commission has been overhauled in the past few months with about half of its members being replaced or reappointed. The panel consists of six elected officials and six members of the public at large and is selected by the governor, the state Senate Rules Committee and the speaker of the state Assembly.

Bochco was named by the Senate Rules Committee to replace longtime commissioner Sara Wan, an environmental leader who had been on the commission for 15 years. Wan was appointed chair last year, but that became controversial in January when former Senate President pro Tem John Burton sent her a profanity-laced letter on State Democratic Party letterhead (he is the current chair) accusing Wan of having "screwed Mary Shallenberger (a former longtime aide of Burton) out of the chair of the commission in order to gain it yourself."

Find out what's happening in Marina Del Reywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

During the morning public comment period, the commissioners heard from Santos H. Kreimann, head of Los Angeles County's Department of Beaches and Harbors. Kreimann congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment and gave them a brief background on the county's oversight role in Marina del Rey.

"We're looking forward to talking about our plans to drastically change the look and feel of Marina del Rey," Kreimann said, noting that the marina's infrastructure is more than 50 years old.

The county has been working on a Local Coastal Plan Major Amendment for the marina that would change zoning laws to make room for several new major redevelopments. The matter was expected to be heard during the commission's June meeting, but likely will not be considered until October due to commission staffing constraints.

Richard Bruckner, Los Angeles County's director of regional planning, ensured the commission that the Marina del Rey projects included public input.

David Levine, president of the Marina del Rey Lessees Association, told the commissioners that sensible redevelopment of the aging marina would rejuvenate it for residents, visitors, boaters and other recreational users.

Lynne Shapiro of Marina del Rey asked the commissioners to consider traffic impacts from new hotels and apartment complexes planned for the marina.

Members of We ARE Marina del Rey, a neighborhood group that opposes over-development of the marina, were present in the audience and held small signs that said "Must Develop Recreation" and "Master Plan for Marina."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here