Sewer Overhaul, Montara Grant and Harbor District Friction Dominate Midcoast Meeting

The Midcoast Community Council (MCC) packed its April 8 session with presentations on a $13–14 million sewer pipeline replacement under a federal consent decree and a contested bike-and-pedestrian grant for Montara's Main Street — approving a support letter for the latter 5-0 despite pushback over proposed curb extensions. The evening also surfaced new hazardous-waste worries at the Cypress Point affordable housing site and a turf battle with the Harbor District over who gets to run the coastside's long-awaited multi-agency stakeholder meeting.

• $13–14M sewer force main replacement along Highway 1 presented to council; construction could start this fall under a June 2027 consent-decree deadline

• Council unanimously backs TDA 3 grant for Montara Main Street sidewalks, bike route and ADA bus-stop upgrades — over resident opposition to curb extensions

• Abandoned underground storage tank and asbestos discovered at Cypress Point housing site near Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

• Harbor District schedules competing stakeholder meeting, complicating MCC's months-long coordination effort on overlapping coastside projects

• Supervisor Mueller's office names David Cosgrave as new full-time coastside liaison, replacing Marisol Escalera

Aging Sewer Line Gets $13–14M Replacement Under Consent Decree

The basics: The Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) — a joint powers authority of Half Moon Bay, Granada Community Services District and Montara Water and Sanitary District serving roughly 30,000 people — must replace two miles of 40-year-old ductile iron sewer pipe along Highway 1 by June 30, 2027. An environmental consent decree triggered by multiple sewage spills set the deadline.

Why it matters: The 14,000-foot pipeline runs from Vermont Avenue in Moss Beach south to Capistrano Road, threading through some of the most ecologically sensitive terrain on the San Mateo County coast. Ratepayers in six coastside communities will absorb a price tag that has already climbed from a $10–12 million estimate two years ago to $13–14 million today — and a guaranteed maximum price is not expected until May or June.

Where things stand: SAM General Manager Kishen Prathivadi and SRT Consultants Principal Engineer Rachél Lather walked the council through the project's scope, timeline and environmental protections. SAM awarded a progressive design-build contract to McGuire Hester in late 2024. The replacement pipe will be high-density polyethylene (HDPE), installed while temporary bypass pipes keep sewer service running. Trenchless methods will be used for most highway crossings, with the exception of Capistrano Road. An initial study/mitigated negative declaration was circulated for public review through Feb. 27, 2026, drawing only three comments — all from public agencies. It goes to the SAM board April 27. Environmental mitigations include incidental take permits for the San Francisco garter snake and red-legged frog, Crotch's bumblebee protections and cultural resource safeguards following tribal consultation.

"The engineers' cost estimate a couple of maybe two years back was about 10 to 12 million, and now our engineers' estimate is close to about 13 to 14 million," said Prathivadi.

Construction is expected to begin in August or fall 2026 and last approximately 12 months — overlapping with other Caltrans and Moss Beach projects already affecting Highway 1 traffic.

The other side: Chair Kimberly Williams pressed SAM on why the MCC was never notified about the 30-day ISMND comment period, noting that San Mateo County had specifically directed SAM to consult with the council.

"In future, it would be great to have the MCC notified as a public elected body who represents this unincorporated area. I think that's a big omission," she said.

Public commenter Greg asked whether the consent-decree deadline could be renegotiated given rising costs from trade conflicts. Sid Young clarified the project's legal history, noting two lawsuits — one environmental and a separate inter-agency dispute spanning 2017 to 2026 — had both contributed to delays and cost increases. Michelle Dragony of Coastside Buzz noted her outlet has been providing ongoing coverage of the project.

Decisions: The council ultimately decided not to submit formal comments on the 554-page negative declaration, citing time constraints, but directed SAM to include the MCC in all future notifications.

What's next: The initial study/mitigated negative declaration goes before the SAM board April 27. A guaranteed maximum price is expected in May or June, with construction targeting a fall 2026 start.

Council Backs Montara Main Street Grant Despite Curb Extension Fight

Why it matters: A Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA 3) grant application would fund the first sidewalk connection between 7th and 8th Streets in Montara, a Class 3 bike route with sharrow markings, ADA improvements to a SAMTrans bus stop, curb extensions at two intersections, and roadway resurfacing — all elements of the 2022 Connect the Coastside plan and a building block for the long-awaited parallel coastal trail. But the proposed curb extensions drew sharp opposition from residents who see them as dangerous pinch points on a key Highway 1 access road.

Where things stand: Chanda Singh of the San Mateo County Planning and Building Department presented the project scope, covering Main Street from 7th to 10th Street. Secretary Claire Toutant and Councilmember David Santoro drafted the support letter after conducting outreach on Nextdoor that drew roughly 1,500 views and about 15 responses, most of them supportive.

The other side: Three public commenters pushed back. Greg opposed curb extensions outright, arguing they create dangerous conditions for both cyclists and drivers, and urged the council to prioritize drainage problems and safe routes to Farallon View School instead. Sid Young questioned whether the project amounted to grant-chasing for just three blocks and expressed concern about urbanizing the coastside. Dan Haggerty argued the grant deadline was too tight for meaningful community input and warned that frustrated drivers would make unsafe maneuvers around the curb extensions.

Toutant drew a key distinction for the audience; the specifics of the projects will be dealt with later:

"I'd like to clarify that this letter is in support of the grant application that the county is filing...Once they get the money, then they will say, okay, do you like these bump outs or not? And then we can make more comments about the specifics of the project."

