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KUSP LandWatch
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ogo.gif" width="108" height="109" border="0"> "Listen Live" |
KUSP provided a brief Land Use Report on KUSP Radio from January 2003 to May 2016. Archives of past transcripts are available here.
Week of December 22, 2003 to December 26, 2003
The following Land Use Reports have been presented on KUSP Radio by Gary Patton, Executive Director of LandWatch Monterey County. The opinions expressed by Mr. Patton are not necessarily those of KUSP Radio, nor of any of its sponsors.
Monday,
December 22, 2003 – Marina Heights Tonight
The Marina City Council will be meeting this evening, to consider
the proposed Marina Heights Project. The Council closed the public
hearing on Marina Heights a couple of weeks ago, but it’s my
bet that the Council will take public testimony on the issue of
water. If you’re interested in the future of Marina, and want
to weigh in, showing up at the Council meeting tonight is a good
idea.
There are several water-related issues that have not received an adequate public hearing. Procedurally, the Council was required to include a comprehensive Water Supply Assessment in the Environmental Impact Report circulated on the project. This was never done, so the analysis and discussion required by CEQA has never taken place. There’s a bit of finger-pointing about who’s to blame for the omission, but in a way, that’s beside the point. The substantive concerns about water are what are important.
The first concern is whether there is an adequate water supply for the proposed new development. The second concern is water quality. Both toxic contamination and salt water intrusion are definite factors. Third, and perhaps most interesting from a land use policy point of view, is whether there will be water for any other substantial development in Marina if a commitment is made to Marina Heights. The Marina Heights development is almost entirely high-end residential. The job producing projects that Marina has on the drawing board could fail to materialize, if all the available water has been used by Marina Heights.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Marina City Website
http://www.ci.marina.ca.us/LandWatch Comments on Marina Heights
http://www.landwatch.org
Tuesday,
December 23, 2003 – Water Quality Workshop
On Friday, January 9th, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality
Control Board, based in San Luis Obispo, will be holding a workshop
in Salinas. The workshop begins at 9:30 in the morning, and will
be held at the Agricultural Commissioner’s Auditorium, at 1432
Abbott Street. The topic of the workshop will be possible waivers
of waste discharge requirements for agricultural properties.
For many years, agricultural operations have not had to get the kind of specific permission for waste discharges that other businesses have. Changes in the law, however, are now requiring some changes in how agricultural properties are treated with respect to waste discharges and water quality concerns. Obviously, these changes are of very significant concern to commercial agriculture. Working farmers are not used to getting permits before plowing their fields. Some sort of reasonable approach is clearly necessary, but it is true that agricultural operations, if they’re not properly conducted, can have a big impact on water quality, and that affects everyone, not just farmers.
Environmental groups like the Ocean Conservancy, The Environmental Council of San Luis Obispo County, and the Environmental Defense Center, would like to make sure that the public at large, as well as agriculture, is fully involved in the solution. You can get more information at the KUSP website, www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Regional Water Quality Control Boards - http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/regions.html
For more information on the workshop, and how you can participate most effectively, please contact one of the following individuals:
Kaitlin Gaffney
The Ocean Conservancy
831-425-1363
kgaffney@psinet.comEric Cardenas
Environmental Defense Center (EDC)
805-963-1622
cardenas@edcnet.orgMiranda Leonard
Environmental Council of San Luis Obispo County (ECOSLO)
805-544-1777
miranda@ecoslo.org
Wednesday,
December 24, 2003 – AMBAG Tri-County Economic Conference
The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (or AMBAG, as it’s
usually called) is the local expression of “regional government”
in the Monterey Bay Area. The counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey,
and all of the cities within both of those counties, are official
participants in AMBAG.
“Regional government” is perhaps a misnomer. In fact, California state law really doesn’t mandate much in the way of “regional government.” The governmental decisions that count the most are made by city councils and by county Boards of Supervisors. Because that’s true, regional concerns are often not “optimized.”
AMBAG, and other Councils of Government, as they’re called, do have some significant authority. For instance, it’s AMBAG that decides what the “fair share” of future growth will be for each county and city within the AMBAG region. Mostly however, Councils of Government operate by persuasion and education. To that end, AMBAG sponsors many informative meetings and workshops, and they’re well worth attending.
On January 16th next year, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Seaside, AMBAG is sponsoring its 10th Annual Tri-County Economic Conference. This is a popular event, and you need to make an advance reservation if you’d like to attend. You can find out more by clicking on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
AMBAG Website
http://www.ambag.orgConference Announcement
http://www.ambag.org/events/
Thursday,
December 25, 2003 – A Christmas Thought
I’m a zealot for land use policy, and I’m not apologetic
about trying to get everyone else excited about it, too. However,
I do find it a difficult assignment, on Christmas Day, to try to
turn your thoughts to General Plans.
So, if I might, let me give you a Christmas thought. Winter can be a discouraging season. In my mind’s eye, I see a winter scene. In the field, steam rises. A farmer stamps his numb cold feet. The soil is laid open and the rich, warm heart of the earth revealed. Bob Dylan sings. “Matthew, Mark, Luke and John--all them prophets is dead and gone. Keep your hand on that plow, hold on.”
The Christmas message tells us not what is, but what is to come. The winter is a time of transformation, and in a dark season of discouragement, we celebrate a feast of lights. A new year is coming. A new reality is being born, and a whole new order in the world. The message of this season is a declaration of faith--a message we must apply to our politics, as well as to our personal lives.
As the plow turns its furrow, in the dead cold field, the rich, warm heart of the earth is revealed. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John--are all those prophets really dead and gone? I don’t think so. Keep your hand on that plow, hold on!
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Friday,
December 26, 2003 – AB 1015 (Water and The General Plan)
Frequent listeners to this Land Use Report know that the policies
adopted by a city or county in its local General Plan will have
very significant economic, environmental, and social impacts. The
future of our local communities really can be shaped through the
General Plan policies we adopt. Or, perhaps more accurately, the
General Plan can shape the kind of future we want if we follow the
Plan we adopt, instead of changing it to accommodate development
proposals as they are submitted.
Everyone residing in the Central Coast area also knows that water issues are of paramount concern to our local communities, and to the future of our local economy. It makes sense, of course, for our local General Plans to focus significantly on water quality and water supply issues.
Is it a surprise for you to learn that there is no requirement, currently, to match General Plan policies to the existing and potential sources of water that might be used to supply existing and future developments included in the General Plan? That’s true! However, Assembly Member John Laird is attempting to ride to the rescue. He has introduced Assembly Bill 1015, sponsored by Attorney General Bill Lockyer. If enacted, AB 1015 will require General Plan policies that link water supply to proposed new developments. You can get access to the text of the bill, and other information, www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Text of AB 1015
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1001-
1050/ab_1015_bill_20030602_amended_asm.htmlAssembly Member Laird’s Website
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/Contact John Laird by telephone at: 831-425-1503
Archives of past transcripts are available here
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