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KUSP LandWatch
News
Week of April 26, 2004 to April 30, 2004
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KUSP LandWatch
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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 April 26, 2004 to April 30, 2004
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,
April 26, 2004 – Monterey County LAFCO
“LAFCO” is the shorthand way of saying “Local Agency
Formation Commission.” LAFCOs exist in every California County,
and are responsible for deciding whether or not cities will be permitted
to annex and develop adjacent lands. To see a LAFCO in action, you
could show up this afternoon at the Monterey County Courthouse,
at 4:00 p.m., where the Monterey County LAFCO will be meeting.
The Monterey County LAFCO is in the process of deciding whether or not the City of Soledad should expand, to annex agricultural lands located in the unincorporated area immediately adjacent to the city. The procedure is called a “reorganization,” and if approved, would transform 133 acres of farmland into a new housing tract.
State law says that LAFCO should “discourage urban sprawl.” In fact, the cities of the Salinas Valley are expecting the Monterey County LAFCO to approve the annexation and development of 10,000 acres of farmland, to meet the demands of today’s hot housing market. Today’s 133-acre annexation proposal is only the beginning.
A report commissioned by LandWatch Monterey County demonstrates that the next twenty years of urban growth in Monterey County could be accomplished with the annexation and development of only 300 acres of farmland. Find out how by clicking on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Monterey County LAFCO Website
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/lafco/Agenda For April 26th Meeting
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/lafco/2004agendas/
042604/042604%20Agenda.htmStaff Report – Miravale Reorganization
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/lafco/2004agendas/
042604/2.Miravale.042604.pdfLandWatch Room Enough Report
http://www.landwatch.org/pages/publications02/
roomenough/091602roomcover.htmlLAFCO Law
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?
WAISdocID=8198909839+2+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve
Tuesday,
April 27, 2004 – The Monterey County GPU Tomorrow
Tomorrow, the Monterey County Planning Commission is expected to
approve an Update to the existing Monterey County General Plan.
An update is overdue. The current plan was adopted in 1982, over
twenty years ago.
The key issue in the General Plan Update is how much land is going to be made available for development in the unincorporated portions of Monterey County. The “demand” for new residential growth in Monterey County is practically unlimited. As I told you yesterday, the Salinas Valley cities are planning to accommodate this demand for growth by annexing and developing 10,000 acres of the best farmland in the world. Unfortunately, the draft General Plan Update suggests that Monterey County will do the same thing in the unincorporated areas, without the need for any annexations first. LandWatch and sixteen other organizations wrote the Planning Commission, urging the Commission to focus new growth within the cities, and in existing urban areas, instead of allowing new rural subdivisions. An Economic Impact Report pointed out that this was vital for the long term financial health of Monterey County.
The Commission did make some positive changes to the draft General Plan Update they reviewed, but they are poised to recommend a plan that provides almost three times more land for development than growth projections say is actually needed. Final decisions will be made by the Board of Supervisors.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
General Plan Update Website
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/gpu/Current Draft GPU
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/gpu/Reports/0104/Recommended Planning Commission Changes
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/gpu/news/
PC%20Subcom.%20Recom.4.21.pdfApril 28, 2004 Planning Commission Agenda
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/cca/pc/2004/
04-28-04/pc04-28-04a.htmLandWatch Letter Critiquing The Plan
http://www.landwatch.org/pages/issuesactions/
countyplan/032604jointletter.html
Wednesday,
April 28, 2004 – Things To Do In The Environment
The fate of our natural environment is determined, in large part,
by the decisions made in governmental meeting rooms, usually in
rooms quite far removed from the natural environment itself. As
frequent listeners know, I’m constantly urging you to attend
those meetings, and to get involved in the decision making processes
that are, in fact, so profoundly affecting our future. Land use
decisions have direct impacts on our economy, on social equity,
and on the natural environment.
