The Land Use Report

Friday, September 28, 2012 If you would like to take a little “field trip” to the “fields,” mark your calendar for Family Farm Day at the ALBA Rural Development Center. The ALBA Family Farm Day will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 6th, at 1700 Old Stage Road in Salinas. The world “alba” means “dawn” in Spanish. As an acronym, ALBA stands for “Agriculture and Land‑Based Training Association.” ALBA’s mission is to advance economic viability, social equity, and ecological land management among limited-resource and aspiring farmers. ALBA is trying not only to develop tomorrow’s farmers and sustainable agriculture leaders, but to improve marketing alternatives for small-scale, limited-resource farmers, while enhancing agriculture in a way that respects biological diversity. Farm Day guests are invited to purchase a bounty of freshly harvested foods. Visitors are encouraged to bring cash and reusable bags for produce purchases. Children and bicycles are both welcome. In other, and related, news, ALBA is now accepting applications, through October 15th, for its bilingual Farmer Education Program, designed to assist limited-resource persons who want to establish and successfully run an independent organic farming business. It is an impressive program. Get more information at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog The ALBA Website The ALBA Family Farm Days For more information contact: Nancy Bustos at (831) 758-1469, Ext. #15

Thursday, September 27, 2012 The Land Use Report comes to your radio rather early in the morning, so you may be hearing this news for the first time right here. Don’t worry; stick with KUSP, as I hope you do, and you will hear this news again. Today is the official kick off of the KUSP periodic Pledge Drive. This is the time you can show your support for the great programming you get from KUSP Radio by giving a little something back to this nonprofit effort to bring the best of great music and great information to the Central Coast Region. KUSP is the station that brings you the Land Use Report. I hope you can help out and help support what I think of as a great local resource that helps make this part of California so special. Now, a couple of tips on land use related items. If you would like to see what one Central Coast local government is doing about water conservation, track down today’s transcript at kusp.org/landuse. You will find a link to a proposed San Luis Obispo County ordinance that requires that water conservation be built in to new land use developments when such new developments are approved. There is also a link to an article about Gus Speth, former environmental advisor to Presidents Carter and Clinton. Speth is calling for a “post growth” approach to our economy and environment. It’s an article worth reading! More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Agenda Materials on Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Ordinance Staff Report on Proposed Ordinance Article - Gus Speth – “Ultimate Insider” Goes Radical  

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 As a former elected official myself, I do pay attention to elections, and this year I am paying particular attention not only to the amazingly important federal and state elections scheduled for November, but to some pretty important local elections, too. County Supervisorial elections in both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties will have a profound impact on future land use decisions. City Council elections, perhaps particularly in the City of Santa Cruz, may also have a big impact on future land use and water policy decisions. If you are going to be voting in the City of Santa Cruz (and there is still time to register to vote, by the way), you might want to attend a candidates’ forum for Santa Cruz City Council candidates, scheduled for tomorrow evening. The forum will focus on water issues, and is sponsored by the Surfriders Environmental Alliance, the Surfrider Foundation, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Peak Water, Desal Alternatives, the Community Water Coalition, Teach the Forest, and Save the Waves. The candidates’ forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow evening at the Louden Nelson Center, located at 301 Center Street in the City of Santa Cruz. The law firm with which I am associated represents the Community Water Coalition, one of the sponsors, but that’s not the only reason I am going to be at the forum tomorrow night. I hope to see you there! More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Candidate Night Informational Flyer Your Right To Vote On Desal Website Register To Vote    

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 This morning, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, meeting at the County Governmental Center, will be considering a project that will, if approved and then constructed, profoundly change Aptos Village. I encourage those who care about Aptos Village to check out what is being proposed by Barry Swenson Builder. You can get links to project information at kusp.org/landuse. Whatever you decide about the proposed project, you should probably follow up by letting the Board of Supervisors know your thoughts. To do that, you can attend today’s public hearing, or you can use the “email app” built right into the Board’s agenda, that let’s you easily send a comment on any agenda item of interest to you. The project property includes approximately 11.5 acres, located in the core area of Aptos Village. The majority of the subject property is undeveloped, though an existing historic Apple Barn (currently an antique shop), the former Aptos firehouse, and miscellaneous other structures are located on the project site. Proposed is the construction of a mixed-use commercial and residential development including 63 residential units and up to 75,000 square feet of commercial development. County staff and the Planning Commission have determined that the project is consistent with all applicable codes and policies and the Santa Cruz County General Plan. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog September 25, 2012 Board Agenda Staff Report - Aptos Village Project    

