Transportation planners have come to the conclusion that a singular focus on planning for “automobiles” is not the best way to plan for “mobility,” or to construct the best possible transportation future. If we really want to do good transportation planning, we need to factor in pedestrian and bicycle use on local streets and highways, and we need to “consider the alternatives” when we think about transportation planning for our communities overall.

In California, this new perspective has led to the “Complete Streets” concept, which is intended to focus local and regional transportation planning efforts on the need to provide for bicycle and pedestrian use when new roadways are constructed, expanded, or upgraded. At both the state and national levels, another evidence of this relatively new perspective on transportation planning (which has typically focused almost exclusively on the needs of motor vehicles) has been a movement called “Safe Routes To Schools.”

Tonight, there is a meeting for those who would like to help plan a “safe route to school” for students attending the San Lorenzo Valley Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. You are very much invited to attend. The group will be meeting from 7:00 to 8:00 o’clock this evening at The San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School picnic tables. Tonight’s meeting has been organized by Transition San Lorenzo Valley. There is more information below.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Transition San Lorenzo Valley Website
• National Center For Safe Routes To School
• California Complete Streets Program

A “big item” on the agenda of today’s meeting of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors is Agenda Item #10, scheduled to be heard at 1:30 this afternoon. The Board will be considering proposed developments at Pebble Beach. Specifically, the Board will consider a resolution adopting an amended Del Monte Forest Land Use Plan, and an ordinance that would amend the Monterey County Coastal Implementation Plan (which is in Title 20 of the Monterey County Code).

If, as anticipated, the Board approves the recommended actions, this will be the next to final step towards significant new development in Pebble Beach. In essence, the Board is being asked whether or not it agrees with the development approvals provided to the Pebble Beach Company by the Coastal Commission on May 9th. Presuming that the Board does agree, the Board will then transmit the amendments made today to the Coastal Commission, for confirmation by the Commission at the Commission’s next regular meeting. After that final step, the Pebble Beach Company will be “cleared for takeoff” for its land use development plans.

As I reported on May 16th, the development approval process in this case was somewhat unusual, in that the Executive Director of the Coastal Commission privately and personally negotiated with Pebble Beach Company executives to arrive at what has been called an “historic compromise.” If you want to say something, this afternoon may be your last chance.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agendas
• May 16, 2012 Land Use Report on Pebble Beach Compromise

Yesterday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors considered an agenda with fifty-eight separate items of business. As usual, some of the most significant and important items appeared not on the “regular agenda,” where a separate Board discussion is held before action, but on the Board’s “consent agenda,” which is adopted near the start of the meeting through a single motion approving multiple items. Yesterday, the Board’s consent agenda contained forty-four different items of business. One of those items is probably of particular interest to San Lorenzo Valley residents, and particularly to residents of Felton.

For a long time, Felton residents have hoped that it would be possible for the County Library System to construct a new Library in Felton. Finding the money to do that is a big problem, of course, but even finding a suitable site for a Library in Felton has been a major obstacle. Supervisor Mark Stone, who represents the San Lorenzo Valley on the Board of Supervisors, thinks he may have found a solution. He has identified a property on Gushee Street, just a block from Highway 9, where there may be a good site for a new library. Consent Agenda Item #24 proposed to kick off the necessary investigation of the Gushee Street location. If you care about this issue, you can get a link to Supervisor Stone’s letter at kusp.org/landuse. He has proposed a report back to the Board on August 7th.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Board of Supervisors Agenda, May 22, 2012
• Staff Report Agenda Item #24 – Felton Library
• Santa Cruz County GIS System

The Santa Cruz City Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing tonight, at 7:00 p.m., on the City’s Draft 2030 General Plan. I never tire of pointing out how important the General Plan is, since the General Plan is the community’s “Constitution for land use,” and all project and public works decisions must be “consistent” with the provisions of the community’s General Plan.

I know that there will be significant testimony tonight on some of the water issues that are so important to the City’s future. The reliability of the City’s water supplies for existing customers is definitely of concern. The current Draft General Plan estimates a growth in water demand of 500 million gallons by 2030, or a 14% increase in current water demand. This new water demand is more than the output of the proposed desalination plant, so even if that proposed desalination plant were built (and that’s hardly certain), there would be no increase in water security for current customers. Those affected by this issue include residents and businesses in Live Oak, Pasatiempo, and even parts of Capitola, as well as residents and business owners in the City of Santa Cruz itself.

Water issues, of course, are not the only topic of importance. Think about speaking up. Tonight is not your last chance to comment, but it’s a good chance to comment. There is more information below.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• City of Santa Cruz Website
• City Planning Commission
• Planning Commission Staff Report on Draft General Plan and EIR
• Comments can be sent to Ken Thomas at kthomas@cityofsantacruz.com

Would you like to take in a movie tonight? If you would, Transition San Lorenzo Valley has scheduled a screening of Tapped at the Satellite Telework Center in Felton, located at 6265 Highway Nine. The movie runs from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. this evening. A donation of five dollars is suggested, but no one will be turned away.

Tapped is feature film by Stephanie Soechtig. It is described as an “unflinching examination of the big business of bottled water.” The filmcomes from the producers of Who Killed the Electric Car and I.O.U.S.A. It is a very timely documentary that provides a “behind-the-scenes” look at the unregulated world of the bottled water industry, an industry that aims to privatize a resource that belongs to all of us, water, and then sell it back to us at a great price, both economic and environmental.

Tapped is being shown as part of a 2012 Film Series, sponsored by Transition San Lorenzo Valley. Next up in the series, on June 22nd, will be Blue Gold: World Water Wars. That film documents the growing battle over control of the global water supply by large corporations. Residents in Felton waged a successful battle to restore local control over local water resources, so it’s clear why this theme is being highlighted. There is more information below.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Movie Website - Tapped
• Transition San Lorenzo Valley Website
• Santa Cruz Sentinel Article on the Felton Satellite Telework Center
• Stephanie Soechtig Biography