The City of Salinas is the largest City in Monterey County, and is also one of the fastest‚Äëgrowing. The future growth of Salinas will have very significant impacts on the Monterey County economy and environment, and the kind of housing provided, as growth occurs, will have a determinative impact on social equity issues. The General Plan Update adopted by the Salinas City Council in 2002 proposes the conversion of over 3,000 acres of prime farmland, to accommodate new developments. LandWatch is urging that future growth decisions provide significant affordable housing for local workers and residents, and that Salinas do everything possible to minimize the conversion of agricultural land.
LandWatch helps get Monterey County’s first Big Box Ordinance Passed in the City of Salinas with a 5-2 vote on March 10, 2009.
LandWatch Monterey County, along with our labor and small business allies, supported the Big Box Ordinance that the Salinas City Council voted 5-2 in favor of on Tuesday, March 10, 2009. The city’s planning staff introduced an excellent ordinance - Zoning Code Amendment 2009-002 - to ensure that superstores will not induce urban blight in the city by running other Salinas retailers out-of-business. (03.10.09)
LandWatch firmly lets the Board of Supervisors and the Salinas City Council know they should be representing the public
Their official actions should advance public interests. The so-called “Greater Salinas Area Memorandum of Understanding," which comes out of discussions behind closed doors, from a series of so-called “litigation" sessions, has very little, if anything, to do with the Environmental Impact Report issues that are at the heart of the City of Salinas lawsuit on the Rancho San Juan EIR, and which are the only issues that the Board or the Council could legitimately have discussed in a closed session. (08.28.06)
LandWatch Makes Recommendations for Salinas General Plan (09/09/02)
This LandWatch letter outlines the changes that LandWatch is recommending for the Salinas General Plan. Extraordinary growth pressures on Salinas demand that ìstate of the artî planning principles be applied.
The "Community Plan"for Salinas Is An Extraordinary Document (08/16/02)
The LÌderes Comunitarios de Salinas is a group of mostly monolingual residents of East Salinas. Theyíve developed a set of policies that they want included in the Salinas General Plan Update. These policies cover housing, agricultural land protection, and a host of other important planning issues. LandWatch is proud to have helped the LÌderes develop this extraordinary document.
LandWatch Submits Comments on Draft EIR (07/31/02)
Public hearings will soon be held on the proposed Salinas General Plan. This letter from LandWatch points out some major flaws in the environmental analysis.
"New Urbanism" Policies Are Important
The future growth of Salinas should follow better design principles. LandWatch has joined with Creek Bridge Homes to point the City Council in the right direction.
Petitions Circulating on Salinas General Plan
Two local groups, with assistance from LandWatch, are trying to improve the Salinas General Plan Update. Líderes Comunitarios de Salinas is urging stronger housing policies. Their petition is in both English and Spanish. Citizens For Responsible Growth wants the General Plan to require a fiscal impact analysis, before new subdivisions are approved. You can read, download, sign and then circulate the petitions by using the links right here:
Housing Petition (PDF file 96K) - Líderes Comunitarios de Salinas
Fiscal Analysis Petition (PDF file 74K)? Citizens For Responsible Growth
PDF files can be viewed and printed with the Free Acrobat Reader software that you can download at the Adobe website.
Salinas Has Released its Preliminary Draft General Plan
Based on large population growth projections, the Preliminary Draft of the Salinas General Plan Update recommends the conversion of thousands of acres of agricultural land.
LandWatch Outlines Policies For Salinas General Plan Update
LandWatch has submitted a comprehensive set of recommendations to the Salinas City Council, urging the Council to incorporate strong, specific policies on housing, agricultural land preservation, schools and infrastructure, and housing densities into their General Plan Update.
LandWatch Letter to the Salinas Planning Commission (10/10/01)
The question for Salinas, as it launches its General Plan Update, is what future the people of Salinas really "prefer." The staff is recommending a ìpreferred alternativeî that would make Salinas a bedroom community for the Silicon Valley, and that would pave over 4,400 acres of agricultural land.
