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KUSP LandWatch
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ogo.gif" width="108" height="109" border="0"> "Listen Live" |
KUSP provided a brief Land Use Report on KUSP Radio from January 2003 to May 2016. Archives of past transcripts are available here.
Week of January 20, 2003 to January 24, 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,
January 20, 2003 – The Future of Pajaro / Marina Heights
People sometimes wonder how governmental agencies make up their
mind about land use and planning matters. The corrupting power of
cash and campaign contributions is often cited. Not to discount
that that factor completely, there is another and somewhat simpler
explanation. Most of the time, governmental agencies ask members
of the public what they think, and those who show up and participate
get paid attention to.
Property owners, and those with a direct economic interest in land use planning, are very seldom absent from the public meetings that discuss planning policy. Their attorneys come, too. Unless the public gets engaged itself, it’s hard to overcome the “participatory advantage” of those who actually show up and take part.
With that lesson in mind, here are some meetings you might want to attend: Tomorrow, the Marina City Council will consider the proposed Marina Heights development. The meeting begins at 5:30 on Tuesday afternoon, at the Marina City Hall, but the relevant agenda items are 10(a) and 10(f), near the very end of the meeting. Tomorrow at 11:00 in the morning, the Monterey County Redevelopment-Agency will host a “focus group” meeting on the Pajaro area. That meeting will take place at the Porter-Vallejo Mansion, at 29 Bishop Street in Pajaro. There are a series of “focus group” meetings scheduled. Check the KUSP website for details.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Pajaro Redevelopment
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/housing/Redevelopment/PajaroRedevelope.aspPajaro Focus Groups
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/housing/Redevelopment/pajaro%20focus%20group.aspCity of Marina
http://www.ci.marina.ca.us/Marina Heights Issues
http://www.landwatch.org/pages/issuesactions/marina/011503heights.html
Tuesday,
January 21, 2003 – High Density in Pismo Beach
The Pismo Beach City Council is meeting this afternoon. Agenda item
8(b) has attracted my attention. Here’s how it reads: “100
Five Cities Drive: Initiation of Amendments To General Plan and
Zoning Codes to Permit High-Density Residential Development.”
Changing local planning policies to allow for high-density residential development is unusual. It might be good to see more of that.
Don’t get me wrong. Density does mean impact, and not every location is suitable for higher density. Some locations, however, can sustain higher-density development, and if suitable areas are developed at lower densities, that may be a lost opportunity. Well-designed higher density developments can help with housing affordability, and they use land more efficiently, so they help protect open space and agricultural land, too. The latest thinking in planning circles is that low-density, single-family development is actually not that desirable, as the main or only way to provide for new housing. In fact, that kind of development is one of the characteristics of urban sprawl. It uses land inefficiently, and makes an automobile a prerequisite for virtually every trip.
If you’d like to follow up on this thought, check the references I provide at www.kusp.org. Send me an email with your comments and suggestions, as well.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
City of Pismo Beach
http://www.pismobeach.org/HTML.htmlCongress For The New Urbanism
http://www.cnu.org/Smart Growth Network
http://www.smartgrowth.org/Default.asp?res=1024Sustainable Communities Network
http://www.sustainable.org/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/
Wednesday,
January 22, 2003 – A Coastal Celebration
Here’s an invitation I recently received: “Dear Friend
of the Coast: We invite Proposition 20’s original drafters
and supporters, former staff and commissioners, as well as current
staff, and those individuals who continue to champion its principles,
to join in a celebration. Two celebrations, if you prefer.”
In other words, there are a couple of parties coming up, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Coastal Act. The cost is modest, $20, and that includes dinner. One celebration will be held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, on Saturday February 1st. If you are an individual who champions the principles of the Coastal Act, you’re included in the list of potential guests. Check the KUSP website, www.kusp.org, for more information.
Proposition 20, which established the initial Coastal Act, was passed by the people of the state in 1972. Without doubt, this initiative measure changed the future of California, and saved our coast. In 1976, the State Legislature made the Coastal Act a permanent feature of California government. Just recently, an appellate court has found that this 1976 law had a major constitutional flaw, and the future ability of the Coastal Commission to protect our coast is now at risk. It’s a good time for coastal advocates to get together!
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Coastal Commission
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/web/For an invitation, contact Melissa Jones at intern@sierraclub-sac.org. Telephone: 916-557-1100, Ext. 110
Thursday,
January 23, 2003 – Marina Planning Commission
Regular listeners to this Land Use Report know that things are happening
in the City of Marina. This small, coastal city in Monterey County
has at least three major development projects in the wings. Two
of these projects are scheduled for discussion at the Marina Planning
Commission meeting this evening. First on the agenda, though, is
a skateboard park, and that could be controversial.
After discussing the skateboard park, Commissioners will take up the proposed Marina Heights Project. This is probably the single largest development project ever proposed in Marina, and it’s definitely controversial. The proposal is to tear down existing, but unoccupied housing that was part of the former Fort Ord, and to build over one thousand new homes. One key issue is affordability. None of the new homes are proposed to be affordable to an average income, working family.
After the Marina Heights item (but only if time permits), the Marina Planning Commission will next consider future development on the Armstrong Ranch, located to the North of the city. Three hundred acres of the Armstrong Ranch are within the city limits, and can be developed. The rules and policies to guide that development are the topic for discussion.
All in all, this is a meeting not to miss. It’s tonight, at 6:30, at the Marina City Hall. For more information, check out the KUSP website, at www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
City of Marina
http://www.ci.marina.ca.us/
Friday,
January 24, 2003 – Mark Your Calendars
If land use policy plays a vital role in determining the future
of our communities (and that’s the premise of this Land Use
Report), then urging more public participation in land use policy
matters is the most important message I can deliver. There is a
definite “participatory advantage” to those who get engaged
personally. Without strong public involvement, those who participate
because of their private interests will almost always prevail.
In that spirit, this is a “mark your calendars” program. You can see a transcript of this schedule in print, with some additional information, at www.kusp.org. Send me an email with your suggestions and comments, as well.
These are important meetings. I hope some of you will be able to attend.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Archives of past transcripts are available here
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