Gary Patton's Land Use Reports
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The following Land Use Reports have been presented on KUSP by Gary Patton, General Counsel of The Planning and Conservation League. The opinions expressed by Mr. Patton are not necessarily those of KUSP
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You can contact Gary Patton at PCL by emailing him at: gapatton@pcl.org.


Monday, February 11, 2008 – Heads Up in Marina

Here’s an advisory for residents of Marina about Marina’s latest plan for commercial expansion. Others who travel on Highway One might also be interested.  

Marina is sometimes called the “Gateway to the Monterey Peninsula.” Most recently, the City has begun studying whether that gateway should include a major new auto mall, located along Highway One on the inland side of the highway, but presumably quite visible from it. The property involved is 63 acres, just South of Central Marina. It was formerly part of Fort Ord. The City of Marina has contracted with a group called “Autopilot Development Services,” which states on its website that “when you chose Autopilot … you get a turnkey approach to facility development.” Autopilot offers “a comprehensive package of … development services, from facility programming, planning and design to pre-construction and construction.” Funds for the Autopilot contract came from car dealers who would likely utilize a new auto mall in Marina. 

Some years ago, the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, or FORA, had major debates about protecting the viewshed of Highway One. Congress Member Sam Farr, for one, advocated for very strong policies to protect the scenic qualities of the road. In the end, the FORA policies on viewshed protection aren’t that strong, so public involvement now, before final commitments are made, seems advisable. 

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. 

More Information
City of Marina website – http://www.ci.marina.ca.us/
Autopilot Development Services - http://autopilotusa.com/
FORA website - http://www.fora.org/
The FORA Base Reuse Plan - http://www.basereuse.org/reuseplan/HomePage/HomePage.htm#  


Tuesday, February 12, 2008 – Define “Historic”

One of those “plenary powers” of local government that I like to talk about is the power to designate certain properties as “historic resources,” and then to set up special rules relating to the future development of, and use of, such historically designated properties. 

Santa Cruz County, for example, has established an extensive system to help protect historically significant structures. If you’d like to get a “short course,” you could review the provisions of the Santa Cruz County Code that set up this system. I’ve placed a link to those code provisions in the written transcript of today’s Land Use Report. 

If you’re really interested, and particularly if you’re a Live Oak resident, you might want to attend the Board of Supervisors’ meeting today, since the Board will be holding a continued public hearing on the possible designation of two Live Oak properties as “historic resources.” One of them, on Johan’s Beach Drive, seems headed for designation as an historic resource. The other, the so-called “Roadhouse” structure, will likely not be so designated. 

The owner of the “Roadhouse” has been arguing against an historic designation, since such a designation would limit future development options. According to the staff report, the owner has the best of the argument. The staff concludes that the property “does not rise to the level of significance necessary to be considered individually eligible for designation….” This morning, you have a chance to weigh in at the hearing yourself. 

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=2/12/2008
Staff Report on Historic Resource Designations - http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/Govstream/BDSvData/non_legacy/agendas/2008/20080212/PDF/070.pdf
Index to the Santa Cruz County Code (historic resources provisions are in Chapter 16.42) –
http://ordlink.com/codes/santacruzco/index.htm  


Wednesday, February 13, 2008 – Sphere of Influence Designations

I always feel somewhat guilty when I give listeners what amounts to “zero lead time” to attend the public meetings I highlight here on the Land Use Report. I bet, for instance, that some listeners really are interested in how local governments can protect historic resources, and that they might even be willing to go to a meeting to find out more. Still, it’s unrealistic to think that my announcement yesterday, at 6:30 in the morning, could actually have resulted in anyone going to the meeting I mentioned, two and a half hours later, at 9:00 o’clock. 

