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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,
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Reports
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 Monday, August 4, 2008 – Greenfield and Butterfly Village Last Wednesday, former opponents of the so-called “Butterfly Village” development on Rancho San Juan testified in favor of a modified development project, which was then approved by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. Previously, opponents had filed a lawsuit challenging the environmental review given to the proposed development, and had successfully qualified two different referendum petitions, challenging previous project approvals. The elections that followed the qualified referenda resulted in an overwhelming public rejection of the projects earlier approved by the Board. Maybe, the public will take to the streets and qualify a new referendum, and reject this project once again, but I doubt it. In effect, those who have led the fight against a massive development on the Rancho San Juan property won their battle. The history of this struggle absolutely demonstrates that public involvement and participation can make a huge difference. Travelers on Highway 101 and those who depend on the scarce water supplies of North County aquifers are cheering for what LandWatch Monterey County and the Rancho San Juan Opposition Coalition were able to accomplish. Meantime, further south, the City of Greenfield Planning Commission will meet tonight, to consider the transformation of 68 acres of priceless farmland into a new subdivision. Public involvement there could make a difference, too! For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information When the word “transportation” is used our minds tend to run to cars, and planes, and high-speed rail. Transportation “planning” has typically been all about roads, and this is still the prevalent view. When we actually think about it, however, and certainly as we consider transportation planning in the larger context of land use planning, we all ought to be concerned that the policies we adopt foster and promote opportunities for walking, bicycling, and non-automobile transportation. This will become ever more important. To confront the challenge of global warming, we need to plan for, design, and build communities that reduce our need to use automobiles to get around. Thursday, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will meet in Scotts Valley, starting at 9:00 a.m., and one of the items on their agenda emphasizes that “walking” is definitely seen as part of the transportation planning sphere of influence in Santa Cruz County. Agenda Item #22 will find the Commission considering a draft Request For Proposals for a Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network. In other words, one of our regional transportation planning agencies is taking the initiative to plan for an extensive recreational walking route, to circumnavigate the Monterey Bay. There’s more information in the transcript for today’s Land Use Report, including a link to a fascinating staff report. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information Wednesday, August 6, 2008 – The Proposed La Bahia Project If you’re registered voter in the City of Santa Cruz, you probably got a postcard last week, as I did, promoting a proposed development project down at the beach. Barry Swenson, Builder has plans to tear down the landmark “La Bahia” hotel, located on Beach Street, and to construct a new “La Bahia,” but one that is quite a bit “bulked up” over the existing structure. The postcard gave a website reference, and stated that the proposed development would mean over one million dollars in annual income to the City of Santa Cruz. In addition, the postcard promised “no taxpayer monies,” “green, environmentally friendly and sustainable building,” and “quality, good paying local jobs,” though this does not necessarily mean “union jobs.” The developer also promises to have “onsite parking,” a showcase for local artists, and “bicycles, E-bikes, and electric car docking stations … for guest use.” The website has very pretty renderings, and the style proposed does imitate to some degree the style of the current La Bahia. The main difference (as far as I can tell) is the height The hotel would be five stories on the “uphill” side of the property, which of course uses the change in site elevation to make the building higher, rather than lower. If you’d like to get involved in the City’s deliberations on this project, mark your calendar for the evening of August 7th, which is when Barry Swenson says that the City Planning Commission will hear this proposal. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information Thursday, August 7, 2008 – Ocean View Plaza Monterey City residents, and others, organized as the “Save Our Waterfront Committee,” have been fighting a proposed development on Cannery Row called “Ocean View Plaza.” This mixed-use development, proposed by Cannery Row Marketplace, features its own, project specific seawater desalination plant. The 6th District Court of Appeal recently dismissed a legal challenge to the formation of a city-controlled special district, which would operate the plant on behalf of the developer. Since the City of Monterey has approved and is supporting the project (even to the extent of operating its water supply facilities), opponents are now looking to the California Coastal Commission to turn down the project. The Commission is scheduled to hear this item today, in Oceanside, California, and the Commission staff is recommending denial of the project. The staff states that the project specific desalination facility cannot be found consistent with the Coastal Act since the plant would require the impermissible fill of coastal waters, and would result in impacts to marine resources through impingement and entrainment of marine organisms, brine discharge, and seafloor manipulation in order to provide feedwater for the desalination system. More information is referenced in the transcript to today’s Land Use Report. You can find the transcript by clicking on the Land Use Report icon on the KUSP website. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information Friday, August 8, 2008 – The Future of Pogonip/ The City General Plan The City of Santa Cruz is preparing a major revision of its current general plan. A draft general plan has now been completed, and the City will soon prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Report on the draft general plan. The Draft EIR will then be circulated for public comment, and members of the public will almost certainly file such comments. The “Final” EIR will be comprised of the Draft EIR, the comments on the Draft EIR, and the City’s responses to those comments. Once there is a Final EIR, the City Council will be able to take action on the proposed plan, though they do need to hear from the Planning Commission first. Review of the proposed General Plan by the Planning Commission is a procedural precondition to Council action. Once the procedural steps are completed, however, the City Council’s discretion is rather great. Some people believe that local governments are required to change proposed projects, based on what the environmental review process recommends. This is only true to a limited extent. If you care about land use in the City of Santa Cruz, you should comment on the Draft EIR, and prepare to engage in the final round of hearings on the proposed General Plan revision. One big question, which has drawn significant public notice, is what will happen to property at the lower end of Pogonip? Will it remain available for organic farming, or will be it used for medium density housing? You can get more information from the transcript to today’s Land Use Report. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information Maggie Schwarb
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