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KUSP provides a brief Land Use Report on KUSP Radio. Tune in every weekday at 6:33 or 8:49 am. KUSP is at 88.9 FM in General Coverage, 105.9 FM in Big Sur Valley, 91.3 FM in Palo Colorado Canyon, and 91.7 FM in San Ardo. Archives of past transcripts are available here. Week of September 22, 2003 to September 26, 2003
The following Land Use Reports have been presented on KUSP Radio by Gary Patton, Executive Director of LandWatch Monterey County. The opinions expressed by Mr. Patton are not necessarily those of KUSP Radio, nor of any of its sponsors. Monday,
September 22, 2003 – Monterey County LAFCO Meets Today LAFCO may even get involved with the issue of affordable housing. At today’s meeting, LAFCO will receive a presentation on a proposed affordable housing development called “Village of Hope.” That development, proposed by nonprofit builder South County Housing, would require an annexation to the City of Salinas. Last week, I gave a kind of introduction to the importance of LAFCOs. Check the KUSP website at www.kusp.org if you’d like to review that material, or if you’d like to send me a comment or suggestion. If you’re interested enough to want to take in the Monterey County LAFCO meeting today, it will be held at 4:00 o’clock this afternoon, at the County Courthouse in Salinas. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton. More Information: Monterey County LAFCO Website - http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/lafco/ Tuesday,
September 23, 2003 – Santa Cruz County Growth Goals Report In the early ‘70’s, Santa Cruz County was expected to have a population of 500,000 people by the year 2000. Urban growth was projected to extend from the Summit to Santa Cruz along Highway 17, from Santa Cruz to Boulder Creek along Highway 9, and from Santa Cruz to Watsonville along Highway One and Freedom Boulevard. Most farmland would be paved over, including most of the county’s North Coast. That didn’t happen because of Measure J. In fact, there were only 250,000 people in the county in the year 2000, and there are plenty of problems even so. We can imagine what twice as many people would have meant! Measure J requires county government to face growth issues directly, and to hold an annual public hearing so you can have a say about the future. That annual hearing is scheduled this morning, at the Santa Cruz County Governmental Center. Get more information at www.kusp.org. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Wednesday,
September 24, 2003 – The Mirabito Storage Project Mr. Mirabito wants to develop a mini-storage facility right in the middle of Carmel Valley. Among other things, he wants to have spaces to store boats. The Carmel River is not navigable by boats, so this seems a strange request, and devoting spectacular Carmel Valley real estate to a use traditionally found on freeway frontage roads does raise questions. Plus, there are stormwater and traffic concerns. Plus, no Environmental Impact Report has ever been prepared. Since 1998, the Mirabito project has always faced significant criticism, but the applicant, and his attorney, Tony Lombardo, have always bounced back with a new version, to counter whatever concerns have been voiced. Critics often denounce local government for taking too long to make planning decisions. Often, however, as in this case, the delays are the result of a project applicant trying to avoid a decision that says, “No” to the proposed project. Of course, the local government does have to go along with all those extension requests, and that’s been the case here. The county has never said, “No.” Today, the Planning Commission will decide what it thinks. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Thursday,
September 25, 2003 – Caltrain Extension to Monterey County In Monterey County, transportation facilities are the main limit to growth. Water is not so great a problem. An acre of houses uses the same amount of water as an acre of crops, so there’s plenty of water to transform lettuce fields into subdivisions. But there aren’t adequate transportation facilities. Growth in Monterey County won’t really be able to “take off” until there is a better transportation connection with the San Francisco Bay Area. Yesterday, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (or TAMC) considered how to speed a Caltrain connection to the Silicon Valley. The expansion of Highway 101 is already its highest priority. Looked at from an historical perspective, local agencies seem to be trying to change Monterey County from an agricultural area to a population center. This is not a case of geographic determinism. It’s a question of choice. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Friday,
September 26, 2003 – The Seaside General Plan This may not be very easy. The city seems to be rocketing ahead in its approval process, which means that opportunities for public participation are currently limited. Still, there are some opportunities to get involved, and I’d like to give you a “heads up” now. On Wednesday, October 8th, the Seaside Planning Commission will conduct an in-depth discussion of the goals, policies, and implementation measures proposed in the draft General Plan document. They will also review and consider the adequacy of the Draft Environmental Impact Report. That meeting, the only future meeting currently scheduled before the Planning Commission, will be at 7:00 p.m. at the Seaside City Hall. On Thursday November 6th, and on Thursday November 20th, the Seaside City Council will be considering the proposed General Plan, and the Draft EIR. If you’d like more information, please click on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org. Send me an email with your comments and suggestions, too! For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Archives of past transcripts are available here |
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