The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, or AMBAG, plays an important role in helping to develop and implement land use policy in the Central Coast Region. AMBAG is a voluntary association of local city and county governments, and its mission is to serve as a “forum for planning, discussion and study of regional problems of mutual interest and concern.” AMBAG’s jurisdictional area includes the counties of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz, and the cities located in these three counties.

AMBAG also develops studies, plans, and policy recommendations, and has been designated as the official “MPO,” or “Metropolitan Planning Organization,” for the Central Coast Region. This means that AMBAG is charged with implementing a “cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process.” AMBAG has some official responsibilities in the realms of air quality planning and housing policy, as well.

You can find out more about AMBAG by tracking down the transcript for today’s Land Use Report, and then following the links. I particularly advise learning more about the AMBAG “Clearinghouse” role. Since 1984, AMBAG has been a “one stop shop” for finding out about environmental review processes within the AMBAG region. If you care about planning and land use, you should get familiar with the AMBAG Clearinghouse.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

AMBAG Website
http://www.ambag.org/

AMBAG’s MPO Responsibilities
http://www.ambag.org/planning/transportation.htm

AMBAG Clearinghouse
http://www.ambag.org/publications/clearinghouse.htm

Contact Steph Nelson to sign up for Clearinghouse alerts – Telephone: 264-5092, or Email: snelson@ambag.org

The City of Marina has been experiencing a lot of development. My guess is that there has been more new development approved in Marina, over the last ten years, than in any other part of Monterey County. This development has been approved, interestingly, despite the enactment of Measure E in the year 2000, establishing an Urban Growth Boundary for the City of Marina.

Marina is the only city in Monterey County with an official Urban Growth Boundary, and as the development experience of the city indicates, establishing an Urban Growth Boundary is obviously not synonymous with “no growth.” In fact, Measure E has prevented sprawling growth onto open space and agricultural lands adjacent to the City, and has directed new growth into areas within the city limits. Marina, in other words, has tried to implement a “smart growth” strategy, while also promoting and approving rather rapid growth. Many people think that “smart growth” inevitably means “slow growth” or “no growth,” but it certainly doesn’t have to.

In terms of trying to be “smarter” about future growth, the City of Marina is now asking for proposals for the development of the “Cypress Knolls” area. Previously approved development was not constructed, and so the City Council is now soliciting new, and perhaps more innovative ideas. If you’re a developer who would like to work with a Monterey Bay city that is clearly willing to promote new development, check out the Cypress Knolls Request For Proposals process.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information:

City Notice on Cypress Knolls
http://www.ci.marina.ca.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=108

Cypress Knolls RFP
http://ca-marina.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=200

I served on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors from 1975 to 1995. Starting in early 1975, and continuing during that entire twenty-year period, I held open public meetings, every Monday morning before a Tuesday Board meeting. These open meetings gave any person who wanted an opportunity to speak to me an easy way to do that, and to make that contact on the day before I voted on whatever was on the agenda for the following day. I’d review the upcoming agenda, and answer questions, and I always learned something new. Hopefully, those in attendance learned something new, too!

I have been delighted to see this “pre-agenda” open meeting idea resurface in Monterey County. Monterey County Supervisor Jane Parker is holding the same kind of meetings I just described. If you’re a Monterey County resident who cares about local government (including its role in land use policy) consider attending these sessions. Starting in 2010, Supervisor Parker is advertising “hot drinks and hot topics.” Her meetings will be held at The Cherry Bean Coffeehouse, at 332 Main Street in Old Town Salinas, on Monday evenings, from 5:30 to 6:30. Supervisor Parker will review the upcoming agenda, answer questions, listen to concerns, have informal discussions, and listen to ideas and suggestions from all those who attend.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information:

Jane Parker Website
http://www.janeparker.org/

In the 1970’s, “Operation Wilder” was working to stop the proposed development of an entire “new city” on the Santa Cruz County North Coast. Its success, and the success of the Save Lighthouse Point Association, within the City of Santa Cruz, helped change the way that Santa Cruz County residents think about their ability to get local government, and the state government, to respond to their deepest desires. Protecting the Santa Cruz County North Coast has been a priority ever since, and the passage of the California Coastal Act has immeasurably helped.

As we enter the year 2010, it looks like protection of the North Coast may be in the news again. Over ten years ago, the Trust For Public Land purchased the Coast Dairies and Land Company, making TPL the owner of thousands of acres of agricultural and forested lands on the North Coast. TPL now plans to convey this property to the Bureau of Land Management, and to a non-profit group called Agri-Culture.

Coastal protection advocates would like to see these proposed transfers occur through a Coastal Development Permit process, so that clear and enforceable conditions will prevent the future development of resorts and racetracks, and things like that. Currently, County government is resisting the idea that the future use of the North Coast should be subject to Coastal Commission approved conditions.

Stay tuned next year. I’m sure you’ll hear more!

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

Happy New Year to all those KUSP listeners who make the Land Use Report part of their daily schedule. If you’re a “New Year’s Resolution” kind of person, I hope you’ll consider “picking an issue” (almost any issue), and then becoming more informed, and more involved, in the year ahead. Water, for instance! There will be a lot going on in the City of Santa Cruz, and at the Santa Cruz County Local Agency Formation Commission. Or how about “transportation?” There’s another hot topic! How about that infamous Monterey County General Plan? Monterey County started work on their General Plan Update in 1999. They’re on version number five, right now, and maybe the Board will actually vote on the new Plan in 2010. There’s still time to get involved. And of course, 2010 is an election year. We shouldn’t forget that.

I’m going to be travelling during the first couple of months or so of this New Year, so I’m making a special point to get my exhortations to public involvement out to you on an immediate basis, as we all sail into a brand New Year of possibility.

And here’s a reading assignment, consistent with the idea that the New Year might, actually, bring something “new.” For the philosophically inclined, On Revolution by Hannah Arendt continues to inspire us to create something wholly new in the world, by joining together in what Americans have been fortunate to know as “self-government.”

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

On Revolution, by Hannah Arendt, available at Bookshop Santa Cruz, and elsewhere
http://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/search/
apachesolr_search/hannah+arendt%2C+on+revolution