Basic Policy Update Project

Background and Goal

Midpen’s basic policy was originally adopted in 1974, a couple of years after Midpen was created by local voters. The last comprehensive update to the basic policy occurred in 1999.

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Midpen’s geographic boundaries expanded to include the San Mateo County Coast in 2004, referred to as the Coastside Protection Area.

The Coastal Service Plan is a document outlining Midpen’s unique commitments to the Coastside Protection Area related to land acquisition, services and funding, agriculture, forestry, partnerships, representation, planning and development, and land use.

The goal of this project is to update Midpen's basic policy through a robust public process in order to incorporate the Coastside Protection Area into the basic policy in a way that is consistent with the Coastal Service Plan. 

Learn more about Midpen's work on the Coastside here.

Public Process

A committee of three Midpen board members are helping to guide the policy update process. Midpen staff and a consultant developed draft policy revisions after reviewing and comparing Midpen’s current basic policy, coastal service plan and other Coastside policies. Midpen’s board of directors initially reviewed the proposed revisions at a public meeting on June 25, 2024.

Beginning in the summer of 2024, Midpen staff began soliciting community input on the proposed basic policy updates. Additional revisions may be made based on additional public comments in the early months of 2025 before the proposed basic policy updates go back to Midpen’s board of directors to consider approval at a public meeting anticipated to take place later in the spring 2025.