Today, I’m giving you some real “lead time.” I think it would be good for everyone to become more familiar with the work of LAFCO, or the Local Agency Formation Commission, since this little-known public agency plays such a formative role in establishing the long-term shape and character of our local communities. On Wednesday, March 5th, the Santa Cruz County LAFCO will be meeting at the Santa Cruz County Governmental Center, and there will be a couple of major public policy items on that LAFCO agenda. I encourage you to get more information (from the transcript of today’s Land Use Report), and then to attend that LAFCO meeting on the morning of March 5th. At issue will be the future growth and development of both the City of Watsonville and the City of Scotts Valley. LAFCO sets a “Sphere of Influence” for each city in the county, and that “Sphere” determines where and how the city will grow. Few decisions are of more importance. 

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. 

More Information
All Things LAFCO (CALFACO website) - http://www.calafco.org/resources.htm
Santa Cruz County LAFCO website - http://www.santacruzlafco.org/
Notice of March 5, 2008 Public Hearing - http://www.santacruzlafco.org/pages/notices.html  


Thursday, February 14, 2008 – Weekend Outings

I happen to be a member of the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club, which covers both Monterey and Santa Cruz County. The Sierra Club is deeply involved in policy advocacy, at the national, state, and local level, and anyone working as a state environmental lobbyist, as I do, in Sacramento, can testify to the effective work that the Sierra Club does within the State Legislature.  

There is another side to the Sierra Club, as well, and that’s the role that the local chapters play in helping to get their members and others out into the natural environmental, to experience that environment directly.  

This weekend, and actually starting Friday, the Ventana Chapter will be sponsoring three different outings. On Friday, February 15th, the chapter will take an 8-mile hike into the Pinnacles, starting from the West side. Interested persons should meet at the Monterey Peninsula College parking lot A, at 8:30 in the morning. On Saturday, February 16th, the chapter has planned an 8-1/2 mile hike in the Forest of Nisene Marks. Meet at the parking area behind Aptos Station at 9:15 a.m. On Sunday, February 17th, there will be an outing into the Soberanes Creek/Rocky Ridge area. The group meets at the Black Bear Diner Park and Ride at 9:00 a.m. 

Information on how to get enlisted for one or more of these trips is found in the written transcript of today’s Land Use Report. Check it out at www.kusp.org.  

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. 

More Information
Ventana Chapter website – http://www.ventana.sierraclub.org/current/index.shtml
Trip information:

  • Pinnacles Trip – Contact Cath Farrant and Mary Dainton, 831-372-7427
  • Nisene Marks Trip – Contact Ed Gilbert, 831-685-8389
  • Soberanes Creek/Rocky Ridge Trip – Contact Dwight Goehring, 831-377-9908 (rain cancels)
 
 Friday, February 15, 2008 – Prunedale Toxic Dumping

The Prunedale Preservation Alliance is a “first stop” for citizen activism in the Prunedale area of Monterey County. Located along Highway 101, just north of the City of Salinas, Prunedale has been one of the fastest-growing parts of Monterey County. Unfortunately, neither water supply nor transportation infrastructure has kept up with the residential and commercial development that the Board of Supervisors has allowed. In reaction, and with the idea of keeping Prunedale “rural,” concerned residents have banded together to try to help themselves. The Prunedale Preservation Alliance has played an important role in the various land use policy issues that have been “hot topics” in Monterey County. 

As it turns out, Prunedale not only has major land use, and water supply, and transportation issues, it may also have serious toxic contamination issues. The Crazy Horse Landfill, located in Prunedale, has apparently been contaminated by the past dumping of highly toxic industrial waste. The Crazy Horse landfill is what is known as a “Class I” landfill, which means that it’s designed for regular domestic garbage. It’s not the kind of “Class II” landfill that would be necessary to contain toxics. 

If you would like to find out more about possible toxic contamination issues in Prunedale, mark your calendars for the next meeting of the Prunedale Preservation Alliance, to be held on Tuesday, February 19th, at 6:00 p.m. at the Prunedale Grange.  

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. 

More Information
You can contact the Prunedale Preservation Alliance by contacting Jan Mitchell at janmitchell77@hughes.net