Pacifica Council Faces New Battle Over 1,225-Home Coastal Development
A long-running development dispute in Pacifica, California, has entered a new phase after developers proposed a major housing project on the site of a former coastal limestone quarry.
The proposal, known as Coastal Crest Residences, would create about 1,225 housing units across 21 buildings on roughly one-third of the 90-acre quarry property. The site has remained undeveloped for decades following the end of quarry operations in 1986.
The latest proposal is drawing attention because developers are attempting to use California’s “builder’s remedy” provisions, which can allow certain housing projects to move forward despite local zoning restrictions when a city does not have a state-certified housing plan.
Pacifica officials have rejected the proposal, arguing that state housing rules do not override voter-approved local land-use protections. The developer has appealed the decision to the City Council, setting up the possibility of another legal confrontation.
Supporters of the project point to the potential addition of more than a thousand homes, including affordable housing, at a time when California continues to face a shortage of housing. Developers also say the project could include restoration measures for portions of the former quarry property.
Opponents remain concerned about traffic, environmental impacts and potential effects on sensitive coastal habitats. The property’s location also means that environmental and coastal regulations could play an important role in determining whether the development can proceed.
The disagreement could ultimately move into the courts, where the interpretation of state housing law and local voter-approved land-use rules may be tested.
For Pacifica residents, the proposal represents another chapter in a development debate that has continued for roughly four decades. Previous plans for the property have included housing, hotels and other large-scale developments, but none succeeded.
The latest proposal is significantly larger than many earlier attempts and could become an important test of how California’s housing policies interact with local control and coastal protections.
