This afternoon and evening I can offer two great opportunities to find out about important land use planning issues. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the CSUMB University Center Ballroom, located on 6th Avenue, on the CSUMB campus, the Associated Students of the California State University at Monterey Bay will hold a forum focusing on the future of Fort Ord. This forum will be particularly interesting to local voters, since candidates for Seaside Mayor, Marina Mayor, and the Fourth District seat on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will all be participating.

On the other side of the Bay, this afternoon, the Santa Cruz City Council will hold a special meeting to discuss the proposed Coast Hotel/Conference Center project I mentioned last week. This project would have major impacts on the City, turning Bay Street into something a little more like Mission Street, and changing the character of the residential neighborhoods of the Lighthouse Point area. It’s too bad that such a significant meeting has been scheduled for the afternoon, when it’s difficult for most people to attend. The focus of the meeting will be the financial arrangements proposed for the project. The developer is asking for an investment by the City on the order of $26 million dollars. If you’re interested in the proposed project, and are able to be there, this is a meeting that shouldn’t be missed. It will be held at the Santa Cruz City Hall at 3:30 p.m. There’s more information at www.kusp.org.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information:

For more information on the CSUMB Forum, call Yuri Beckelman at 831-582-4468

Map of the CSUMB Campus
http://csumb.edu/general/campus_map/

Coast Hotel Project Draft EIR
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pl/coast_hotel/coastindex.html

An agenda for the City Council Meeting is available at
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/
A copy of the City Manager’s Memo is also available. Click on “Agendas and Minutes”

Yesterday, I highlighted two meetings that focused on important land use planning issues. Let me do the very same thing today.

From 4:00 to 6:00 this afternoon, the Monterey City Planning Commission will be meeting at the Monterey City Hall to conduct a “study session” on the proposed Monterey City General Plan revision that has been in the works for a couple of years. The Chair of the City’s General Plan Committee, and the City planning staff, will make a presentation highlighting the important changes being proposed for Monterey City land use policy. Residents of Monterey should check this out. If you’d like to plan ahead, mark your calendar for 7:00 p.m. on October 26th, when the Commission has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed General Plan. That’s when action can take place.

This evening, at 6:00 p.m., the Marina City Council will hold a study session on the proposed TAMC Rail Plan. “TAMC” stands for “Transportation Agency for Monterey County. This agency is attempting to bring back rail service on the line that goes through Marina towards Monterey, connecting up the Monterey Peninsula with the San Francisco Bay Area. As you might expect, this proposed rail project is both costly and somewhat controversial, especially in Marina. If you’re either a rail advocate or a Marina resident, you might want to show up tonight at the Marina City Hall.

For more information, please click on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org. I welcome your comments and suggestions, as well.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information:

City of Monterey Website
http://www.monterey.org/

October 12th Planning Commission Agenda
http://www.monterey.org/boards/planning/
agendas/2004/1012%20pc%20agenda.pdf

October 26th Planning Commission Agenda
http://www.monterey.org/boards/planning/agendas/
2004/1026%20pc%20agenda%20tentative2.pdf

Draft City of Monterey General Plan and EIR
http://www.monterey.org/generalplan/

City of Marina Website
http://www.ci.marina.ca.us/

TAMC Website
http://www.tamcmonterey.org/

TAMC Rail Policy Committee
http://www.tamcmonterey.org/rail/

Tonight, you may want to stay home and watch the Presidential debate. Tomorrow night (if you’re a Monterey County resident, at least) I’d like to suggest that you get out of the house, and take part in an energetic and important discussion about the future of Monterey County.

Eighteen local community groups are holding a “Community General Plan Update” Forum tomorrow, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the Salinas Community Center. This is one of five “Community GPU” Forums being held throughout Monterey County. When the Monterey County Board of Supervisors discarded the results of a five year, $5 million dollar General Plan Update effort, local community groups decided to do some community planning themselves. A professional planner has helped participating community members develop General Plan policies consistent with the Twelve Guiding Objectives that have been the foundation of the County’s own General Plan effort. Tomorrow night, there will be a specific focus on conservation, agriculture, public safety and open space.

The first Forum was in Prunedale, and drew 120 participants. Over 200 persons attended the second Forum, held in Carmel Valley. So far, the “Community GPU” process is getting great reviews, and the meeting tomorrow is a real opportunity to help chart the land use policies that will guide the future growth and development of Monterey County. More information is available at www.kusp.org.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information:

Community GPU Website
http://www.8of10monterey.com/pages/community.html

Schedule of Community GPU Forums
http://www.8of10monterey.com/pages/community/schedule.html

Map to Salinas Forum
http://www.8of10monterey.com/pages/community/forum3/forum3flyer.html

At 1:30 this afternoon, the Monterey County Subdivision Committee will consider the so-called “Butterfly Village” project. This is a golf-course, luxury homes development proposed on agricultural land just north of the City of Salinas. If anyone ever wanted a demonstration that General Plan policies are important, the proposed “Butterfly Village” project ought to be the proof. The outdated General Plan adopted in 1982 (but still the only General Plan that Monterey County has) does call for development at this location. However, any development where the “Butterfly Village” is proposed is supposed to be part of a larger “Rancho San Juan Specific Plan,” and that’s the rub for “Butterfly Village.”

While the County is currently considering a proposed Specific Plan for the Rancho San Juan Area, no official action has been taken. No such Specific Plan actually exists. Nonetheless, the Monterey County planning staff is recommending approval of the “Butterfly Village” project.

Let me say it again, General Plans are important! If you’d like to be part of a community effort to enact a good General Plan for Monterey County, then please attend the “Community GPU” forum scheduled for 6:00 o’clock this evening, at the Salinas Community Center. More information is available by clicking on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information:

Community GPU Website
http://www.8of10monterey.com/pages/community.html

Map to Salinas Forum
http://www.8of10monterey.com/pages/community/forum3/forum3flyer.html

Schedule of Community GPU Forums
http://www.8of10monterey.com/pages/community/schedule.html

Agenda of County Subdivision Committee
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/cca/sub/10-14-04/sub10-14-04a.htm

Staff Report on proposed “Butterfly Village” Project
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/cca/sub/10-14-04/PLN020470SUB5.pdf

Materials on Rancho San Juan
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/major/rsj/rsj_main.htm

The Carmel Valley LUAC, or “Land Use Advisory Committee,” will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 18th, at the Sanctuary Bible Church, 8340 Carmel Valley Road, at the corner of Schulte Road. If you’re a Carmel Valley resident and would like to get a taste of how land use planning is currently being conducted in Monterey County, this meeting might be just the thing. The Land Use Advisory Committee system has been designed to maximize citizen input on important planning projects. Next Monday, the LUAC will be focusing on a major project proposed for the mouth of Carmel Valley; namely, the proposed expansion of the current Safeway Store, located at the Crossroads Shopping Center.

The official description of the project highlights the demolition of the existing grocery store and movie theater buildings, construction of a new 53,000 square foot stand-alone grocery store, the reduction of ten parking spaces, and the removal and replacement of 370 lineal feet of the Carmel River levy. There is lots of citizen interest in the proposed project. Traffic and flooding issues head the list of concerns.

LUAC proceedings are “advisory,” and are intended to give the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors (and the project applicant too, of course) a kind of “early warning” about potential problems. Real action on the proposed Safeway expansion is scheduled to come before the Planning Commission on November 10th.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information:

Public Notice of October 18th LUAC Meeting
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/cca/luac/CARMELVALLEYAgenda.PDF

List of Active Carmel Valley Projects
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/projects/planning/cach_cv_gmp.htm

For more information, contact the project planner, Taven Kinison-Brown