landwatch logo   Home Issues & Actions About

Archive Page
This page is available as an archive to previous versions of LandWatch websites.

KUSP LandWatch News
Week of December 8, 2008 to December 12, 2008

 

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 8, 2008 to December 12, 2008

The following Land Use Reports have been presented on KUSP Radio by Gary A. Patton. The Wittwer & Parkin law firm is located in Santa Cruz, California, and practices environmental and governmental law. As part of its practice, the law firm files litigation and takes other action on behalf of its clients, which are typically private individuals, governmental agencies, environmental organizations, or community groups. Whenever the Land Use Report comments on an issue with which the Wittwer & Parkin law firm is involved on behalf of a client, Mr. Patton will make this relationship clear, as part of his commentary. Mr. Patton’s comments do not represent the views of Wittwer & Parkin, LLP, KUSP Radio, nor of any of its sponsors.

Gary Patton's Land Use Links

 

Monday, December 8, 2008
The Williamson Act in Monterey County

Tomorrow, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will decide whether or not to approve ten Farmland Security Zone contracts. Also on the agenda are some other actions related to implementation of the "Williamson Act" in Monterey County.

The Williamson Act is a state law that permits counties and the owners of agricultural land to agree to a contract that has mutual benefit. If the owner of the agricultural land will sign an enforceable promise not to use the land for anything except agriculture (as that is defined in the contract) the county will lower the owner’s property taxes. In Monterey County, these contracts run for twenty years, and each year, the term of the contract is extended by another year, so that a "cancellation" of the contract usually takes twenty years to effectuate. This is supposed to provide some long-term certainty that agricultural land won’t be converted to other uses. The "problem" with the program is that it’s wholly "voluntary," so the land doesn’t get protected if the owner has development in mind.

Another problem is that the state reimburses the counties for the property tax reductions attributable to the program, and that may change. The Governor is urging the Legislature to defund county reimbursements, which could really undercut the usefulness of the Williamson Act as a tool to protect agricultural land.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agenda
http://monterey.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=5

The Williamson Act
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?
WAISdocID=5808951103+6+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Today in Santa Cruz County

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is meeting today, and if you would like to see how a county government handles land use policy issues and project items, today’s meeting would be a good one to attend. On the Board’s agenda are all of the following items:

  • A public hearing to consider the adoption of a Master Plan for McGregor Park, in Aptos.

  • A public hearing to consider a proposal to amend the Seacliff Village Plan, to allow the construction of a three-story, twelve room hotel, with a restaurant, gymnasium, and associated improvements.

  • A continued public hearing to consider the 2009 growth goal for Santa Cruz County; and

  • A public hearing to consider a proposed Rezoning, General Plan Amendment, Riparian Exception and Planned Unit Development Permit for property in the Live Oak planning area, located close to the Soquel Avenue/Mattison Lane intersection, and to designate that parcel for higher-density residential development in accordance with the requirements of the Housing Element of the County's General Plan.

This is, in fact, just a "partial list" of the land use related items on the agenda of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. You can get a link to the agenda below.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Agenda
http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/Govstream/
ASP/Display/SCCB_AgendaDisplayWeb.asp?
MeetingDate=12/9/2008

Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A Tribute To Supervisor Jan Beautz

Absent an earthquake or other emergency requiring a special meeting, next Tuesday will be the last meeting for Santa Cruz County Supervisor Jan Beautz. Supervisor Beautz has served on the Board since 1989 (and while it wasn’t her fault, there was an earthquake that year). I’d like to recognize and commend Supervisor Beautz’ good service to the people of Santa Cruz County.

Elected as a neighborhood activist, with a real focus on land use and community development issues, Jan Beautz has not only worked hard, but has worked effectively for the people of the First District. The residents of Live Oak, Soquel, and the Summit have no city government to look to, and instead must look to the First District Supervisor and County government to deal with their land use, public safety, and other community problems. Jan Beautz has done a great job representing them, and last week I was privileged to attend a tribute to Supervisor Beautz, in which a number of her accomplishments were heralded.

