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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.
September 23, 2002 to September 27, 2002
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,
September 23rd – Plan Your Week - Upcoming Meetings
This Land Use Report aims to keep you informed about opportunities
to participate in land use policy issues. Here is a very partial
list of what’s happening this week, throughout the region:
ß This evening, the Hollister City Council will consider a Fiscal Impact Study, to determine whether new residential projects generate enough revenue to provide for adequate public services. This meeting might answer the question whether "bigger" is really "better" where growth and development are concerned. The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m., at the Hollister City Hall.
ß Tomorrow night, at 6:30 p.m., the Atascadero City Council is going to talk about downtown streetscape design. One good way to stop sprawl is to revitalize the central city, so this kind of program has impacts far beyond the downtown.
ß On September 25th, early risers can join Assembly Member Fred Keeley at an "Around the County" breakfast at the Thunderbird Bookstore and Restaurant in Carmel Valley. Be there at 7:30 on Wednesday morning, and you’ll find out what the State Legislature has been doing about land use policy.
ß On Thursday the 26th, at 7:00 p.m., join the Santa Cruz City Planning Commission at their meeting, and find out about the City-wide Creeks and Wetlands Management Plan.
As usual, there is more information at the KUSP website, www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More
Information:
The LandWatch Website – www.landwatch.org
Hollister City Council Agenda - http://hollister.ca.gov/goverment/citycouncil/CCMEETINGMAIN.htm
Atascadero Redevelopment Agency Agenda - http://www.atascadero.org/redev/
City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission - http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/
Tuesday,
September 24th – GPU At Monterey County Board Today
Land use decision-making can have a profound effect on our lives,
and on the future of our communities. No decisions are more important
than those that define the "General Plan." Each community
has to have a General Plan, which is the foundation for all the
individual decisions about land use made by city councils and Boards
of Supervisors. The General Plan is the "Constitution"
that guides our future growth.
Today, in what might be thought of as a kind of "Constitutional Convention" for land use, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors is expected to begin making some definite decisions about the new General Plan Update for Monterey County. A recent poll says that 80% of the public wants a General Plan that discourages growth in the unincorporated area, and that directs new development into existing urban areas. On the other hand, the Board of Supervisors has received 270 individual requests to expand development in exactly the areas that the public apparently wants to protect.
Board consideration begins at 1:30 this afternoon at the County Courthouse in Salinas. The public hearing has been closed, but public attendance is definitely recommended. It’s always good for the governing bodies of our public agencies to be reminded that this "public" we talk about actually exists, in the form of real persons, who really care about what our elected officials do.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More
Information:
For information on the recent poll, see the LandWatch Website –
www.landwatch.org
Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agenda - http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/suagenda/Agenda.htm
LandWatch Comments - http://www.landwatch.org/pages/issuesactions/countyplan/082802board.html
County General Plan Website - http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/gpu/
Hearing Schedule - http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/gpu/calendar/revised_propownrequest.pdf
Wednesday,
September 25th – The Pebble Beach Plan
Monterey County residents may remember Measure A. Measure A
was an initiative measure that set the parameters for the future
development of the Del Monte Forest. If the words "Del Monte
Forest" don’t ring a bell, just think "Pebble Beach."
Measure A was an initiative measure drawn up by the Pebble Beach
Company. Signatures were obtained in record time. Clint Eastwood
was featured in the publicity, and the voters overwhelmingly approved
this initiative measure.
Measure A was unusual in that it was sponsored by the landowner. This was not an initiative generated by the public. It was a way for the Pebble Beach Company to get general public approval for its development plans. Measure A also contained policies to preserve and protect open space in the Del Monte Forest.
This afternoon, Monterey County will be hosting a scoping meeting, to consider a development proposal that will implement Measure A. The plan includes a new golf course and driving range, an expansion of the Pebble Beach Lodge and the Inn at Spanish Bay, a relocation of the existing equestrian center, some new residential development, trail improvements, and open space preservation. This meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m., at the Monterey County Leadership Center, 2354 Garden Road (near the airport) in Monterey. It is most definitely open to the public. Find out more at www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More
Information:
The LandWatch Website – www.landwatch.org
Pebble Beach Company Proposal - http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/major/pbc/pbc_main.htm
Thursday,
September 26th – "Room Enough"
As the Monterey County Board of Supervisors continues its work
on the County General Plan Update, one issue keeps coming to the
top. How much land must be converted from open space and agriculture,
to provide for necessary housing?
As regular listeners know, recent polling makes clear that the public would like to preserve and protect open space and agricultural land, and to direct new growth into existing urban areas. On the other hand, the public does want its local officials to provide for future housing needs.
How should the community balance what could be conflicting objectives? This is one of the major issues before the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, particularly as the Board decides whether to expand future growth boundaries, and whether or not to approve the 270 property owner requests, asking for increased development on open space and agricultural land.
A recently released report, commissioned by LandWatch Monterey County, provides some information that may help. The "Room Enough" report shows that it will be possible to provide almost completely for projected housing needs by building in areas already committed to urban development. A review of that report, by members of the public, and public officials alike, is well worthwhile. The "Room Enough" report is available on the worldwide web. You can get access through the KUSP website, at www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More
Information:
The LandWatch Website – www.landwatch.org
"Room Enough" report - http://www.landwatch.org/pages/publications02/roomenough/091602roomcover.html
Friday,
September 27th – Regional Impacts From Highway Development
Decisions about growth and development, made by local governments,
have very important impacts on our future, both as individuals and
as communities. That’s why it makes sense to pay attention
to land use policy issues. Policy pronouncements contained in General
Plans, zoning ordinances, and in various programs adopted and implemented
by local agencies, guide the way we spend our money, and set the
directions for future growth.
Regular listeners to this Land Use Report know all that. They also know that state and regional decisions can sometimes "preempt" local planning. Those who would like to be informed and engaged on land use policy issues must pay attention to what’s going on elsewhere, as well as what is happening within their own city or county.
With that in mind, let me give you a "heads up" on a meeting to be held next Monday afternoon. This is a meeting sponsored by the Valley Transportation Authority (as in Silicon Valley). The meeting will be held at the Eagle Ridge Golf Course, in Gilroy, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday September 30th. The meeting is to bring together stakeholders in the so-called "Southern Gateway Project." That project proposes to widen the highways in Southern Santa Clara County, which will make it easier for commuters to live in Monterey and San Benito Counties. If you’d like to explore how regional issues can have local effects, this is a meeting you might like to attend.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More
Information:
The LandWatch Website – www.landwatch.org
Valley Transportation Authority - http://www.vta.org/
Southern Gateway Project - http://www.vta.org/news/vtp2020/gateway_south.html
Archives of past transcripts are available here
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