San Mateo County acquires 5 acres of coast land

The 5.28-acre land in question is located along Airport Street in unincorporated Princeton, neighboring Moss Beach. To the east of the site is the Half Moon Bay Airport with the Pillar Point Headlands and Pillar Point Marsh to the west. 

Just north of the site is the Big Wave North Parcel where the Big Wave nonprofit is developing independent housing for adults with developmental disabilities. The project will be one of the first California-based “intentional communities,” providing up to 63 residents with disability-friendly places to work and socialize. 

The county will be taking over the southern parcel from Big Wave Group with intentions to expand the boundaries of Pillar Point Marsh while providing protection for agricultural, natural and cultural resources on the land. 

“There’s a possibility for compatible uses no matter how the county uses the property,” Community Development Director Steve Monowitz said. “We want to keep the door open to other uses that might serve the community.” 

Officials will also consider the possibility of developing a community center or nature center at the site, county project planner Camille Leung said. Any future projects or uses on the site would require appropriate permits and would undergo county and community review, Monowitz said. 

He told commissioners that there have been long-standing interests in establishing a community center in the area but not specifically on the 5-acre parcel because the land wasn’t considered “on the table.” 

“I think it’s a great location in terms of being centrally located between the various communities to the midcoast,” Monowitz said. “Plus its proximity to the great recreational resources nearby I think is a real asset as well so I would be very interested in hearing the community’s response to that.” 

Supervisors previously approved a request by Big Wave Group to move a proposed public parking developed from the southern parcel onto the north parcel, allowing for the acquisition. Neither entities are responsible for building a boat house previously included in Big Wave Project plans, Monowitz added.  

The county will still be responsible for ensuring environmental impact mitigations included in the approval of the Big Wave Project are realized on the south parcel, Monowitz said. Responding to questions related to water sources by Commission Chair Lisa Ketcham, Monowitz noted waterlines would also need to be extended into the south parcel from the north parcel if a development were to be placed on the land. 

Commissioners ultimately shared unanimous support for the acquisition with Commissioner Mario Santacruz absent, finding it conformed to the county’s General Plan and sharing strong support for a potential community center in the area. 

“It looks like a good project to me and I’m glad the county is proactively protecting these areas in some ways so that we are not just building things or doing things without thinking it through,” Commissioner Kumkum Gupta said.  

sierra@smdailyjournal.com 

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