The blue-water ocean view framed by historic Point Montara Lighthouse, enjoyed by many from Highway 1 and the CA Coastal Trail, is on the brink of disappearing behind a row of fast-growing young cypress trees on the Caltrans road embankment that slopes down west of the highway.

Due to road cuts, development, and private landscaping, there remain only glimpses of the ocean from the county-designated scenic Highway 1 through the San Mateo County urban Midcoast.  These few remaining public ocean views are treasured and provide a sense of place, but they are in danger of being lost due to oversized trees and shrubs growing in the Caltrans right-of-way.

The California Coastal Act (Sec. 30251) provides that “The scenic and visual qualities of coastal areas shall be considered and protected as a resource of public importance. Permitted development [including landscaping] shall be sited and designed to protect views to and along the ocean and scenic coastal areas…”  

We ask Caltrans to improve and preserve public ocean views from our scenic highway by removing shrubs and young trees from the right-of-way, whether planted or naturally occurring, that will grow to block these views. Landscaping choices should take into account mature natural size and shape, and not depend on unnatural and damaging pruning when the shrub or tree grows too large.