Monday, December 8, 2008 – The Williamson Act in Monterey County

Tomorrow, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will decide whether or not to approve ten Farmland Security Zone contracts. Also on the agenda are some other actions related to implementation of the “Williamson Act” in Monterey County.

The Williamson Act is a state law that permits counties and the owners of agricultural land to agree to a contract that has mutual benefit. If the owner of the agricultural land will sign an enforceable promise not to use the land for anything except agriculture (as that is defined in the contract) the county will lower the owner’s property taxes. In Monterey County, these contracts run for twenty years, and each year, the term of the contract is extended by another year, so that a “cancellation” of the contract usually takes twenty years to effectuate. This is supposed to provide some long-term certainty that agricultural land won’t be converted to other uses. The “problem” with the program is that it’s wholly “voluntary,” so the land doesn’t get protected if the owner has development in mind.

Another problem is that the state reimburses the counties for the property tax reductions attributable to the program, and that may change. The Governor is urging the Legislature to defund county reimbursements, which could really undercut the usefulness of the Williamson Act as a tool to protect agricultural land.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agenda - http://monterey.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=5
The Williamson Act - http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=5808951103+6+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 – Today in Santa Cruz County

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is meeting today, and if you would like to see how a county government handles land use policy issues and project items, today’s meeting would be a good one to attend. On the Board’s agenda are all of the following items:

• A public hearing to consider the adoption of a Master Plan for McGregor Park, in Aptos.

• A public hearing to consider a proposal to amend the Seacliff Village Plan, to allow the construction of a three-story, twelve room hotel, with a restaurant, gymnasium, and associated improvements.

• A continued public hearing to consider the 2009 growth goal for Santa Cruz County; and

• A public hearing to consider a proposed Rezoning, General Plan Amendment, Riparian Exception and Planned Unit Development Permit for property in the Live Oak planning area, located close to the Soquel Avenue/Mattison Lane intersection, and to designate that parcel for higher-density residential development in accordance with the requirements of the Housing Element of the County's General Plan.

This is, in fact, just a “partial list” of the land use related items on the agenda of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. You can get a link to the agenda by clicking the Land Use Report icon at www.kusp.org, and then tracking down the transcript for today’s Land Use Report.

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=12/9/2008

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 – A Tribute To Supervisor Jan Beautz

Absent an earthquake or other emergency requiring a special meeting, next Tuesday will be the last meeting for Santa Cruz County Supervisor Jan Beautz. Supervisor Beautz has served on the Board since 1989 (and while it wasn’t her fault, there was an earthquake that year). I’d like to recognize and commend Supervisor Beautz’ good service to the people of Santa Cruz County.

Elected as a neighborhood activist, with a real focus on land use and community development issues, Jan Beautz has not only worked hard, but has worked effectively for the people of the First District. The residents of Live Oak, Soquel, and the Summit have no city government to look to, and instead must look to the First District Supervisor and County government to deal with their land use, public safety, and other community problems. Jan Beautz has done a great job representing them, and last week I was privileged to attend a tribute to Supervisor Beautz, in which a number of her accomplishments were heralded.

By the time I left the Board of Supervisors, also after twenty years, I had developed “Five Rules” that summed up my idea of how to be a good Supervisor. I’ve attached a copy to the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. Jan Beautz summed up her “Rules” in just two brief statements: First, “No Whining,” and second, “Always Do What You Think Is Right.” On those counts, and for twenty years of hard work, Supervisor Jan Beautz deserves our thanks.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

Thursday, December 11, 2008 – It’s Not Over Till It’s Over

On November 18th, the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County voted 3-2 to approve the so called Santa Margarita Ranch project. This project would put an estimated 300 people in 111 homes on 1-acre to 1.5-acre lots in what has been called an “agricultural cluster subdivision,” affecting over 3,700 acres of agricultural land.

Because the Board of Supervisors overturned the recommendation it received from the Planning Commission when the Board considered the project on November 18th, the Board had to send the staff back to develop findings and conditions that would support the Board’s action. The final decision to approve the Santa Margarita Ranch subdivision will be made on December 16th, next Tuesday.

Let this be a reminder that “it’s not over till it’s over.” San Luis Obispo County residents who think that the proposed subdivision is ill advised should plan to attend the Board meeting next Tuesday. Furthermore, the developer obviously realizes that “it’s not over till it’s over,” since the developer has scheduled a public meeting on the proposed project for the evening of December 15th, just prior to the Board’s meeting on Tuesday. You can get the details, and learn how you can participate, by tracking down the transcript for today’s Land Use Report. My advice, and I think it’s good advice, about both of these meetings, is this: if you care, be there!

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

News Story From San Luis Obispo Tribune - http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/550790.html

Friday, December 12, 2008 – SB 375: It’s All About VMT!

Let me give you a “heads up” on a workshop/conference that will be held in Monterey on February 20th, sponsored at least in part by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. If you are interested in land use and transportation planning, and in the implementation of AB 32, the “Global Warming Solutions Act,” then this will be a good meeting to attend.

The Air Pollution Control District has a major interest in trying to reduce the emission of “criteria pollutants,” those toxic and smog-producing substances regulated under the Clean Air Act. Land use and transportation policy have a big impact on the release of such pollutants, since emissions related to vehicle use are such a big part of our air quality problem. Greenhouse gas emissions are similarly related to vehicle use.

The measure of our problem is perhaps best expressed in VMT, or “Vehicle Miles Traveled.” If we want to reduce air pollution, and the greenhouse gas emissions that are helping to cause global warming, then we need to reform our land use and transportation policies, so that VMT starts going down, not continuing to go up.

Senate Bill 375, enacted this year by the California State Legislature, is an attempt to provide incentives that will lead to land use and transportation plans that will reduce VMT. You will be able to find out a lot more about SB 375 at the February 20th workshop.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

MBUAPCD Website - http://www.mbuapcd.org/