Monterey County is a big county, speaking geographically. Santa Cruz County is the smallest county in the state. Again, I am speaking in terms of land area, not population. Sometimes I am challenged, when I make that statement about Santa Cruz County, because nearby San Francisco, which has a Board of Supervisors, like counties do, is definitely smaller than Santa Cruz County in terms of land area. San Francisco, though, is not actually just a “County;” it is a “City and County,” and it’s the only such political entity in California. Santa Cruz County really is the smallest California “County,” in terms of geographic area.

All of that discussion is pretty much a detour from where I was intending to start. Because Monterey County is so large, geographically, there are a number of distinct “areas” within the County, and when a new land use law is being considered, the County typically holds meetings in several of those different areas. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that Monterey County is considering a new ordinance on short-term vacation rentals (and remember that I am representing the Monterey County Vacation Rental Coalition, which supports such a ordinance). As I mentioned earlier, past meetings were held in Big Sur and Carmel Highlands. Tonight, at 6:30, there is a meeting on vacation rentals in Carmel Valley; there will a meeting on Thursday evening in Greenfield.

You can get more information below.

More Information

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• June 6, 2014 Land Use Report – Short Term Vacation Rentals
• Santa Cruz County Vacation Rental Ordinance – See Section 13.10.694
• Carmel Valley Association Announcement of Vacation Rental Meeting
• Monterey County Short Term Rental Website

There is a good bit of controversy in Monterey County about vacation rentals. I mentioned that yesterday. I think it’s fair to say there is even more controversy about the future of wild lands on the former Fort Ord. What kind of future development should be allowed, and on what conditions?

I don’t suggest that listeners should get involved in controversial issues just because a land use “fight” is such good fun, although it is “fun,” in a lot of ways, to get involved in the rough and tumble debate about future land use policy. What I suggest, and I am serious, is that when you start hearing about land use related “debates,” when land use controversies start coming to the attention of the general public, that usually means that something of significance is being proposed, and the decision ultimately made, whatever it is, will have a profound impact on our future. The unhidden agenda of the Land Use Report is to encourage you (and I do mean “you,” personally) to join in the discussion, and debate, and ultimate decision-making process.

Right now, the California Department of Veterans Affairs is reviewing the need for an Environmental Impact Report on the proposed Veterans’ Cemetery on the former Fort Ord. There is a debate about that proposal. To learn more, and even get involved, check out the links below. The future of the Monterey Peninsula is at stake.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Monterey Herald News Story on Fort Ord Cemetery Plans
• Notice of Availability of Initial Study on Veteran’s Cemetery
  • Ask for the documents - David.Gerard@calvet.ca.gov
  • Ask for a full EIR - Environmental@dgs.ca.gov
• United Veterans Council of Monterey County
• Keep Fort Ord Wild Website

Final and determinative decisions on significant land use policy issues are almost always arrived at after a lengthy review process. It is not unusual for a local government to spend years on a significant land use policy matter, with studies, workshops, public hearings, and environmental reviews all taking place prior to a final decision. Ultimately, though, the time for a final decision does arrive, and then it sometimes happens that the land use policy matter that you thought was going to be decided, is continued (or “delayed,” as some might put it) for even more time, so that the process goes on just when you thought it would end. The final adoption of the proposed revision of the Capitola General Plan seems to fit into this category.

Back on May 6th, I advised listeners that there would a hearing before the Capitola City Council on May 8th, and that final action on the proposed new Capitola General Plan was anticipated at that meeting. Anticipated but not accomplished, as it turned out. I have a new “estimated time of arrival.” The Capitola City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 26th (tomorrow), at 7:00 p.m., and a final vote on the City’s General Plan Update is expected then. You can still weigh in on Capitola’s most important land use policy document. Check the links below for more information.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• May 6, 2014 Land Use Report on Capitola General Plan
• Draft General Plan Update
• Capitola General Plan Update Website
• Staff Report for June 26, 2014 Meeting

Speaking of final decisions on important land use policy documents, and the lengthy review process that is often involved (and that’s what I talked about yesterday, with specific reference to the possible adoption of the Capitola General Plan Update tonight), I should alert you to another upcoming coming decision.

This morning, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will hold a special meeting in downtown Santa Cruz, starting at 9:00 o’clock. At the meeting this morning, the Commission will consider final adoption of its 2014 Regional Transportation Plan, or RTP. This proposed Plan has gone through a lengthy process of public workshops and environmental reviews. The RTP is intended to outline a plan for “sustainable” transportation strategies for Santa Cruz County. If you would like to weigh in before the final vote, you will find links at kusp.org/landuse. The Executive Summary makes this statement:

The transportation system not only enables us to get around but it is also interlinked with our health and safety, the quality of the built and natural environment, and the economic vitality of our region. [Key issues are] System Preservation ... Safety [and] … Congestion …

I encourage Santa Cruz County listeners to review the RTP. It is going to guide how millions of dollars of transportation funds will be spent.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Santa Cruz County Transportation Commission Agenda Packet
• Proposed 2014 Santa Cruz County RTP Website
• Final Draft, 2014 RTP

This morning, let me introduce you to a land use policy strategy intended to be used as a tool to protect open space and natural lands, insulating such lands from the impacts associated with what is euphemistically called “development.” “Development,” of course, means the transformation of natural lands to some human use, and usually includes grading, the construction of roads, pipelines, and either residential or commercial structures of one kind or another.

Environmental groups tend to oppose development projects, because of their inevitably negative impacts on the natural environment. However, our local communities are growing and responding to the need to provide new homes, new jobs, and new recreational opportunities. How these “development” needs are reconciled with our desire to protect the natural environment is a large part of what land use policy is all about.

The Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club has published a brief article on “Transfer of Development Rights.” I have a link below. It’s an article worth reading. And worth reading critically! The idea is to redirect development away from the most sensitive environmental areas by putting those off limits, and increasing development in more appropriate locations. Check out the article at kusp.org/landuse. I’ll have more to say about this concept in a subsequent Land Use Report.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Sierra Club Statement on Transfer of Development Rights