San Mateo County’s New Sea Level Rise Plan Calls for a 100-Foot Buffer Zone for Shoreline Development
Posted on April 19, 2023
News Article by Ezra David Romero | KQED
San Mateo County released first-of-its-kind sea level rise guidance today, a forceful planning document meant to slow a bonanza of shoreline development and protect a dozen communities from climate-driven flooding near San Francisco Bay, including from rising groundwater and catastrophic flooding during storms.
The voluntary guidance asks that any new development along the county’s 53 miles of bayshore be constructed above today’s high tide by around 10 feet in an effort to protect businesses and residents.
The plan would also establish a 100-foot buffer zone between future developments and the bay and set new buildings 35 feet back from creeks.
“We’re not familiar with any [other guidance] that’s this specific and this aggressive on climate flooding,” said Len Materman, CEO of OneShoreline, San Mateo County’s flood and sea level rise resiliency district…