Ocean-Facing Roads Rulemaking Session

Erosion along highway at Beverly Beach.\Photo by Dennis White.

Oregon’s Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) is considering a change to the state’s land use rules to allow shoreline armoring to protect roads adjacent to the ocean shore, including Highway 101.  The hearing on the proposed new rule will take place far from the coast, at the next LCDC meeting at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 22, in John Day (720 Airport Rd.) It is possible to participate remotely or comment by e-mail (see below).

There will be an option to view the meeting on YouTube (www.youtube.com/Oregondlcd).

Oregon’s Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) has been working toward a change in the rules to address a gap.  When the rules were written, they failed to specify that “ocean-facing roads” were eligible for protection from erosion by shoreline armoring where necessary. Conservation groups including Oregon Shores, while not opposed to protecting Highway 101, believe that the state should commit to mitigating for the loss of the public beach to riprap by acquiring other lands for State Parks or other public purposes.

For details on the proposed rule change and its implications, see our website article.

A draft of the proposed rules and fiscal statements is available, on DLCD’s website at: https://www.oregon.gov/lcd/LAR/Documents/660-004-0022CORRECTEDNoticeFilingTrackedChanges.pdf

How to Comment: You may comment on the proposed rules by sending written comments by Sept. 22 to:

Rules Coordinator, Department of Land Conservation & Development
635 Capitol St., Ste. 150
Salem, Oregon 97301
or via email: casaria.taylor@dlcd.oregon.gov

Rulemaking Hearing: You may also provide oral or written comments at the rulemaking hearing, in person or remotely. Contact Esther Johnson, esther.johnson@dlcd.oregon.gov, for further information. If you wish to address the commission, use this form to sign-up: https://www.oregon.gov/lcd/commission/pages/public-comment.aspx. Oral testimony at the hearing will be scheduled in the order in which requests are received.