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KUSP LandWatch
News
Week of March 24, 2003 to March 28, 2003
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KUSP LandWatch
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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 March 24, 2003 to March 28, 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,
March 24, 2003 – The Broadway-Brommer Bike Path
State
law requires that plans for transportation facilities must be fully
integrated into plans for where housing and jobs will be located,
and what sort of measures will be taken to protect natural resources.
The local “General Plan” must address “circulation”
issues, and the transportation policies in that General Plan must
be consistent with all its other aspects.
Tomorrow, the “rubber meets the road” with respect to a proposed transportation project that has been in the planning stages for more than ten years. On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz City Council will consider a proposed bike path linking Broadway (in the City of Santa Cruz) with Brommer Street (in Live Oak).
Please note, a bike path can be an important transportation facility. In Santa Cruz, in fact, the community’s planning policies suggest that alternatives to the automobile should be utilized. At one time, the proposed Broadway-Brommer bike path was going to be a four lane divided road (for cars, not bikes). The community rejected that option. Now the question is, does preserving Arana Gulch mean that even a bike path is inappropriate? That policy call is difficult, because if we really do want to minimize automobile use, we really do have to make provisions for alternatives. To be heard on this issue, come to the Santa Cruz City Hall tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. You can access the agenda at www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Santa Cruz City Council Agenda
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/
Tuesday,
March 25, 2003 – Gamboa-Sunrise at Planning Commission
Tomorrow, the Monterey County Planning Commission is considering
a major development proposal in Carmel Valley. This is the so-called
“Gamboa-Sunrise” Assisted Living Center. It’s proposed
to be located right near the mouth of Carmel Valley, in an area
(unfortunately for all concerned) that is experiencing major traffic
congestion.
I talked about circulation and transportation issues yesterday, pointing out that the Santa Cruz City Council, this evening, will be making an important decision about a proposed Broadway-Brommer bike path. While there are lots of other issues involved in the Carmel Valley proposal, it’s probably fair to say that transportation issues are the key issues there, as well.
There is, however, a very significant difference between the way that the Santa Cruz City Council is approaching its decision, and the way that the Monterey County Planning Commission is being asked to make a decision on the proposed Assisted Living Center. In short, the City of Santa Cruz has completed a full Environmental Impact Report, analyzing the environmental pros and cons of the bike path. In Monterey County, the staff is suggesting that this kind of environmental analysis isn’t needed. Since the California Environmental Quality Act (usually called CEQA) says that a full EIR is required if a proposed project “might” have a negative impact on the environment (not “will” but “might), this lack of concern about environmental review raises an even larger issue.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Planning Commission Agenda
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/CCA/PC/03-26-03/pc03-26-
03a.htmGamboa-Sunrise Staff Report
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/CCA/PC/03-26-
03/PLN000357PC3.pdf
Wednesday,
March 26, 2003 – The Future of the Pajaro River
This evening, there will be an important community meeting in Pajaro,
to discuss the future of flood prevention efforts along the Pajaro
River. The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Pajaro Middle
School, located at 250 Salinas Road.
Pajaro is a little, unincorporated community located in Monterey County. It’s just over the bridge from Watsonville. Watsonville, of course, is located in Santa Cruz County, and is a full city, with its own elected City Council. Both Santa Cruz County and Watsonville City officials are very much involved in flood planning for the Pajaro River, but of course on the Santa Cruz County side of the river. The meeting tonight is going to be focused on the Monterey County side, and since Pajaro isn’t a city, with its own city council, it’s the County officials that will have the final say on flood protection efforts.
Monterey County Supervisor Lou Calcagno is expected to be at the meeting this evening, which is taking place because of his insistence that community concerns be addressed. The context for the meeting is a proposal that responsibility for flood prevention and maintenance activities be turned over to non-local officials. After the last flood, property owners successfully sued both Santa Cruz and Monterey County for millions of dollars. All the local governments involved are seeking ways to prevent a replay of what was a fiscal disaster for them, following up on the physical disaster of the flood.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Thursday,
March 27, 2003 – A “Futuristic” Urban Concept
A Monterey County architect named Gene Zellmer has developed a truly
“futuristic” approach to urban development, which he calls
the “500-Year Town.” You can get some information about
his concept by clicking on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.
Fully to appreciate Mr. Zellmer’s idea, you almost have to see a three-dimensional model, which I’ve been able to do. The material he’s placed on the web, however, does give a good picture of the concept, and it’s an intriguing idea. In short, Mr. Zellmer says that we can have the “best of both worlds” (both vibrant urban spaces and a truly rural environment), if we’ll just design and build correctly. His concept is an integrated structure, probably five stories in height, and housing probably five to ten thousand people. Jobs, as well as residences, would be included. The structure would be located in a rural area, with immediate access to “nature” on the outside. On the “inside,” all the housing units would comprise a high-energy “downtown” area, which is just what “New Urbanist” planners are calling for. The effect would be something like living in a community that has the vibrancy of the San Francisco Nordstrom’s on the inside, but with quiet and individual residential spaces, and all placed physically in a nature preserve.
This is “utopian” planning for sure, but that’s not a bad way to start envisioning a different future.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
The Zellmer 500-Year Town Concept
http://www.www60829.w1.com/5.htmEmail Gene Zellmer
gzellmer@redshift.com
Friday,
March 28, 2003 – Train Service in Pajaro?
Land use planning and transportation planning go together. That’s
not only a matter of logic. It’s actually a state law requirement.
Coming up next Monday is an important community meeting focusing
on proposed train service to the town of Pajaro, which is right
across the bridge from Watsonville.
This meeting should be of interest to people from both sides of the river, since any regular train service established in Pajaro would definitely be used by persons from Santa Cruz County. In fact, initial riders would probably come mostly from Santa Cruz County. What’s proposed is a commuting service from Salinas, through Pajaro, to Gilroy and points further north in the Silicon Valley. In Pajaro itself, there are probably very few persons who currently commute to the high tech jobs in Santa Clara County. Santa Cruz County, on the other hand, is home to lots of such people. The commuters who fill up Highway One each morning, heading north over Highway 17, night find train service from Pajaro quite attractive.One thing to think about is the future land use implications of such a commuting train service. Once a little transit village is set up in Pajaro, the gentrification of that community, and the displacement of current residents to make way for those who want good access to the commuting trains, might not be far behind.
The meeting on Monday, March 31st, will be held at the Pajaro Middle School, 250 Salinas Road, starting at 6:00 p.m.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Archives of past transcripts are available here
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