The Arena Cove Campground Project proposes the development of a 10-site tent campground on City-owned property at Arena Cove. The project is intended to expand recreational opportunities, improve public access to the California coast, and provide an affordable overnight camping option for residents and visitors. The campground is designed to complement the existing working waterfront while supporting the City’s long-term vision for enhancing Arena Cove as a destination for outdoor recreation, fishing, kayaking, wildlife viewing, and coastal tourism.
In addition to increasing public access, the campground is expected to provide a modest, ongoing source of revenue to help support the operation, maintenance, and long-term sustainability of Arena Cove’s public facilities. The project has been developed with consideration for the site’s natural and coastal setting and will continue through environmental review, permitting, and public input as design and implementation move forward.
The City Council will consider a Coastal Development Permit for the project at their July 21, 2026 meeting.
- Public Notice — June 18, 2026
- Campground Presentation — July 10, 2026
- Campground Meeting Minutes – July 10, 2026
- Campground Coastal Development Permit — July 21, 2026
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Project Inception & Funding. In 2023 the City of Point Arena was awarded a $485,000
grant, from the State Coastal Commission, to complete an planning and permitting for
improvements to the pier and cove. The grant funds are being used to complete the
design and engineering, public participation, and planning and permitting to rehabilitate
the Point Arena Pier, and to complete the design, engineering and permitting to potentially
establish a low-cost campground at the Rockwall property in addition to other
improvements. In 2025 the grant was amended to include repair of the Boat Hoist and
Bonnet, which was completed in January of 2026 with a CDP exemption approved by the
Coastal Commission in summer of 2025.
Project Design & Permitting. This overall project funded by the State Coastal
Conservancy includes some components that are within the City’s jurisdiction (above the
mean hightide) and some components that are within the Coastal Commission’s
Jurisdiction (below the mean high tide), as follows:
• The City Council has CDP jurisdiction over all the components listed in the project
description on the front page of this staff report.
• The Coastal Commission has jurisdiction over all proposed repair and
improvements to the pier structure, harbor master’s office, pier bathrooms, fish
cleaning stations, lighting, pier deck resurfacing, skiff storage and other aspects of
the pier project in the area of Coastal Commission retained jurisdiction.
Public Participation. The City of Point Arena appointed an Ad Hoc committee of the City
Council to engage the public in the planning for this project and bi-monthly Ad Hoc
committee meetings were held over a 1.5-year period to gain input from residents, the
fishing community, and cove property owners about the proposed project. Additionally,
one community meeting was held with over 50 participants, and input from all of these
meetings has directed the scope, location and details of the proposed project.
Next Steps. This project is multifaceted with various timelines for permitting, funding and
completion as follows:
• Campground. If City Council approves the Coastal Development Permit for the
campground the Coastal Conservancy has requested that the City submit a
funding application in the fall for the Coastal Conservancy Board Meeting to
consider funding of the construction of the campground and related improvements
(campsites, bathrooms, signage, sidewalk improvements, habitat protective
fencing, interpretive panels). As previously noted, the Coastal Conservnacy does
not have funding for the Tiny Homes, which could be purchased with funding from
the commission at a later date. If funded, City could offer Tiny Homes or Park
Model RV’s for rent in the “RV spots.” These Tiny Homes/Park Model RVs will be
low cost and will include only a bedroom (no kitchen or bathroom facilities).
• Pier Project. the City Planner is working with various consultants and the Coastal
Commission to complete the design, engineering, specifications and permitting for
the Pier project. This project requires a Coastal Development Permit from the
Coastal Commission as well as an Army Corp of Engineers Permit and a State
Water Board Permit. Staff is working on an ongoing basis to secure these permits
from the various regulatory agencies. If permitted, the City will complete a
separate funding request for the completion of this project. The City has received
the final design and specifications from Moffet and Nichol and completed permit
applications to the various permitting agencies (Coastal conservancy, Water Board
and USARMY CORP). The Coastal Commission requested significant support
documentation and various changes to the project as part of the initial permit
application process. The Army Corp will likely issue their permit soon. The
USFWS has provided a final letter of concurrence on the project with various
required special conditions to the Army Corp. The Water Board has started their
review of the project. The City will likely submit a grant request for this project late
in 2026, if the Coastal Commission approves the Coastal Development Permit for
the project within the next year.
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The City’s of Point Arena’s 2022 General Municipal Election, consolidated with the Mendocino County Statewide General Election, will be held on November 8, 2022. Registered voters in the City of Point Arena will have the opportunity to elect three City of Point Arena councilmembers of the five-member City Council for a term of four years each. These seats are presently occupied by incumbents Vice Mayor Barbara Burkey, Councilmember Anna Dobbins and Councilmember Richey Wasserman.