I am fond of saying that if we want to gain the benefits of “self-government,” we will need to get involved ourselves! I generally try to provide at least some opportunities for civic engagement with respect to the multitudinous land use policy and project decisions that have such an important impact on the future of our local communities. Giving listeners information about their opportunities to get involved in land use decisionmaking is what I call the “unhidden agenda” of the Land Use Report.

This week, Christmas week, is not the season for governmental meetings. You’re off the hook! I hope all of those listening will have a wonderful holiday experience as we get ready to turn a corner, and start a sprint into the coming New Year.

Since there aren’t really any governmental meetings I can comment on this week, let me note that one way to affect land use policy is to use the initiative powers that are guaranteed to the people in the California Constitution. If you want to get an idea of just how significant the use of the initiative power can be, check out today’s edition of the Land Use Report blog, at kusp.org/landuse. The Monterey County Weekly has a very informative article about an initiative measure in Salinas that may end up in reigniting fireworks sales in that City. We will probably know by the next Fourth of July. Just in time!

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Monterey County Weekly Article On Initiative Measure

When the public invests huge amounts of money in providing new infrastructure, it properly expects that this new infrastructure will be used to its capacity. If a new highway is created, for example, often costing hundreds of millions of dollars, the public should expect that the new facilities will be used. That does turn out to be the case, too. When a highway is widened, or a new highway is constructed, traffic patterns change, and “induced demand” calls people onto the new highway that wouldn’t have gone there before. Congestion relief is often (in fact usually) very temporary. Again, that only makes sense. When the public spends lots of money for a new highway or a highway widening project, it will end up using that new capacity.

There is a project in Monterey County that essentially calls for a new highway to link the existing Highway One, near Castroville, with the existing Highway 101, near Prunedale. The so-called “State Route 156 West Corridor Project” would turn the existing two-lane highway into a frontage road, and would build a new, four-lane freeway between Castroville and Prunedale. And there’s a twist; the new four-lane facility would be a toll road. You’d have to pay to use it.

You can get the facts about this proposed project by checking the links in today’s blog posting at kusp.org/landuse.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Caltrans Project Page For Proposed Highway 156 Project

Today’s a holiday, and one of the big ones, but what’s the land use connection? I could talk about the affordable housing situation in Judea, two thousand years ago, and opine that maybe not much has changed, but let me tie, instead, to a more modern reflection on the Christmas Holiday. Let’s contemplate Scrooge, in Dickens’ wonderful tale, “A Christmas Carol.”

This year, in the land use arena, Scrooge is being played by the University of California at Santa Cruz, which has kicked Santa Cruz Shakespeare out of its traditional venue at “the Glen,” located on the UCSC campus. Because the University has decided that there is “no room in the Glen” for Santa Cruz Shakespeare, this beloved theatre group is having to search for new lodgings.

And behold, they have found a possible home, and are proposing to hold summer performances in DeLaveaga Park, located above the Prospect Heights area in the City of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz Shakespeare has proposed a project consisting of a Design Permit, Slope Variance, and Watercourse Development Permit to construct an outdoor theatre that can accommodate an audience of 483 persons. Nearby residents are not, necessarily, thrilled.

If you want to get involved, I have links to more information at kusp.org/landuse. Comments on the proposed Negative Declaration must be filed by January 12th.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Find out about Scrooge
• Information on Shakespeare DeLaveaga Proposal

At 10:00 o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, January 6, 2016, the Santa Cruz County Local Agency Formation Commission (or LAFCO) is going to be holding a public hearing on a proposed Sphere of Influence for the Salsipuedes Sanitary District. That hearing also includes the Commission’s consideration of what is called a “Service Review,” documenting the current and proposed capacity and operations of the District.

If you live in the Salsipuedes Sanitary District, this LAFCO item is probably of direct interest. But even if you’re not a resident of the District, I would encourage you to check out the documentation that the Commission will review at its upcoming meeting.

LAFCOs are a rather strange breed of governmental animal. Few people really understand what LAFCOs do, or have any idea of how they do it. The materials related to the Salsipuedes Sanitary District Service Review can give you a pretty good picture. LAFCOs are established under state law, and LAFCO’s membership includes representation from cities, the county, and special districts. LAFCOs are supposed to oversee the organization and operation of the agencies that provide services to the public, including cities, counties, and special districts, and LAFCOs have a “yes” or “no” authority over proposed expansions of municipal services.

If you care about land use, learn about LAFCOs!

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• LAFCO Service Review
• Hearing Notice For January 6th Hearing
• CALAFCO Website
• Guide To State LAFCO Law
• Santa Cruz County LAFCO
• Monterey County LAFCO