CHAPTER 7. Urban Waterfront Restoration [31300. - 31316.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 7.
in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31301. Section 31301.

The Legislature finds and declares that California’s urban waterfronts, being often the first part of an urban area to develop and, thus, the first to decay, are in need of restoration in order to be the vital economic and cultural component of the community which they once were. The Legislature further finds and declares that developing the state’s urban waterfronts into environmentally sound areas through, but not limited to, the creation of parks, open space, visitor serving facilities, and housing for all income levels will promote tourism, public access, and private sector development in these areas. The Legislature further finds and declares that the encouragement of tourism, public access to the coast, and planned private sector development to be a benefit to the citizens of the state, as well as the local citizenry in affected urban waterfront areas. It is, therefore, the intent of this chapter to promote the restoration of the state’s vital urban waterfronts.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31302. Section 31302.

The conservancy shall administer the provisions of this chapter. The conservancy shall coordinate the activities of all other state agencies and all federal agencies that have programs affecting California’s urban waterfronts in order to increase the efficiency and minimize duplication of those programs.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31303. Section 31303.

The conservancy shall request the commission, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other public and private groups to assist in the development of criteria and guidelines for the submission, evaluation, and determination of priority of projects. After considering comments received from those sources and ensuring that adequate opportunity for public review and comment has been provided, the conservancy shall adopt guidelines and criteria for the administration of the urban waterfront restoration program authorized under this chapter. In accordance with procedures adopted by the conservancy, public agencies and nonprofit organizations may submit proposed urban waterfront projects for consideration by the conservancy for state or federal funding.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31305. Section 31305.

In reviewing grant applications and urban waterfront restoration plans, the conservancy shall seek to promote excellence of design and shall stimulate projects which exhibit innovation in sensitively integrating man-made features into the natural coastal environment.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31306. Section 31306.

(a) The conservancy shall propose capital projects and capital programs, generated by the conservancy, local public agencies, or state agencies for grants available under Section 306A of the federal Coastal Zone Management Improvement Act (Public Law 96-464). The commission shall not forward any application unless it has been proposed by the conservancy. (b) Nothing in this chapter shall diminish the commission’s authority pursuant to Section 30330 of the Public Resources Code, which shall include determination of the allocation of federal financial assistance among the coastal management activities, coastal research activities, coastal energy impact activities, living marine resource activities, and natural resources enhancement and management activities, eligible for federal financial assistance under the Coastal Zone Management Improvement Act, or any amendment thereto, or any other federal act enacted up to this time or in the future, that relates to the planning and management of the coastal zone, except as provided in this section. (c) (1) Prior to the commission’s determination of allocations under subdivision (b), the commission and the conservancy shall concur on the allocation for capital projects and capital programs generated by the conservancy, local public agencies, or state agencies for public access, agricultural preservation, enhancement of coastal resources, coastal restoration, urban waterfront restoration, reservation of significant coastal resource areas, and commercial fishing facilities. No allocation for these capital projects and capital programs shall be made unless they are proposed by the conservancy. (2) Prior to the commission’s determination of allocations under subdivision (b), the commission and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission shall concur on the allocation for the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission to carry out its responsibilities under the federally approved California Coastal Management Program. (3) In determining the allocations under subdivision (b), the commission shall consult with the conservancy, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and the Department of Finance, and shall ensure that agencies eligible for federal financial assistance under the Coastal Zone Management Improvement Act are allocated sufficient assistance to carry out their required responsibilities under the federally approved California Coastal Management Program.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31308. Section 31308.

The conservancy may provide up to the total cost of any urban waterfront project, including the local share of federally supported projects. The conservancy may also require local funding participation in urban waterfront projects. The amount of funding provided by the conservancy and the degree of local participation shall be determined by the total amount of funding available for urban waterfront projects, the fiscal resources of the applicant, the urgency of the project relative to other eligible urban waterfront projects, the degree to which the project meets the objectives set forth in Section 31305, and the application of other factors prescribed by the conservancy for the purpose of determining project eligibility and priority in order to more effectively carry out the provisions of this division.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31309. Section 31309.

(a) Following approval of a proposed urban waterfront project by the conservancy, the conservancy may provide up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) of the cost of preparing urban waterfront restoration plans. In addition, the conservancy may make loans to public agencies or nonprofit organizations, or any combination thereof, for the full cost of preparing an urban waterfront restoration plan, if both of the following are satisfied: (1) Funding for those loans is provided for in the Budget Act. (2) The cost of preparation of a plan is included in the cost of a project approved for funding pursuant to Division 22 (commencing with Section 32000). (b) The loans shall be repaid when the bonds funding the project are sold and upon terms and at a rate of interest which recovers the costs of the funds to the state.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31310. Section 31310.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the conservancy may enter into an option to acquire an interest in real property in connection with an urban waterfront project, when the Legislature appropriates funds for purposes of carrying out the objectives of this division. The cost of the option may not exceed six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000).

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31311. Section 31311.

Costs of providing parks, open space, or other public areas and facilities may be included as project costs within urban waterfront restoration areas, if they are designed to serve the residents of the restoration area and do not constitute a disproportionate share of the total project cost. Costs of providing public coastal access sites and scenic easements serving the public may be permitted as project costs where such features are part of an approved urban waterfront restoration plan.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31311.5. Section 31311.5.

Where the conservancy awards any grant for the purpose of providing new or expanded facilities to serve the commercial fishing industry, the financial terms and any reimbursement provisions of that grant shall be determined solely on the basis of protecting the long-term economic viability of the commercial fishing industry.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31312. Section 31312.

Local public agencies and nonprofit organizations, in undertaking urban waterfront restoration projects as provided in this chapter, shall be subject to the provisions of Division 24 (commencing with Section 33000) of the Health and Safety Code.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31313. Section 31313.

Any funds over and above eligible project costs which remain after completion of an urban waterfront project as provided in this chapter shall be transmitted by the recipient to the state and deposited with the conservancy and shall be available for expenditure when appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of funding the programs specified in this division.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31314. Section 31314.

Plans prepared pursuant to this chapter for the Port of San Francisco may seek to expedite the implementation of visitor serving commercial uses of port property not needed for maritime use, establish a system of open spaces and public access along the waterfront, provide for commercial fishing facilities, and provide for the rehabilitation of existing deteriorated wharfs and piers. Upon the approval of the State Coastal Conservancy, funding of the Port of San Francisco pursuant to this chapter shall be given high priority and be available to implement plans prepared pursuant to this chapter and to increase the port’s ability to establish an ongoing land management program to encourage public access and tourist uses of the port.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31315. Section 31315.

The conservancy, under its mandate for urban waterfront restoration, shall administer the distribution of state funds, when appropriated to the conservancy, for the improvement of the infrastructure of fishing harbors on public trust lands.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 31316. Section 31316.

Within the conservancy’s jurisdiction pursuant to this chapter and within urban coastal watershed areas, the conservancy may undertake projects and award grants for activities that are compatible with the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of ocean, coastal, or watershed resources, or that facilitate environmental education related to these resources. These projects or activities may include, but are not limited to, exhibits or events emphasizing coastal, watershed, or ocean resource education, or maritime history, or the development of amenities and infrastructure consistent with this chapter.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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