Coastal resources: coastal development permit application: higher education housing project.

Assembly Member Alvarez's coastal development permit legislation establishes new processing timelines for higher education housing projects within California's coastal zones. The measure requires the California Coastal Commission to approve or deny complete permit applications for student, faculty, and staff housing developments within 90 days of submission.

The bill allows timeline extensions in two specific scenarios: when universities propose substantial project changes that could create new environmental impacts or increase previously identified effects, or when natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, or sea level rise alter the environmental circumstances surrounding the project. These provisions maintain the Commission's ability to conduct thorough environmental reviews when conditions warrant additional scrutiny.

Under current law, while the Coastal Act requires permits for all coastal zone development, no specific decision timeline exists for the Commission's review process. This addition to the Public Resources Code creates a defined approval window specifically for higher education housing projects while preserving flexibility for complex cases requiring extended evaluation.