One of the biggest land use/transportation issues confronting the state hasn’t really gotten much public play. The question is what to do about a proposal to build a High Speed Rail system that would link Los Angeles with San Francisco.

The state has made a significant investment in preliminary work, but no “final commitment.” We’re getting closer, though, to the time when California is either going to “fish or cut bait” on the High Speed Rail idea. An important milestone will be the selection of the route by which the High Speed Rail system would enter the Bay Area from Los Angeles. A preliminary alignment for the Central Valley and Southern California portions of the system has already been designated, but the route into the Bay Area has been contested. A Draft EIR, comparing the alternatives, has recently been completed, and the comment deadline is coming up.

On Thursday, the Santa Cruz County Transportation Commission is going to consider the matter, and the staff is recommending a route over Pacheco Pass, through San Jose. Those following the issue closely know that this is the route that will create the maximum amount of new sprawl. Sacramento area land speculators are already working to secure lands for development on the Pacheco Pass alignment. The alternative route, over Altamont Pass, would put the tracks where there is already a major transportation corridor, and would avoid more sensitive habitats.

There’s more information on the KUSP website.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Website
http://www.sccrtc.org/

Transportation Commission Agenda
http://www.sccrtc.org/packet/2007/0709/
TPWAgenda0709.htm

Staff Report on High Speed Rail
http://www.sccrtc.org/packet/2007/0709/w0709-04a.pdf

Alignment Maps
http://www.sccrtc.org/packet/2007/0709/w0709-04b.pdf

High Speed Rail Authority
http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/

Draft EIR/EIS on Bay Area alignment issue
http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/public_notice/default.asp

I’ve probably devoted more time to land use issues in Monterey County than to any other subject. There are several reasons for that. In terms of resources at risk, Monterey County has more to lose than any other area in the Central Coast Region. In terms of land use policy activity, there’s no other area with more going on. The County government, for instance, has been trying to adopt a General Plan Update since 1999 (or eight years, in other words), and the County Board of Supervisors is about to consider what they’re calling GPU5, the fifth major draft document.

Finally, citizen participation in land use issues is at an all time high in Monterey County. The public is definitely engaged, which I can’t help but think is a very good thing. The land use policies adopted and implemented by our local governments will ultimately shape the future of our communities, economically, environmentally, and in terms of social equity.

After the elections held on June 5th in Monterey County, which centered on land use policy issues, I haven’t spent much time discussing Monterey County items. Largely, this is because the next step for the General Plan Update was presided over in secret by a small subcommittee of the County Planning Commission, and there just wasn’t any news. The report of that subcommittee is now public, and further action on the General Plan will be discussed by the Board of Supervisors at 1:30 this afternoon. For more information check the KUSP website.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Monterey County Website
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/

Board Agenda (The General Plan item is Item #S-5)
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/cttb/agenda091807.htm

General Plan Update (Draft #5)
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/gpu/default.htm

I have a couple of interesting items to highlight this morning.

First, I was fascinated to learn that the Soledad City Council will be receiving a presentation this afternoon on the use of wind power. The City Council meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., at the Soledad City Hall, and the public is of course invited to attend. Soledad, whose official slogan is “feel the momentum,” is located in the middle of the Salinas Valley, on some of the most economically productive farmland in the world. Unfortunately, for those who think farmland should be farmed, the City Council has been systematically converting this farmland to residential subdivisions. It is windy in Soledad, and it would be interesting to know whether or not the City would like to put policies in place that would lead to the capture of that wind energy, for local use, or to add to what is often called the state’s “Renewables Portfolio.” I am not going to be able to be at the meeting myself, but certainly encourage other interested persons to attend.

