Coastal Planning

Coastal Planning is a multifaceted process focused on managing human activities and natural resources within coastal zones to achieve sustainable development. It involves balancing economic development, recreational opportunities, and sustainable resource extraction to preserve at least current level of environmental services and coastal ecosystems.

Key Aspects of Coastal Planning

Defining the Coastal Zone, understanding current and future human activities and demands over the environment. Understand the way coastal processes and natural dynamics work within the coastal zone. Then coordinating development, recreation, and resource use to minimize environmental impact and avoid multi-use conflicts while maximizing benefits for all and promote long term sustainability of the resources.

Although different approaches to Coastal Planning exist, OCEAAN has always being characterized by producing a tri-prone Coastal Planning approach building social, financial and ecosystem resilient projects.

Coastal Adaptation and Resilience

• Coastal Resilience Planning: Creating strategies to help coastal communities and environments to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change and other hazards.
• Reconnaissance, Feasibility, and Vulnerability Studies: To proper formulate a project, key studies need to be undertaken to gather relevant information and make informed decisions.
• Reconnaissance studies: Provide a high-level overview, gathering essential information about a project or a potential target area to assess the situation and identify potential challenges and opportunities.
• Feasibility studies: A more in-depth analyses to determine whether a proposed project is practical, viable, and likely to succeed.
• Risk analysis studies: Identifying and evaluating potential risks and uncertainties; developing mitigation strategies, and providing crucial information for the "go/no-go" decision on whether to proceed with the project.
• Vulnerability studies: Also known as vulnerability assessments focus on identifying, analyzing and classifying vulnerabilities based on their severity and potential impact to prioritize remediation and mitigation efforts.
• Compliance Reports: Helping organizations comply with industry standards and regulations.
• Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessments: Assessing the potential impacts of climate change on infrastructure, operations, and communities, including physical risks and transition risks.
• Infrastructure Resilience: Developing strategies to enhance the resilience of infrastructure, buildings, and communities to climate-related hazards like extreme weather events.
• Adaptation Solutions: Designing and implementing solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change, such as flood defenses, water management systems, and fortify infrastructure and developing workforce for future conditions.
• Future-Ready Design: Help clients design infrastructure and communities that are prepared for the challenges of a changing climate.
• Disaster Prevention and Remediation: Note: If you were affected by the recent fires, landslides and coastal erosion over the last years please see our section OCEAAN gives back for some resources.

Environmental Planning Services

• Coastal Management: Advising on coastal resiliency, sea level rise adaptation, coastal sediment management, and floodplain management.
• Environmental Compliance: Addressing issues related to hazardous materials, contaminated sediment cleanups, and compliance with environmental laws.
• Water Quality: Addressing concerns related to water pollution and water supply needs.
• Wetlands Permitting: Assisting with securing wetlands permits and addressing related issues.
• Endangered Species: Navigating regulations related to protected species and their habitats.
• Environmental Impact Assessments: Assessing environmental impacts of coastal development projects to ensure minimization of negative impacts on the environment for the projects to be declared feasible and sustainable.
• Environmental Analysis: Conducting California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and addressing potential impacts and proposing solutions.
• Environmental and Social Justice Assessments: Assessing social and economic impacts of coastal development projects to ensure minimization of negative impacts on the communities and on the environment for the projects to be feasible, fair and sustainable.

Entitlements, Permitting, Legal and Regulatory Coastal Planning Support

• Entertainment, Lux-Hospitality & Commercial Real Estate Development Permits: Assisting with all stages of development, including due-diligence investigations, market research, local planning ordinances and zoning trends and other project- relevant regulations, until obtaining the necessary permits for supporting acquisitions.
• Zoning & Feasibility Assessments: Evaluating property potential and ensuring compliance with zoning regulations.
• Coastal Act & Local Coastal Program Conformance: Ensuring projects adhere to specific coastal regulations and programs.
• Environmental Analysis: Conducting California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and addressing potential impacts and proposing solutions.
• Compliance Reports: Helping organizations comply with industry standards and regulations.
• Land Development & Planning: Developing master plans, acquiring entitlements, and conducting feasibility studies.
• Permit Processing & Code Compliance: Navigating the permit process and ensuring compliance with building codes and regulations.
• Private Records Research: Conducting research on relevant property and development records. Chain of Title Research, Parcel Map Preparation and Tax Assessor Record Research.
• Coastal Hazard Assessments: Risk assessment of coastal hazards like erosion, flooding, and sea-level rise as well as other climate change related financial risk affecting present and future developments.