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Listen to the reports each weekday at 6:49 am & 8:49 am To
suggest a topic for a future land use report, or to convey a comment,
please use this link.
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| Past
Reports
The following Land Use Reports have been presented on KUSP by Gary Patton, Executive Director of The Planning and Conservation League. The opinions expressed by Mr. Patton are not necessarily those of KUSP You can contact Gary Patton at PCL by emailing him at: gapatton@pcl.org.
Monday, July 9, 2007 – Big Choice Tomorrow For Monterey County Board The purpose of the referendum powers of the people is to let the voters decide, directly, whether or not something that their elected representatives propose to do should, in fact, be done. The system is set up so that the ultimate power is with the people, if they go through the process. By a majority vote, the people can tell elected officials that something they planned to do cannot be done. In Monterey County, the voters told the Board of Supervisors that GPU4, the Board’s preferred General Plan, was not acceptable. They rejected it. County Counsel has now suggested that the Board can disregard that decision, just like Vice President Cheney claims he can ignore laws mandating certain disclosures of information. Tomorrow, members of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will have a big choice: are they going to vote for, or against, democracy? For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information Tuesday, July 10, 2007 – Transportation Projects Around The Bay The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, for instance, has recently released its 2006 Annual Report. The gist of the joint message from the Executive Director and the Chair of the Board of Directors is that the Commission will move to widen Highway One in Santa Cruz County as soon as “funding obstacles” are removed. That’s definitely going to require a vote of the people. The situation is similar in Monterey County, where TAMC, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, is preparing for a tax measure to go on the ballot in 2008. If enacted, such a tax increase would help fund lots of new road developments, thus supporting (and even subsidizing) the large-scale growth favored by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. If good land use and transportation planning actually do go together (and they ought to), what about a “joint” measure for the voters that would provide funding for transportation projects at the same time that it enacted good land use policies, to stop sprawl and save taxpayer dollars? It’s an idea, anyway! For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information Wednesday, July 11, 2007 – Transportation, Land Use and Self-Government There is another possibility, too, which is less hopeful. Since democratic self-government demands that we become involved ourselves, getting powerful information to lots of people individually doesn’t necessarily lead to the kind of organized use of that information that can make political changes happen. The “unhidden agenda” of this Land Use Report is to stimulate more direct involvement in the land use decision-making process, because land use decisions will have a determinative impact on the future of our economy and environment, and on our ability to reach our social equity goals. Getting the right information out, at the right time, can help empower effective action. But the information doesn’t do much, frankly, without some action that uses it. Yesterday, I talked about land use and transportation. Check the KUSP website for some information resources that may help you get activated and involved. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information Thursday, July 12, 2007 – San Luis Obispo County Planning Policies Today, let me highlight what’s happening in San Luis Obispo County. I visited there, recently, and was able to talk to land use activists who are trying to save farmland and get smart growth policies implemented at the county level. The event I attended was jammed with people, and reflected at least as much energy and engagement as gatherings I’ve seen in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties. If you’re a San Luis Obispo County resident, and want to get involved, check the KUSP website for more information. In fact, there is an important meeting of the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission today, beginning at 8:45 a.m. at the Board of Supervisors Chambers. This would be a great opportunity for interested persons to begin learning about how “smart growth” might best be implemented in San Luis Obispo County. That’s what today’s Planning Commission workshop will focus on. There is more information at www.kusp.org. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information Friday, July 13, 2007 – Fort Ord Development If you’d like to get an update on the transformation of the former Fort Ord from an Army base to the newest development hot spot on the Monterey Peninsula, you should attend this afternoon’s meeting of the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, or FORA, which is meeting today in a workshop session, starting at 3:00 p.m. The workshop will be held in the FORA Conference Facility/Bridge Center, located at 201 13th Street, Building 2925. At the workshop, every jurisdiction with lands on the former Fort Ord will be making a presentation on the Fort Ord development projects they’re overseeing. This will include presentations, I’m sure, not only from Marina, but from the County of Monterey, the City of Seaside, and the City of Del Rey Oaks. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information |