There is another meeting of interest today, this one in Santa Cruz County. Friends of Locally Owned Water, also called Felton FLOW, is holding a meeting that begins at 6:30 p.m., at the Felton Firehouse. Those who attend will get a short course in eminent domain law, with specific reference to how local water consumers are trying to buy their system from California American Water.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

City of Soledad Website
http://www.cityofsoledad.com/

Wikipedia on Wind Power
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power

State Energy Commission Overview of Wind Power
http://www.energy.ca.gov/wind/overview.html

Felton FLOW Website
http://www.feltonflow.org/

While FLOW does not normally advertise events that benefit other groups, they are encouraging their supporters to attend a fundraiser for Sempervirens Fund, since the Sempervirens Fund was instrumental in purchasing part of the Lompico Creek watershed, benefiting domestic water supplies in Felton. The music event is scheduled for Sunday, September 23, 2007 at Don Quixote’s Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, in Felton. It starts at 7:00 p.m. You can get more information by calling 831-603-2294, or at www.takebackyourforest.com.

Measure J, adopted by a vote of the people of Santa Cruz County, at the June 1978 election, mandates what is called an “inclusionary housing” ordinance. The City of Santa Cruz has very similar “inclusionary housing” policies.

The power of an “inclusionary housing” ordinance is that it requires developers to build housing that is affordable by persons with average and below average incomes. That kind of housing simply must be “included” in almost every development that gets built. This builds social equity into the development equation. The developers don’t just pay “fees,” and then walk away. The local government requires actual housing to be built, and then actually sold or rented to lower income families. The price isn’t set by the “market,” either. The price is set by the formula specified in the inclusionary housing ordinance, which guarantees its affordability. The best ordinances also make sure that affordability is maintained when the housing is resold, so that the share of affordable housing included in developments is “permanent,” not temporary.

I’ve put links to a lot of good information on inclusionary housing in the transcript to today’s Land Use Report. I’d also like to alert you to the Santa Cruz City Planning Commission meeting being held this evening, starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Proposed modifications to the City’s inclusionary housing ordinance are on the agenda.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

City of Santa Cruz Website
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/

Planning Commission Agenda
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pl/cpc/
2007/agenda/092007a.pdf

California Inclusionary Housing Database
http://www.calruralhousing.org/housing-
toolbox/inclusionary-housing-policy-search

Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California
http://www.nonprofithousing.org/

Order the Non-Profit Housing Association Report on Inclusionary Housing
https://secure.ga0.org/02/NPH_pubs?
qp_source=PubsPage/default.aspx

In terms of “land use,” do you think we ought to let other creatures, besides ourselves, “use” the land? If so, we need to pay attention to activities and practices that put other species in peril. Lead is poison, and predators who eat animals killed with lead bullets, and ingest the lead, will be poisoned. That process has been documented for the California Condor, which is an endangered species.

Responding to this threat, the State Fish and Game Commission has considered a rule that would ban the use of lead in ammunition, in geographic areas that include condor habitat. One Fish and Game Commissioner, Judd Hanna, did some personal research, which did show there was a problem. Thirty-four Republican legislators and the NRA found out about that, and then attacked him for bias. Governor Schwarzenegger, who had the right to remove him, asked him to resign, and Hanna did hand in his resignation as requested.

Senate Bill 821 would ban lead ammunition in condor habitat. It’s on the Governor’s desk. While you wait to see if the Governor signs it, you might want to check out the extraordinary photographic exhibit of “Condors on the Coast,” being shown at the Big Sur Lodge. You might also want to contact Governor Schwarzenegger on SB 821, and let him know whether you think he’s done the right thing so far, in making it more likely that the California Condor will become extinct.

You can find out more on the KUSP website.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Department of Fish and Game on Lead Ammunition
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/condor/

Fish and Game Commission
http://www.fgc.ca.gov/

“Method of Take” Proposed Regulation
http://www.fgc.ca.gov/2007/353ntc.pdf

Information on Senate Bill 821 on Lead in Ammunition
http://biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/press/
condor-lead-09-05-2007.html

You can get information on SB 821 at
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov

Press and editorial coverage of Condor controversy

Sacramento Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/379938.html

Mercury New
http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/
ci_6903076?source=email&nclick_check=1

Sierra Club Blog
http://www.sierraclubca.blogspot.com/

Pelican Network: Condors in Big Sur Exhibit
http://www.pelicannetwork.net/bigsurcondors.htm