By Doug Dye – August 1, 2026 My Remarks To Planning Commission & Downtown Plan Town Hall Like many in this hall tonight I find it shocking and reckless that anyone would consider filling the tsunami inundation zone with high-density apartments. Events of March 28, 1964 and the inevitability of another tsunami have been put down the memory hole. The inevitable forgotten, conveniently tucked out of sight. The State Density Bonus Law – which overrides local zoning & permitting and allows for large-scale, out-of-proportion development – is the method by which local leadership and the consultant-class defy our local, common sense regulations. Does the State of California prefer devastation, destruction, disaster, and death over a minor housing shortage in the downtown area? It would seem so. Also, any cost-benefit analysis doesn't pencil out for the inundation zone: it would be short term economic gain versus billions needed for economic recovery in the event of another 1964 size tsunami or larger. Who's to say that the next event won't be two to three times greater? We live on the Cascadia Fault Zone…we've all seen the pictures from March 11, 2011 in Japan. Even our own harbor was devastated by that event to the tune of millions of dollars. Crescent City and County leadership are insisting that this community – on behalf of the state – toss the sensible zoning and permitting laws that have been in place for decades and that have served this community well in favor of the State Density Bonus Law. This choice and subsequent actions are inevitably putting future populations, businesses, and infrastructure at grave risk. Tonight, I'm demanding that the Crescent City Planning Commission, City Council, and Del Norte County Board of Supervisors collectively start pushing back against the State Density Bonus Law where the inundation zone is concerned. Be the bulwark, the last line of defense against this insanity! Have some common-sense and courage, learn to say, "We're sorry, State of California, but we have a history here and cannot accommodate the State Density Bonus Law because we refuse to endanger future populations, businesses, and infrastructure in an area that will inevitably get hit again. We don't want blood on our hands." So, to the leaders in the room tonight, put the safety and well-being of the downtown community first, not the policies that have filtered down from Sacramento and beyond. Those policies do not serve the well-being and best interests of the downtown neighborhood. I'm all for doing something to revitalize downtown and for compromise (I'd encourage leadership to embrace current permitting & zoning laws and reject the State Density Bonus Law). I also feel that solutions to many of my complaints are already built into the Downtown Specific Plan…for example, the new transit center will be a BOON for foot traffic; regular shuttles could operate to high-density housing complexes on higher, safer ground within a 15-minute ride (like what has been built adjacent to Walmart, Battery Point, etc.). Keeping density low and mostly transient (hotel guests, tourists, cyclists, daytrippers, employees, etc.) minimizes the risk of displacing a huge population of new downtown residents. Keeping density out would also ease up on the demand for parking and help keep the area "quiet." Redevelop, but keep redevelopment in balance with the spirit of the destination (a quiet, natural, peaceful place like the redwoods themselves). Crescent City's unique ocean topography is unlike any other location along the west coast and makes us more vulnerable to tsunami events than most other coastal communities. Many local residents have a very healthy respect for the power of mother nature since we often witness it first hand (March 11, 2011 and the millions of dollars in damage to the Harbor come to mind immediately). No one can predict the severity of the next event. I don't think that the residents of downtown in 1964 would find any of my words to be hyperbole, fear-mongering, or exaggeration. Just the opposite…they'd likely say that the current plans to build up the tsunami inundation zone are crazy, insane, and don't do it! I say do it, it needs it, but do it in a sensible way that respects the history of the place.