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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 November 17, 2003 to November 21, 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,
November 17, 2003 – Desalination and Marina Heights The California-American Water Company, the main water provider for the Monterey Peninsula, is facing an order from the State of California, requiring the company to reduce the amount of water taken from the Carmel River. In order to comply, Cal-Am is now proposing to construct a major seawater desalination plant adjacent to the Duke Energy Plant in Moss Landing. Proceedings to consider the proposal will be under the control of the State Public Utilities Commission. For Peninsula residents, this proposal is of critical importance. Future water supplies, and future water rates, are both at stake. For North County residents, who also face critical water supply problems, the natural question is how such a desalination plant will affect them. Tonight’s meeting should be informative, but don’t worry if you can’t make it, I’m sure there will be plenty more. Tomorrow night, in Marina, however, the City Council will hold a meeting that may end, not begin, the decision making process on the proposed Marina Heights development. I’ll have more on that tomorrow. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Tuesday,
November 18, 2003 – Big Meeting on Marina Heights The Marina Heights development is being given what passes for “standard treatment” by the City of Marina. The developer has made a proposal, basically designed to maximize profits for the developer, and the City’s Planning Commission, with a very few exceptions, has said “ok” to what the developer wants. The Council will listen to the public, and then take its crack at the development this evening. In fact, the Marina Heights development proposal should be seen as anything but “standard.” The land is 100% owned by the public, not by the developer, and the developer’s proposal is largely inconsistent with the City’s General Plan. Instead of the developer following the City’s Plan, the developer is proposing that the City simply change its Plan, to accommodate what the developer wants. Though this is the single largest development ever proposed for Marina, it may well be that the Council will both start and end its consideration this evening. Now’s the time to appear, if you’d like to have your say. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Wednesday,
November 19, 2003 – Caltrans in Big Sur The project being discussed is intended to increase roadway reliability and safety at a location that frequently suffers from instability and failure. For those of us who love to visit Big Sur, the periodic failures of Highway One are a real inconvenience. For Big Sur residents, however, it’s a lot more than that. When Highway One fails, connections with the rest of the world suddenly consist of a long mountain road over the Coast Range to the southern part of the Salinas Valley. Finding good solutions is a definite high priority. As KUSP listeners may remember from previous Land Use Reports, Highway One in Big Sur is not your ordinary highway in a number of ways. For one thing, Caltrans is operating under a special “Big Sur Coast Highway Management Plan” intended to maintain the scenic attributes of this spectacular portion of the California Coast. For Big Sur residents, and all those who love Big Sur and the coast, the meeting this evening will be worthwhile. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Thursday,
November 20, 2003 – Surplus Rail Sites, and the Housing Element Today, I want to let you know about a fascinating meeting being held in Sacramento. The California Center for Land Recycling is holding an all day workshop on “Redeveloping California’s Surplus Rail Sites.” I know it’s too late to head up there now, but if you’re interested in the topic, you can get more information by contacting CCLR. In terms of good land use, reusing existing lands makes a lot more sense (in the long run) than paving over farmlands and open space. Think about the possibilities in Salinas, Pajaro, and even in Santa Cruz, for the reuse of old rail yards. In fact, the Depot Park development in Santa Cruz is a pretty good example of the possibilities. Now, here’s a meeting notice that’s late, but that at least is local. This evening, at 6:00 o’clock, at the Pacific Grove City Hall, the Pacific Grove Planning Commission will consider proposed revisions to the City’s Housing Element. Pacific Grove residents may well want to attend. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Friday,
November 21, 2003 – Scientific Research on the Marine Sanctuary Land use is directly related to the health of our marine environment. About a year ago, the Pew Oceans Commission did a report that demonstrated the connection rather conclusively. As we pave over our watersheds, and urbanize them, impacts to the ocean increase. According to the Pew Oceans Commission, a “rule of thumb” is that when 15% or more of a watershed is developed, negative impacts on the marine environment are a direct result. Around the Monterey Bay, one area at high risk is the Elkhorn Slough Watershed. Elkhorn Slough is one of the most important natural areas in the entire Central Coast, and a globally important bird sanctuary. There is already quite a bit of development in this critically important watershed, and the current land use designations in the existing Monterey County General Plan would allow a lot more development. The new General Plan proposal, to be released for public comment sometime in January of 2004, would help reduce watershed impacts. There’s a lot at stake in that upcoming General Plan adoption process, and if you’d like to get involved, contact Friends, Artists, and Neighbors of Elkhorn Slough. You can find out how at www.kusp.org. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Archives of past transcripts are available here |
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