Monday, September 24, 2012 All good things come to an end, and the City of Watsonville is approaching the end of its General Plan Update process. I am looking at an official City of Watsonville Public Hearing Notice, which says this: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the City Council of the City of Watsonville, on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, at the 6:30 p.m. session, in the City Council Chambers, 275 Main Street, 4th Floor…, Watsonville, California, to consider [the] Watsonville Vista 2030 General Plan Update and Final Environmental Impact Report. The City’s General Plan will guide how, when, and where the City will grow. It establishes the community’s vision of what the community wants to become and how that vision will be achieved through policy goals and objectives. The General Plan includes policy statements on conservation, land use, transportation, housing, public services, and parks and recreation, among others. The proposed General Plan has been developed in response to a court case that invalidated an earlier General Plan revision. As the Public Notice says, “The project affects all properties within the City Limits of the City of Watsonville.” If you live in or have a business in the City of Watsonville, don’t miss your chance to help shape the future of your community. What will probably be the final hearing is tomorrow night. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog City of Watsonville Website Vista 2030 General Plan and EIR City Council Agenda Materials, September 25, 2012 Meeting  

Friday, September 21, 2012 I doubt many KUSP listeners have focused their attention on the Garrapata Water System. I happen to know, though, that KUSP does have a dedicated band of listeners in Big Sur. What happens to the Garrapata Water System may be highly relevant to them. It was, in fact, a listener in Big Sur who first suggested that KUSP sponsor a “Land Use Report,” to provide information about key land use issues affecting the Central Coast. In a lot of ways, I am here each weekday morning because of some KUSP listeners in Big Sur. So, while everyone should be concerned about the Garrapata Water System, since everything is hitched to everything else, as John Muir noted, this item is mostly for those living on the Big Sur coast, and specifically for those who may rely on, or be affected by, what happens with the Garrapata Water System. A “Clearinghouse” bulletin from the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments indicates that Monterey County is doing an “initial study” on a proposal to demolish two 13,000-gallon water tanks, to install two 32,000-gallon water tanks, and to install approximately 1,200 linear feet of distribution pipe, and a new filtration system, along with a new accessory structure. If you want to follow up, there is more information in today’s blog at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog AMBAG Website The proposed project is located on APN: 243-301-021 Public review of the initial study ends on October 4, 2012 For more information on the proposed project contact: Joseph Sidor – 831-755-5262  

Thursday, September 20, 2012 The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is holding a Transportation Policy Workshop this morning. The workshop will begin at 9:00 o’clock, and will be held in the offices of the Transportation Commission, located at 1523 Pacific Avenue, in downtown Santa Cruz. If you have some time this morning, you are definitely invited to attend this Workshop. The Commission itself is a “who’s who” of local elected officials, most of whom I assume will be attending. The list includes all members of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, and City Council Members from Capitola, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and the City of Santa Cruz. Three members of the Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District also serve on the Commission. You can check out the membership of the Commission, and review today’s Workshop agenda, by finding your way to kusp.org/landuse. The main item on the agenda for this morning’s Workshop is a discussion of proposed passenger rail service on the Santa Cruz Branch Line, once it is fully in public ownership. How we are going to use “our” railroad line? It is an important topic. A decision about who is going to operate the local service is obviously important. Other tasks needed to conclude the acquisition include: finalizing purchase documents, completing the escrow process, and purchasing necessary insurance policies. Remember, you’re invited to the meeting this morning! More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Agenda For September 20, 2012 Transportation Policy Workshop News Release on Acquisition of the Rail Corridor Project Information – Rail Line Acquisition      

