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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 November 24, 2003 to November 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,
November 24, 2003 – Decision Tomorrow on Marina Heights
Last Tuesday, the Marina City Council held a public hearing on the
largest development project ever proposed in the history of the
City. The Marina Heights development would result in the demolition
of 824 existing but abandoned houses, and the construction of 1,050
new homes. Testimony on the project began shortly after 6:30, and
was still continuing at 10:00 o’clock. In view of the late
hour, the Council continued consideration of the item to November
25th. Tomorrow night, the City Council will be meeting again at
the Marina City Hall, and is likely make a decision on the proposed
Marina Heights project.
There are lots of things for the Council to consider. The environmental impact analysis was challenged as inadequate. Housing affordability is also a key concern. Of the 1,050 new homes proposed, not even one will be sold at a price that an average income person can afford. 80% of the homes will go to persons who can afford to pay $500,000 or more for a house. This project is also notable for ignoring the existing General Plan. More than twenty General Plan amendments are being asked for, to allow the project to go forward.
The meeting is tomorrow night at 6:30, and the public is definitely invited! To find out more, click on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org, and look up the transcript for today’s Report.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
City of Marina Website
http://www.ci.marina.ca.us/Agenda For November 18, 2003 Meeting
http://www.ci.marina.ca.us/council/agenda2003/1118.htmLandWatch Letter on Marina Heights Project
http://www.landwatch.org/pages/issuesactions/
marina/111903marinaheights.htmlMinutes of Marina Planning Commission
http://www.ci.marina.ca.us/planning/pc20030317.min.htmlMonterey County Herald Article
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/
news/local/7290200.htm
Tuesday,
November 25, 2003 –In-Lieu Affordable Housing Fees
The Atascadero City Council is meeting this evening, and will be
considering a proposed amendment of the in-lieu fee conditions for
a multi-family planned development. More information is available
at the KUSP website.
The issue of in-lieu affordable housing fees is an important one. Local governments can establish a system of “inclusionary housing,” which requires developers to include a percentage of affordable housing in every new development. This is one of the very best ways to insure that at least some affordable housing will be produced, as new growth proceeds.
Cities that establish an inclusionary requirement often provide an “escape hatch.” While the basic rule may be that the developer must include a certain percentage of affordable housing in each new development, these jurisdictions allow payment of an “in-lieu” fee, as an alternative to building the required number of units. In other words, developers are given the option to “buy themselves out” of the basic inclusionary responsibility.
When that option is available, developers often take it, and while the local government ends up with a pot of money, no real units get built; or, if they do, they get built a lot later than the market rate units. The other problem is the amount of the in-lieu fee. The fee should, of course, actually be big enough to allow the city to construct an affordable unit. That’s often not true. In Atascadero, this is exactly the issue that’s up for discussion tonight.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
City of Atascadero Website
http://www.atascadero.org/November 25, 2003 City Council Agenda
http://www.atascadero.org/media/council/d3693e2112503CCAgenda.htm
Wednesday,
November 26, 2003 – Santa Cruz Sentinel Hits A High Note
The Santa Cruz County Sentinel published an editorial on Friday
November 21st that is right on target. I put a link to the editorial
on the Land Use Report section of KUSP website. Since the Sentinel
website tends to change pretty frequently, as most newspaper sites
do, I’m not absolutely certain the link will still be good
when you get there, but one way or the other, this editorial is
worth tracking down and reading.
What the Sentinel said is that land use issues “can’t be ignored.” They’re critically important. You’ll note, of course, that this is the same message that I unabashedly promote here on the Land Use Report. Citing the California Policy Reform Network, the Sentinel noted that “encouraging compact and efficient development patterns…must be a part of any future planning and budgeting by state agencies.” The editorial also noted that “these kinds of planning priorities hardly seem novel to those used to Santa Cruz County politics.” Santa Cruz County has been aiming for what is now called “Smart Growth” since at least 1978, when the voters adopted Measure J, the County’s Growth Management System. The Sentinel is right, though, that these principles need to be applied in other areas, and at the state level.
Governor Schwarzenneger, please take note! The Land Use Report joins with the Santa Cruz County Sentinel in highlighting the importance of statewide land use policy reform.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Sentinel Editorial
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2003/November/
21/edit/edit.htmAB 857 (mentioned in the editorial):
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/asm/ab_0851-
0900/ab_857_bill_20020928_chaptered.htmlCalifornia Policy Reform Network
http://www.calpolicyreform.net/index.html
Thursday,
November 27, 2003 – The Williamson Act in Monterey County
Last Tuesday, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors set a public
hearing for December 2, 2003, at 2:30 p.m., to consider Agricultural
Preserve and Farmland Security Zone contract applications. The Board
will be considering applying the provisions of what is usually called
“The Williamson Act” to specific agricultural properties.
If you’re interested in the issue of agricultural land preservation,
you should know about the Williamson Act. You can find out more
by clicking on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.
The Williamson Act is a voluntary program. Property owners apply to the County for Williamson Act designation, and promise (in doing so) that they will keep their properties in agricultural use for at least the next twenty years. There’s actually a contract that specifies that, and every year, the contract gets automatically extended for another year. In return for the property owner’s commitment to keep their land in agriculture, the County lowers property taxes on the property involved. The State makes it all possible by repaying the County for the property tax loss they incur. The Williamson Act isn’t perfect. Landowners who want to develop farmland don’t have to sign up. But property owners who do want to preserve their agricultural land can get some real benefits by doing something that’s good for the public.
As I say, you should know about the Williamson Act!
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Williamson Act Statute
http://ceres.ca.gov/topic/env_law/williamson/stat.htmlExplanation of Williamson Act Program
http://www.consrv.ca.gov/DLRP/lca/Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agenda
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/cttb/agenda.htm
Friday,
November 28, 2003 – Farms and Fishes Conference
Every January, right here in the Monterey Bay Area (at Asilomar,
as a matter of fact), the Ecological Farming Association holds a
world-class conference on organic agriculture. Next year’s
conference will run from January 21st through January 24th. You
can get more information at www.kusp.org.
The theme of the upcoming conference is “Farms and Fishes.” Participants will hear from food producers, from groups and agencies working to protect water, and from those with innovative approaches to outreach, restoration, and consumer education. Presentations by local experts are going to be a main feature. This part of the Central Coast really does have a lot to teach the rest of the world about how to make sure that agricultural production doesn’t result in drastic impacts on water supply and water quality.
Bruce Van Allen, a former member of the Santa Cruz City Council, will be speaking on watershed rehabilitation. Kaitlin Gaffney, a current member of the Santa Cruz City Planning Commission, and Central Coast Program Manager for The Ocean Conservancy, will give an overall environmental analysis. Mark Silberstein, from the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, and Cindy Walter from the Passionfish Restaurant in Monterey, are also on the agenda.
You’ve heard it here before. How we use the land impacts our marine and water resources. Get lots of details at the Farms and Fishes conference!
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Ecological Farming Association Website
http://www.eco-farm.org/Conference Announcement
http://www.eco-farm.org/efc/pre_events.html
Archives of past transcripts are available here
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