Dear Cambrians,

The Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) has received an update from the County of San Luis Obispo regarding our Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application. The County has completed its review of the submitted materials and responses to the information hold and has confirmed that the project is accepted for processing, and will now receive its environmental determination pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The official acceptance letter is provided below. During the environmental determination, the CCSD may need to provide additional information, and the County will notify us by letter if additional information is needed or of the results of the environmental determination. The application is subject to a discretionary review process. A discretionary permit requires the review and approval of the Planning Commission or the Board of Supervisors. A discretionary permit may be approved, approved with conditions, or denied. An application for a discretionary permit does not guarantee approval, whether a project complies with all applicable standards, or has been recommended for approval. All decisions on discretionary permits can be appealed to the Board of Supervisors, who will then make the final decision on the project. 

This achievement represents the culmination of years of dedicated effort by CCSD staff, our consulting team, and the Board of Directors, who have remained steadfast in navigating a complex and evolving regulatory process. The County’s acceptance acknowledges that the District has successfully met all outstanding technical and informational requirements necessary to proceed to the next stage of review.

The WRF remains a cornerstone of Cambria’s long-term water resilience strategy, designed to enhance drought reliability, protect our limited groundwater resources, and provide environmental safeguards for future generations. Moving into the environmental review process is a significant step forward in ensuring this vital infrastructure project achieves the transparency, accountability, and scientific rigor our community expects and deserves.

On behalf of the entire District, I want to thank our residents for their continued patience and support. The progress we have made reflects the professionalism and persistence of our staff and the leadership of the CCSD Board. Together, we are moving closer to securing a sustainable water future for Cambria.

We will continue to keep the community informed as the County completes its environmental review process and the project advances toward public hearings.

Sincerely,

Matthew McElhenie