***From Superintendent Todd Lewis as of April 19, 2010... “As far as campground progress, we’ve passed the 50% completion mark. The whole area is really beginning to take shape, and you can begin to envision the final product."
Progress
Report – Project Back on Track
Although
40% complete and 50 days ahead of schedule at the end of 2008, this past
January the El Morro Public Use Conversion
project was one of over 5,000 bond funded projects suspended due to the poor
cash position of CaliforniaÕs Pooled Money Investment Account which provides
interim funding for all bond funded projects. After a frustrating ten month delay, and thanks to the
recent successful sales of California bonds, a number of State Parks project
including El Morro have been approved for re-start by the Department of
Finance. More welcome news is that
the project is fully funded and will be completed in full scope as originally
planned. The delay has pushed back
the projected completion date to the end of 2010.
(Pictured: Project site poised for re-start. October 1, 2009)
Background
The
Crystal Cove State Park General Plan,
which includes public use plans for the El Morro area of the 2,791 park, was
publicly approved in 1982. On May
7, 2002, State Parks circulated the El Moro Conversion projectÕs Draft
Environmental Impact Report and received additional public comment and input. The Final Environmental Impact Report
was certified and a Final Notice of Determination filed with the State Clearing
House on August 13th, 2002.
State Parks staff presented the preliminary plan drawings to the State
Public Works Board on September 13, 2002.
The State Public Works Board approved the preliminary plans and the next
phase of plan development. Based
on public input, State Parks made several adjustments to the project to further
reduce potential impacts including:
i
Expanded buffer area between El Morro Elementary School and the
campground.
i
Removal of a planned pedestrian crossing and intersection signal lights
at Pacific Coast Highway near El Morro Creek.
i
Improved beach access through the El Morro Creek tunnel.
i
Commitment for development of a campground operations plan which will
include guidelines for restricting camp fires during normal school hours,
camping fees, length of camping vehicles, and camping duration limits.
i
50% of campsites dedicated to low-impact camping use (tents, van
conversions, pop-ups)
i
Designation of two campsites for park volunteer camp host sites for
increased security and safety.
In
Spring 2002, State Parks entered into a Joint Development Agreement with the
Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) to plan, permit, fund and
construct shared facilities mutually benefit -ing Crystal Cove State Park and the
El Morro Elementary School expansion projects. The agreement has resulted in cost sharing and savings,
integrated design for connecting park and school facilities to the municipal
sewer system, planned improvements to the common entrance/exit off of Pacific
Coast Highway, and improves future control and treatment of storm water.
In
October of 2004 the California Coastal Commission unanimously approved the park
conversion project. The
overwhelming public support for the project approval was attributed to the
demand for day use and camping recreational opportunities, limited impacts to
sensitive natural and cultural areas, restoration of natural habitats, and
improvements to public access to coastal and inland areas. A Coastal
Development Permit (CDP 5-04-297) was issued on August 9, 2005.
Trailer Removal & Site
Clean-Up
Under
terms of a negotiated settlement agreement, former tenants of El Morro Village Mobile
Home Park vacated state park property on February 28, 2006 and were permitted
to abandon their trailers in place.
Site work including trailer removal, clean-up, sewer system leach field
retirement, and habitat restoration activities commenced during the spring of 2006
and are nearly complete.
Funding and Construction
Contract Award
The
project was approved in the GovernorÕs 2007/2008 budget and is financed by
voter approved Proposition 12 park bond funds. State Parks awarded a $12 million public works project in
June of 2008 to successful bidder Los Angeles Engineering, Inc.
Project Highlights
Once
completed, the El Morro Conversion project will include coastal access
improvements, a sixty site family campground, two hundred day use parking
spaces, park and school entrance improvements, road and trail improvements,
habitat restoration, removal of power and telephone poles/lines, picnic areas,
El Morro creek restoration, beach restoration, interpretive exhibits, an
outdoor educational amphitheatre, public restrooms, and a lifeguard
facility. The project is expected
to be open to the public by the end of 2010.
In Progress
Construction
activities are getting under way again this month. The contractor is re-mobilizing all necessary equipment and will
be implementing required environmental protection and construction monitoring
measures. El Morro Elementary
School and State Parks officials will be meeting regularly to discuss project
updates and the best ways to ensure minimum impacts.
Public Information
For
more information about the project please contact Crystal Cove State park at
(949) 494-3539 or write to Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 North Coast Highway,
Laguna Beach, CA 92651.