By the time I left the Board of Supervisors, also after twenty years, I had developed "Five Rules" that summed up my idea of how to be a good Supervisor. I’ve attached a copy to the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. Jan Beautz summed up her "Rules" in just two brief statements: First, "No Whining," and second, "Always Do What You Think Is Right." On those counts, and for twenty years of hard work, Supervisor Jan Beautz deserves our thanks.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

FIVE RULES I FOLLOW

After twenty years on the Board of Supervisors, I've decided what it takes to do a good job as an elected official. It all comes down to five simple rules:

Rule #1: "Answer Your Mail." This is just a shorthand way of saying that it's important to listen to the messages that come to you--from whatever source--and then to respond to them, as honestly and as positively as you can. By following this rule, I always have lots of work to do, and the people who contact me really do get to influence the government.

Rule #2: "Remember You're In Charge." There is a bureaucratic momentum present in every institution (certainly including government). An elected official needs to remember that he or she was elected to run the bureaucracy--not the other way around.

Rule #3: "Remember Who Elected You." On many of the big issues, there are at least two responsible and reasonable positions--if not an even greater number. Presumably, if you're an elected official, you were elected because of the positions you took. If you were elected as an environmentalist, be an environmentalist. Do what you said you would do. After all, you got the majority vote. That's why you were elected.

Rule #4: "Go Where You're Invited." In other words, never be afraid to open up a dialogue and discussion with the people who didn't elect you. You might learn something. This is an antidote to Rule #3.

Rule #5: "Be honest." This means more than the minimum requirement of not taking bribes--though of course that is important. What this Rule means is that you've got to tell people what you really think. That lets them decide whether they like your positions, and whether they like you. That puts the people in charge of politics.

In the end, that's what it's supposed to be all about!

       Gary A. Patton, Member
       Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
       November 20, 1994

Thursday, December 11, 2008
It’s Not Over Till It’s Over

On November 18th, the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County voted 3-2 to approve the so-called Santa Margarita Ranch project. This project would put an estimated 300 people in 111 homes on 1-acre to 1.5-acre lots in what has been called an "agricultural cluster subdivision," affecting over 3,700 acres of agricultural land.

Because the Board of Supervisors overturned the recommendation it received from the Planning Commission when the Board considered the project on November 18th, the Board had to send the staff back to develop findings and conditions that would support the Board’s action. The final decision to approve the Santa Margarita Ranch subdivision will be made on December 16th, next Tuesday.

Let this be a reminder that "it’s not over till it’s over." San Luis Obispo County residents who think that the proposed subdivision is ill advised should plan to attend the Board meeting next Tuesday. Furthermore, the developer obviously realizes that "it’s not over till it’s over," since the developer has scheduled a public meeting on the proposed project for the evening of December 15th, just prior to the Board’s meeting on Tuesday. You can get the details, and learn how you can participate, by tracking down the transcript for today’s Land Use Report. My advice, and I think it’s good advice, about both of these meetings, is this: if you care, be there!

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

News Story From San Luis Obispo Tribune
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/550790.html

Friday, December 12, 2008
SB 375: It’s All About VMT!

Let me give you a "heads up" on a workshop/conference that will be held in Monterey on February 20th, sponsored at least in part by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. If you are interested in land use and transportation planning, and in the implementation of AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act," then this will be a good meeting to attend.

The Air Pollution Control District has a major interest in trying to reduce the emission of "criteria pollutants," those toxic and smog-producing substances regulated under the Clean Air Act. Land use and transportation policy have a big impact on the release of such pollutants, since emissions related to vehicle use are such a big part of our air quality problem. Greenhouse gas emissions are similarly related to vehicle use.

The measure of our problem is perhaps best expressed in VMT, or "Vehicle Miles Traveled." If we want to reduce air pollution, and the greenhouse gas emissions that are helping to cause global warming, then we need to reform our land use and transportation policies, so that VMT starts going down, not continuing to go up.

Senate Bill 375, enacted this year by the California State Legislature, is an attempt to provide incentives that will lead to land use and transportation plans that will reduce VMT. You will be able to find out a lot more about SB 375 at the February 20th workshop.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

MBUAPCD Website
http://www.mbuapcd.org/

Archives of past transcripts are available here


LandWatch's mission is to protect Monterey County's future by addressing climate change, community health, and social inequities in housing and infrastructure. By encouraging greater public participation in planning, we connect people to government, address human needs and inspire conservation of natural resources.

 

CONTACT

306 Capitol Street #101
Salinas, CA 93901


PO Box 1876
Salinas, CA 93902-1876


Phone (831) 759-2824


Fax (831) 759-2825

 

NAVIGATION

Home

Issues & Actions

About

Donate