On Aug. 13, the California Coastal Commission approved the city of Santa Cruz’s Downtown Plan Expansion. This plan is the product of years of collaboration: community members, city staff, state housing laws and Coastal Commission guidance all aligned to deliver a future that adds homes and public amenities while staying uniquely “Santa Cruz.”

For nearly five years, our city team has sat at tables working with neighbors, businesses, housing advocates, environmental stewards and regional partners to shape a plan for the area south of Laurel Street. We listened, adjusted, studied and revised. In parallel, we engaged in the state’s evolving housing framework, embracing our responsibility to plan for more homes, while also meeting the Coastal Act’s requirements to support public access and coa

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