 |
Home | Issues & Actions | About |
Archive Page This page is available as an archive to previous versions of LandWatch websites. |
KUSP LandWatch
News
Week of March 1, 2004 to March 5, 2004
"Listen Live"
|
|||||||
KUSP LandWatch
News |
|||||||
|
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 March 1, 2004 to March 5, 2004
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 1, 2004 – The Santa Cruz County Right to Farm Ordinance
I left the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in January 1995,
after having been a County Supervisor for twenty years. As a "good
bye present," I received a gift from the Santa Cruz County
Farm Bureau: a lifetime membership in the California Farm Bureau
Federation. I am very proud of, and maintain, that Farm Bureau membership.
Because I do, I’m able to keep abreast of some of the great
successes of California agriculture, particularly here in the Central
Coast.
The latest edition of "Outside the Furrows," the monthly newsletter of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, reports on some good news. In December of last year, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors enacted a set of strengthening amendments to the County’s "Right to Farm" ordinance. Thanks to the Board of Supervisors, there is an official provision stating that agricultural operations cannot be considered a nuisance, when conducted according to applicable laws and regulations, and according to accepted custom and practice. Improved notice provisions highlight the need for everyone to understand that farming is an "industry," and needs to be able to carry out its industrial operations without undue complaints from the neighbors.
The Santa Cruz County "Right to Farm" ordinance is a real model of cooperation between farmers and local government. To find out a little more, click on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Santa Cruz County Code
http://ordlink.com/codes/santacruzco/index.htmSanta Cruz County Farm Bureau
http://www.cfbf.com/counties/co-44.htm
Tuesday,
March 2, 2004 – The Planning Commission Hearing Tomorrow
Tomorrow, the Monterey County Planning Commission will hold the
first in a series of public hearings on the latest draft of the
Monterey County General Plan Update. This is the time for members
of the public to reengage, and to renew their participation in what
has been an extremely lengthy, rather confusing, and very costly
process. What’s at stake is the future of Monterey County.
Since 1999, a General Plan Update process, or GPU process, has been underway. More than $4 million dollars has been spent to date. The "third draft" of the proposed General Plan Update is now available for review and comment, along with a Draft Environmental Impact Report. You can get references by clicking on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.
Tomorrow, the Planning Commission is encouraging testimony on the "Growth Strategy" that should drive the new plan. On March 11th, the Commission will consider testimony on "Quality of Life" issues. On March 17th, the Commission will be hearing about the "Economy, Jobs and Housing." All these hearings begin at 9:00 a.m. On March 22nd, in the only evening hearing in this series, the Planning Commission will take testimony on any topic related to the proposed General Plan Update. All of these public hearings will be held at the County Courthouse in Salinas. You are very much encouraged to participate.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
General Plan Update Website
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/gpu/GPU Hearing Schedule
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/gpu/meetings/
pc_hearingnotice0204.pdfJoint Letter From Local Groups
http://www.landwatch.org/pages/issuesactions/
countyplan/030304joint.htmlPlanning Commission
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/cca/pcmain.htmStaff Report for March 3rd Hearing
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/cca/pc/03-03-04/
PLN010172PC16.pdf
Wednesday,
March 3, 2004 – Scotts Valley and the Quarry
The Scotts Valley City Council is meeting at 6:00 o’clock this
evening, and will take up a number of land use issues. One item
caught my eye in particular, because the physical reality related
to the agenda item is such an "eye catcher" in itself.
Those familiar with Scotts Valley will be able to visualize the cliff face of the now defunct Scotts Valley Quarry, located right on Scotts Valley Drive. This massive cliff stands out clearly in what has become a modern, and rather upscale, urban environment. The old Scotts Valley Quarry is a relic of "what used to be" in Scotts Valley, and doesn’t fit into the City’s current reality or plan for the future.
The City Council, therefore, would like to "remediate" the current situation, and to do that, extensive grading will be needed, reducing what is now the nearly vertical wall of the quarry into a series of six terraces at 30-foot intervals. Civil engineers, and not elected officials, are the ones designing this restoration project, which I think is good. There’s clearly a chance for major problems if this extensive grading isn’t done correctly.
Elected officials do need to be involved, however, because the basic General Plan policies of the city, which govern all properties, wouldn’t allow the creation of a steeply terraced wall. As a general rule, I think that’s a good policy. In this exceptional case, the City needs to do a General Plan amendment, to facilitate its engineering plans.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Scotts Valley Website
http://www.scottsvalley.org/Scotts Valley City Council Agendas
http://www.scottsvalley.org/council.html
Thursday,
March 4, 2004 – Carneros Creek Restoration Tour
Who knows what the weather is going to be like this Saturday? It
could be terrible. But if it’s not, if it’s one of those
sparkling days that sometimes follow our periods of precipitation,
then I’ve got a suggestion for an excellent field trip. This
is a trip that might just be educational, as well as a lot of fun.
The Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association, called "ALBA" for short, is helping farmworkers to become farm owners, and it’s also training them in agricultural practices that protect and restore the natural environment. This Saturday, March 6th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., ALBA will be conducting a Carneros Creek Restoration Project Tour. The public is invited. Tour participants will see how a conservation project, implemented by creekside landowners, has helped to restore stream function and wildlife habitat along Carneros Creek, and will specifically note how these watershed protection techniques relate to farming practices.
Carneros Creek, located in Monterey County, is the major source of freshwater feeding Elkhorn Slough. Protecting its watershed is critically important to the long term health of the Slough.
Participants on the tour will gather at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning at the 3M Ranch, at 420 Hall Road. For more information, and more explicit directions, click on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
ALBA Website
http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M3736To find the 3M Ranch take Johnson Road to Live Oak Road, and meet at the entrance to the Triple M Ranch off Live Oak Road. The "official" address is 420 Hall Road.
For information on the tour contact ALBA at:
- Telephone: 831-786-8760
- Cell Phone: 831-682-6812
- FAX: 831-786-8766
Map to 3M Ranch:
To find the 3M Ranch take Johnson Road to Live Oak Road, and meet at the entrance to the Triple M Ranch off Live Oak Road. The "official" address (shown by the star on the map) is 420 Hall Road.For information on the tour contact ALBA at:
- Telephone: 831-786-8760
- Cell Phone: 831-682-6812
- FAX: 831-786-8766
Friday,
March 5, 2004 – Marina Community Design Workshop
Right now, the City of Marina is a real "hot spot" of
planning and development. At least three major projects on the former
Fort Ord are in the planning process. There are also plans for development
of that portion of the "Armstrong Ranch" that is within
the city’s Urban Growth Boundary. The future of the city is
being decided by the planning and development decisions that are
being made right now. If you’re a Marina resident, this would
be a good time to get engaged.
You are particularly invited to take part in a "hands on" design workshop that will have a kickoff reception this evening, and that will then continue tomorrow, Saturday March 6th, from 9:00 to noon. Workshop sessions will be held at the Marina City Council Chambers. Presenters will include representatives from the City of Marina, Monterey-Salinas Transit, the Local Government Commission, and Suisman Urban Design consultants. The workshop is actually sponsored by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, since the Air District knows that good urban design reduces air pollution.
The Saturday workshop session will provide residents of Marina with an opportunity to participate in a series of engaging exercises to help envision and design a transit station and town center for the City of Marina. The City is billing the workshop as <quote> "a few, fun-filled hours to help make Marina a livable, friendly, and healthy community."
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
City of Marina Website
http://www.ci.marina.ca.us/
Archives of past transcripts are available here
|
CONTACT 306 Capitol Street #101 PO Box 1876 Phone (831) 759-2824 Fax (831) 759-2825 |
|