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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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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, July 13, 2009 – Water in Monterey County The “Your Town” section of the Monterey County Herald has announced that public participation hearings will be held today and tomorrow on California American Water's proposed Coastal Water Project. As proposed by Cal-Am, the project would include a $250 million seawater desalination plant, to be located in Moss Landing, with a 26-mile-long delivery pipeline to the Monterey Peninsula. The proposed desalination plant would be capable of producing 10 million gallons of potable water each day. So far, two alternative projects, a desalination plant north of Marina and a regional project, have also been proposed. There are big cost impacts and environmental impacts associated with the proposed Cal-Am project, so I very much encourage Monterey County residents to get involved. I’ve put some links to further information in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. The hearing today will be held at the Monterey City Hall, in the City Council Chambers, which are located at 580 Pacific Street. The meeting tomorrow will be held at the Oldemeyer Center. The Oldemeyer Center is located at 986 Hilby Avenue in Seaside. There are two official meeting times, each day. So plan to head to the Monterey City Council Chambers today, or to the Oldemeyer Center tomorrow, at either 2:00 o’clock or 7:00 o’clock. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information Tuesday, July 14, 2009 – Monterey County Water II Here’s a reminder about an important public hearing being held today at the Oldemeyer Center, located at 986 Hilby Avenue in Seaside. The purpose of the hearing is to allow public comment on California American Water’s proposed Coastal Water Project. You can testify at either 2:00 o’clock this afternoon, or at 7:00 o’clock this evening. Because Cal-Am must reduce the amount of water it takes from the Carmel River, the California Public Utilities Commission has ordered Cal Am, the Peninsula’s major water supplier, to develop a new water supply project. CalAm’s proposal is known as the Coastal Water Project, and focuses on a seawater desalination plant either at Moss Landing or North Marina. A Draft Environmental Impact Report has evaluated the impacts of plants at these two locations, along with another alternative developed by local agencies, referred to as the Regional Plan. Yesterday, a group of community-based organizations testified that another option was really the right approach. They are advancing a “Hybrid Regional Plan,” as an environmentally superior alternative. So far, the Hybrid Regional Plan has been endorsed by the League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula, the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club, LandWatch Monterey County, and the Prunedale Neighbors Group. I’ll have more on this important topic tomorrow. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 – Monterey County Water III A group of community-based organizations has developed what they believe is an environmentally superior plan to provide a new water supply for the Monterey Peninsula. This “Hybrid Regional Plan” was officially presented to an Administrative Law Judge at hearings held on Monday and Tuesday. If you’d like all the details, I encourage you to contact the League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula. The Hybrid Regional Plan:
This Hybrid Regional Plan, in other words, aims at correcting some of the major problems in the other plans being considered. Both of the desalination proposals, for instance, rely primarily on the most expensive source of water, and if a desalination plant were sited at Moss Landing, the Peninsula’s water supply would become inextricably linked to outdated technology for the production of electricity. Water and land use are also inextricably linked. I encourage you to get involved in the ongoing dialogue on new water supply options for the Peninsula. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information: Thursday, July 16, 2009 – Sensible Transportation Water and land use are linked, and so are land use and transportation. If you are a Santa Cruz County resident who wants to get involved in land use and transportation issues, consider joining up with the Campaign For Sensible Transportation and with Transition Santa Cruz, which has an active working group focusing in on land use and transportation matters. I’ve provided links in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. You can find that transcript by clicking on the Land Use Report icon on the KUSP website. I am particularly grateful to the Campaign For Sensible Transportation for including a discussion of “induced travel” on its website. Our reflex reaction when we start experiencing conditions of scarcity is always to “build more.” Almost always, the environmentally and economically preferable approach is to find ways to “use less.” It is particularly critical that we “use less” transportation as we face the global climate crisis that is putting our civilization at risk. If you haven’t yet read the recent New Yorker article profiling James Hansen, our most respected climate scientist, I encourage you to do so. In the meantime, check out the Campaign For Sensible Transportation’s article on “induced demand.” It makes a compelling case that we can’t build our way out of traffic congestion. Widening Highway One isn’t the solution to our commuting problems! For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information Friday, July 17, 2009 – Take A Walk To The Rincon As is rather typical, I’ve spent this week urging listeners to attend important meetings, and to study up on important land use, transportation, and water issues, with the idea of simulating your personal involvement in the important governmental decisions that will shape our future. I do want to admit that your personal involvement in governmental meetings should probably not comprise the entirety of your life’s activity. I will grant you that, but please do try to factor in such activities somewhere! In this Land Use Report, I’d like to announce an outstanding opportunity for you to visit the natural world. No meetings are required. Tomorrow, you can enjoy a nature walk on the San Lorenzo River, led by Don Alley and Carol Carson. This free nature “walk to the Rincon” is made possible through a grant from the San Lorenzo Valley Water District. The Rincon (Spanish for bend) is where the San Lorenzo River finds a place to unload its geological treasures, giant granite boulders, and to create pools and grottos and hideouts for water creatures. Don Alley is a noted fisheries biologist, who will provide up-to-date information on local steelhead trout and Coho salmon. If you’d like to go, meet at the side parking lot of Rite-Aid in Felton at 10:30 Saturday morning (that’s tomorrow), to carpool to the unmarked Rincon turnout. Please layer your clothes, and bring water and a sack lunch. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information
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