I’d be remiss, however, if I didn’t advise you once in a while to leave those meeting rooms behind, and to get out into the natural environment yourself. In the greater Monterey Bay Area, there are lots of opportunities to do that. Sanctuary Cruises, and others, can get you out onto the Bay, and into our incomparable Marina Sanctuary. About twenty five miles north of the City of Santa Cruz, elephant seals are “frolicking,” if you can call it that, at Año Nuevo State Park. Visit Elkhorn Slough, and see incredible bird life. Take a hike with the Sierra Club, and you’ll find many amazing places just miles from home, that you might not have believed could exist.
And don’t forget Big Sur! The Big Sur Land Trust has some spectacular outings coming up next week. There’s information on all of this at the KUSP website. Click on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Elkhorn Slough Foundation
http://www.elkhornslough.org/Sierra Club Ventana Chapter
http://ventana.sierraclub.org/current/index.shtmlBig Sur Land Trust, Spring and Summer Outings
http://www.bigsurlandtrust.org/index1.htmlSanctuary Cruises
http://www.sanctuarycruises.com/index1.htmlMonterey Whale Watching
http://www.montereywhalewatching.com/Baywatch Cruises
http://www.baywatchcruises.com/Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo
http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/
nationalparksca/a/anonuevo.htm
Thursday,
April 29, 2004 – Highway Issues in Two Counties
Santa Cruz Mayor Scott Kennedy recently urged the City Council to
support Highway One widening, in return for acquisition of the Union
Pacific railroad right of way. This amplifies what was already a
vigorous debate. The proposed highway widening project is the subject
of an informational meeting tonight, to be held at the Simpkins
Family Swim Center, 979 17th Avenue in Santa Cruz, from 6:00 to
8:30 p.m. Ultimately, the voters of Santa Cruz County will have
to decide whether or not to tax themselves, to pay for the proposed
Highway One widening.
In Monterey County, highway and transportation issues are also on the “front burner.” The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (or TAMC) is moving towards a vote this November, which would ask Monterey County voters to impose an increased sales tax, to help finance new highway projects. The TAMC plan might be called a “package deal,” in which the voters would tax themselves, developers would pay more fees, and existing agricultural and other businesses might also “kick in” to finance highway improvements.
It all comes down to money, on both sides of the Bay. Many voters are reluctant to support tax increases that simply stimulate more growth, and act like a subsidy to developers. That’s of particular concern in Monterey County. I’ll keep you posted here, on the Land Use Report, but keep your own eyes and ears open, wherever you are!
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
TAMC Website
http://www.tamcmonterey.org/Santa Cruz County Transportation Commission
http://www.sccrtc.org/
Friday,
April 30, 2004 – Watershed Festival of Life
Tomorrow, on Saturday May 1st, RisingLeaf Watershed Arts is sponsoring
a Watershed Festival of Life at the All Saints’ Day School
in Carmel Valley, located on Carmel Valley Road across from the
Mid-Valley Firehouse. The opening ceremonies will begin at 11:00
a.m., and Freeman House, the Keynote presenter, will speak at 1:00
o’clock on “Watershed Citizenship.” Freeman House
is co-founder of the Mattole Salmon Group and the Mattole Restoration
Council, and is the author of the award-winning “Totem Salmon:
Life Lessons from Another Species.”
Watershed Hero awards will be presented by Assembly Member John Laird. County Supervisor Dave Potter will present awards for the most impressive watershed posters submitted to a contest that is being held as part of the Festival.
As a follow up to the Festival, Sim Van der Ryn, who served as California State Architect under Governor Jerry Brown, will speak on Ecologically-Designed Housing and Homes at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, on Thursday May 6th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. This will be an inspiring look into how future development can better protect and conserve the natural environment.
The public is cordially invited to all these events. I hope you’ll participate. There’s more information, and a link to a powerful article by Freeman House, at www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
For More Information Contact: Paula Berthoin, at 831-624-9467, or by email at: paolaberthoin@risingleaf.org.
RisingLeaf Watershed Arts
http://www.risingleaf.org/“A Watershed Runs Through You,” By Freeman House
http://www.yesmagazine.org/28water/house.htm
Archives of past transcripts are available here
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