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KUSP LandWatch
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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 November 18, 2002 to November 22, 2002
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,
November 18th – “Smart Growth” and Transit in Marina
“Smart growth.” what does that mean? In general, it means
planning practices that maximize “efficiency” in the use
of land and resources. If jobs and housing are placed together,
commutes are shortened. This means less pollution, less energy use.
Above all, it means less cost! When new developments are placed
within existing urban areas, the water, sewer and other infrastructure
needed are all close at hand. Again, that costs less. Of course,
you do get a different kind of development. Urban areas become more
“urban,” more dense, more compact, more filled with activity.
Rural areas stay that way.
For listeners who like to mark their calendars ahead, note that the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will be meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26th, to decide whether or not to maintain “smart growth” principles as the basis of the new Monterey County General Plan. I encourage your attendance.
For listeners who want to know what to do right now, please note that the Monterey Salinas Transit District is meeting this morning, at 10:00 a.m., at the MST Conference Room, One Ryan Ranch Road in Monterey, to consider a “smart growth” proposal in the City of Marina. The question is whether the Transit District, as it develops a new bus terminal, should include on-site housing. It’s an exciting possibility, and a real “smart growth” idea.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Monterey County General Plan Update Website -
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/gpu/Monterey Salinas Transit Website -
http://www.mst.org/frame_set.html
Tuesday,
November 19th – Pismo Beach Planning Items
The Pismo Beach City Council is meeting this evening, at 5:30 p.m.,
and lots of planning items are on the agenda. The most interesting
item, I think, is the Council’s consideration of a traffic
management measure that would actually allow more traffic congestion
(in one way of looking at it) as a way to achieve the kind of “smart
growth” development patterns that have been mentioned on this
Land Use Report from time to time.
Typically, zoning codes set “Level of Service” standards for traffic, to be applied to new development proposals. If a proposed development would cause traffic to exceed the designated Level of Service, the development might be denied. This has the effect, sometimes, of spinning off new development into rural areas, where of course there aren’t any traffic problems (yet), because there isn’t any development (yet). The ultimate result can be the kind of urban sprawl that gives us gridlock. In other words, ironically, Level of Service standards for traffic can actually lead to the kind of problems they’re intended to avoid.
Progressive planners are now suggesting that another approach might be better, to allow development in already existing urban areas to go ahead, even if there are some traffic problems. The idea is to stimulate the kind of urban-centered development that will achieve long-term “smart growth” results. That’s the issue that is being debated tonight in Pismo Beach. If you can get to the meeting, it should be worthwhile to listen in.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
City of Pismo Beach Website -
http://www.pismobeach.org/HTML.html
Wednesday,
November 20th – The San Luis Obispo County LAFCO
The Central Coast of California is where most KUSP listeners live.
Not all of them, since it is now possible to get audio access from
anywhere in the world, through the KUSP website. Incidentally, if
you click on the Land Use Report link at the website, you can send
me an email. I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s stipulate that most of us are residents of the Central Coast. Don’t we agree that this is one of the most spectacular physical environments in the entire world? Well, that’s my opinion. And, most of us agree that this environment is under spectacular pressures. The human urge to build, expand, grow, and develop is certainly alive and well on the Central Coast. That’s where land use regulations, General Plans, and zoning ordinances come into play. The land use rules we set for ourselves will determine the ultimate fate of our environment.
If you’re from San Luis Obispo County, one of the most spectacular parts of the Central Coast, think about attending tomorrow’s meeting of Local Agency Formation Commission (or LAFCO). The San Luis Obispo County LAFCO will be discussing its Spheres of Influence program. Spheres of Influence, set by LAFCOs, determine just how far growth and development will be allowed to proceed. They are a critically important land use tool. Get acquainted with them at the LAFCO meeting tomorrow. It starts at 9:00 a.m. at the San Luis Obispo County Government Center.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
California Association of LAFCOs Website –
http://www.calafco.org/San Luis Obispo County LAFCO Website -
http://www.slolafco.com/
Thursday,
November 21st – Accessory Dwelling Units in Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz City Planning Commission meets tonight, at 7:00 p.m.,
at the Santa Cruz City Hall. On the agenda is a discussion of the
city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance, and Assembly Bill
1866. This new legislation may have big impacts on the character
of city neighborhoods. If you’d like a copy of the bill, click
on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.
An “accessory dwelling unit” is a second dwelling unit on the same lot as a main residential structure. Cities tend to have fairly complicated rules about such second dwelling units. The concern is impacts on the neighborhood. Traffic, parking, and other problems can arise if accessory dwelling units are not properly regulated. On the other hand, accessory dwelling units can provide opportunities for much needed affordable housing.
AB 1866 directs local communities to do some things with respect to accessory dwelling units that they might not otherwise do. While most planning decisions are made at the local level, the State Legislature can override local communities, and tell them how to do their job. To some degree, that’s what is happening here. The Legislature wants more affordable housing, and they don’t trust local communities to approve it. If you’d like to see what this new state law might mean in the City of Santa Cruz, don’t miss the Planning Commission meeting tonight.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission Website -
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/AB 1866 -
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1851-
1900/ab_1866_bill_20020929_chaptered.html
Friday,
November 22nd – Advance Notices
There are a couple of important meetings coming up. First, mark
your calendars for a public workshop on the Greenfield City General
Plan Housing Element. This workshop will be held at the Greenfield
City Council Chambers, 45 El Camino Real in Greenfield, at 6:00
p.m., on Monday, December 9th. The future growth of Greenfield will
have a big impact on the agricultural lands of the Salinas Valley.
Second, if you’re a frequent listener, you know about the Monterey County General Plan Update.
A General Plan establishes the foundation policies that will guide all future growth and development. In the case of Monterey County, a couple of fundamentally different policy directions are being debated. One policy direction would have most future growth focused in a limited number of areas that would, essentially, become ever more “urban,” while development would be guided away from farmlands and open space lands. This is what the draft General Plan proposes. However, the Board of Supervisors is also entertaining over 270 requests from individual property owners, who want to develop rural and agricultural lands that the draft plan says are not appropriate for future growth.
The decision made by the Board will be a “fork in the road” choice, and will have a major impact on the future of Monterey County. The time for decision is next Tuesday, November 26th, at 1:30 p.m., at the County Courthouse in Salinas. It would be great to see you there.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
Monterey County General Plan Update Website -
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/gpu/City of Greenfield Website -
http://www.greenfield-ca.com/
Archives of past transcripts are available here
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