A Precedent-setting UGB Vote Is Coming In November

Marina 2020 Vision is a local citizens group, based in Marina. Working closely with LandWatch, Marina 2020 Vision has developed an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) initiative, to be placed on the November 2000 ballot. This measure, if adopted by the voters, would establish the first Urban Growth Boundary adopted for any Monterey County jurisdiction.

The Marina UGB initiative would establish a set of General Plan policies to protect the coast, and to direct growth for the next twenty years into the existing city limits, and onto the lands of the former Fort Ord. It would prevent, in other words, the kind of urban sprawl that is thepreferred alternative of the Marina City Council. In about six weeks, Marina 2020 Vision collected 1,627 signatures from Marina residents, and on June 15th, the Monterey County Registrar of Voters certified that 1,270 of these were valid. Since only 756 valid signatures were needed to qualify the initiative for the ballot, the Marina City Council must now either adopt the initiative directly, or place it before the voters for their decision at the November election.

By their work on the Marina UGB initiative, Marina 2020 Vision has ensured that the people of Marina will be able to decide directly what sort of future they want for their city.

It can be anticipated that a strenuous campaign will take place this fall. The Gibson-Speno Company stands to make millions of dollars if they are able to develop the Armstrong Ranch as they propose. The future of the City of Marina rides on the outcome of the election. In an important way, the whole character of the Monterey Peninsula will also be determined by what happens in Marina in November.

If you would like to be of assistance to Marina 2020 Vision, you can contact them as follows:

Ken Gray, Chair
Marina 2020 Vision
P.O. Box 1147
Marina, CA 93933
Telephone: 831- 384-5119
Email: gray@mbay.net

The text of Marina Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Initiative is available from LandWatch. Contact Us!

6/24/00