Singh assured the council that a coastal development permit process would give the community another opportunity to weigh in on specific design elements.

"This project will require a CDP. We're starting that coastal development permit process now. So there will be our same channels for feedback," she said.

Decisions: The council approved the support letter 5-0 (For: Williams, Bollinger, Santilli, Conti, Santoro; Absent: Mattammal), emphasizing it endorses the funding application rather than every design detail.

What's next: The TDA 3 grant application is due next week. If awarded, the project design will go through a coastal development permit process with community input opportunities.

Hazardous Waste at Cypress Point Revives CEQA Fight

Why it matters: The Midcoast Community Council once led an unsuccessful effort to require a full CEQA review for the Cypress Point affordable housing project in Moss Beach. Now, the discovery of an abandoned underground storage tank and asbestos at the site is renewing those environmental concerns — particularly given the site's proximity to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.

Where things stand: Public commenter and former councilmember Ann Rothman reported that housing developer Midpen sent a March 24 letter to nearby homeowners disclosing the underground storage tank discovery. A hazardous waste management company has been hired, but the tank's contents and the extent of contamination remain unidentified. Rothman expressed concern about stormwater runoff potentially carrying contaminants into the marine reserve.

Public Commenter Greg added that a neighbor documented asbestos removal equipment on site, and that a 1980s contractor letter identifying asbestos had been included in the MCC's original CEQA comments but was disregarded. Commenter Sid Young cited contractor statements that inadequate stormwater retention could cause runoff onto Highway 1 and into the reserve, and called for Midpen to present directly to the community. Public commenter and former councilmember Dan Haggerty echoed the concerns.

Chair Kimberly Williams noted that the county issued a response letter, now posted on the MCC website's Cypress Point page. The council agreed to review the letter and potentially schedule a follow-up discussion at a future meeting.

Harbor District Schedules Rival Meeting, Muddling MCC's Stakeholder Plan

Why it matters: For months, the MCC has been trying to convene a neutral-facilitator meeting to coordinate overlapping projects by Caltrans, Granada Community Services District (GCSD), the Harbor District, and the county that affect parking, trails and coastal access across El Granada. After the facilitator contract was finally approved, the Harbor District scheduled its own stakeholder session for April 16 — with many of the same agencies on the guest list.

Where things stand: Councilmember Connie Santilli reported that the facilitator contract cleared county processing, but the Harbor District's move has complicated the council's plans. The Harbor District meeting, organized by the Department of Transportation, is set for April 16 at 2 p.m.

Chair Kimberly Williams framed the tension directly:

"The Harbor District has sort of tried to take control the narrative and control the situation because it benefits them, rather than having to come to a meeting where they aren't the host or the facilitator."

The council's concern centers on the Coastal Commission's requirement that Caltrans replace 75 parking spaces removed by the Highway 1 rehabilitation project. The Harbor District sees its own parking lot proposals as meeting that requirement, but the MCC argues those lots are too far from Surfers Beach to serve the intended users.

The council debated attending the April 16 meeting versus pressing ahead with its own broader session. Multiple members — including Vice Chair Scott Bollinger and Councilmember Antonio Conti — plan to attend as observers, with Brown Act considerations limiting how many can participate. Public commenter Sid Young suggested the MCC try to schedule its own meeting the same day to capture the same audience.

What's next: Williams and Santilli will meet with the facilitator, draft a letter to stakeholders, and report back at the April 22 meeting.

New Coastside Liaison; Measure K's Future Uncertain

Dr. Marisol Escalera, chief of staff for Supervisor Mueller, delivered her final report as the MCC's liaison, introducing her replacement: David Cosgrave, a longtime El Granada resident with 33 years of fire department experience and 3.5 years in emergency management. The move gives the unincorporated mid-coast a full-time advocate in the supervisor's office — a longstanding ask from the community.

"I would like to inform you that it will be my last meeting to you as your liaison because we have hired a full-time staff member from the mid-coast," Escalera said.

On Measure K, Escalera confirmed that the last funding round ended but that no decision has been made to eliminate the program or hold another RFP round. Commenter Sid Young pressed on whether the county would continue collecting the half-cent sales tax without distributing grants; Escalera said that determination remained with the finance office.

Escalera also reported that Caltrans confirmed a biologist will be on site during fire mitigation work in Montara and Moss Beach to protect species and watershed, and that bird nests will be protected until fledging. She distributed a board memo opposing the BOEM 11th National OCS leasing program related to offshore oil drilling.

Minor Items

• Board of Supervisors postponed a vote on updated design review standards at its April 7 meeting due to controversy over other agenda items; the MCC's letter supporting lighting standards and bird-safe design was included in a 364-page public comment compilation and will carry to the next hearing. Vice Chair Bollinger offered to deliver public comment at the next Board meeting.

• CPUC telecommunications redundancy: Santilli reported progress pushing the California Public Utilities Commission to update hazard maps and potentially require telecom providers to offer redundancy on the coast, leveraging PG&E analogies. Rather than a full map update — done only every 10 years — CPUC may open a separate process for telecom oversight.

• Retreat planning: The council tentatively set April 30 for its long-delayed priority-setting retreat. Upcoming agenda items include a sheriff update, emergency management software, the local hazard mitigation plan, and DPW El Granada street work.

• Special districts legislative week: Sid Young reported from Sacramento, noting that housing mandates without infrastructure funding was a key concern raised to state budget officials. "When are they going to stop just mandating housing elements on municipalities and couple it with some funding for the infrastructure that goes with the fund?" he said.

• Half Moon Bay liaison Deborah Penrose delivered a brief report from the city.