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 It has probably not escaped your attention that there will be an election on November 6th this year. There is quite a choice at the Presidential level, and there are some important choices to be made at the state level, too. Last week, I highlighted one of the state ballot propositions that will have a big impact on land use, Proposition 31, and I would be remiss not to mention the supervisorial elections being held in every county in the Monterey Bay Region. In most of them, land use issues are right at the center of the debate. I hope you are getting informed and getting involved. As you probably know, KUSP makes it easy to send me an email, and I am always delighted to hear from listeners. I really do try to respond to what listeners tell me; so, don’t be shy. Last week, a listener alerted me to a website called “The Inside Scoop,” focusing on the Santa Cruz City City Council elections, and sponsoring a forum scheduled for today at 6:30 p.m. It’s unclear to me who is sponsoring the site, but one interesting feature is an ability to use the site to pose questions to the candidates, and to indicate, by voting, what questions you think are most important. I am pleased to say that a lot of the issues identified do relate to land use and water policy. You can get a link to my direct email, and to “The Inside Scoop,” at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Land Use Report, September 14, 2012 – Proposition #31 The “Inside Scoop” Website  

Tuesday, September 18, 2012 The future of Fort Ord is being hotly debated! I hope you are following the debates. Even more, I hope you are getting personally involved. A recent news article reports that Assembly Member Bill Monning has proposed a kind of “compromise” approach to one of the conflicts. Check out the article and get more information at kusp.org/land use. You can go beyond reading about the issues, and get involved yourself, by attending one of these upcoming meetings: Tomorrow, on Wednesday, September 19th, the League of Women Voters will sponsor a talk by Bill Weigle, titled: "Why Should We Keep Fort Ord Wild?" The presentation will take place at noon, at the Unitarian Church, located at 490 Aguajito Road in Monterey. If you’d like lunch, which costs $15, please make a reservation. On Thursday, September 20th, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., the Fort Ord Reuse Authority will hold a Community Information Session on the proposed Parker Flats Remedial Activities and Resulting Community Impacts. The meeting will be at the Carpenters Union Hall, located at 910 2nd Avenue in Marina. On Friday, September 21st, there is a Community Walk with Seaside Mayor Felix Bachofner, County Supervisor Jane Parker, and Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado. Meet at 5:30 p.m. at the barricades just east of Marshall Elementary School in Marina. On Monday, September 24th, there will be a Community Meeting about the Fort Ord National Monument. Eric Morgan, BLM Manager, will be discussing what the National Monument status means and what the next steps are. The meeting will be held at the Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Street, in Seaside, starting at 6:00 p.m. Full details on these events are found in today’s transcript. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Monterey County Herald Article On Bill Monning Recommendation on Fort Ord Monterey County Weekly Article  - A Flurry of Public Meetings on Fort Ord

Monday, September 17, 2012 The Monterey County Board of Supervisors meets tomorrow. Item #19 on the Consent Calendar is the Annual Report of the County’s Agricultural Advisory Committee, covering the period from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. There is a link to the Report in today’s Land Use Report transcript, available at kusp.org/landuse. If you are interested in agriculture in Monterey County, check it out. The Report outlines a number of issues of importance to the future of agriculture, and identifies the appropriate staff person to contact to follow up. Commercial agriculture in Monterey County is a big business. Here are some of the key issues mentioned in the Report: Threats from pests, especially the Light Brown Apple Moth and the European Grapevine Moth. Runoff and erosion related to the use of “hoop houses.” How compatible uses are treated under the Williamson Act (in other words, what uses will be permitted on agricultural lands with a Williamson Act contract). The County has determined that carnivals, festivals, races, weddings, and private parties are NOT compatible. What sort of compatible uses will be permitted in the County’s designated “Winery Corridor.” Again, this is a report worth reading to see an inventory of the issues facing commercial agriculture in Monterey County. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Monterey County Agenda Materials For September 18, 2012 Meeting      

Friday, September 14, 2012 Most land use decisions are made locally, but our governmental system presumes that basic directions about land use policy come from state legislation. State legislation, for instance, is what protects our coast. The Coastal Act, with its protective policies for coastal resources, and with its protection for public access to the coast, is what prevents local governments from doing what they used to do; namely, giving private developers the right to fill in wetlands, and to pave over farmland, and to shut out the public from our coast and beaches, as proposed private developments got local government approval. Well, get ready. Proposition 31 on the November ballot would amend the California Constitution, to provide loopholes for local governments to disregard the Coastal Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, and other state legislation. Proposition 31 is opposed by environmental organizations because it would have massively negative impacts on the California environment. Proposition 31 presents itself as a “good government” measure, but it is not clear that letting local governments ignore state environmental standards, and other state laws, will have a lot of “good government” impact. Proposition 31 is sponsored by a group called California Forward, and is backed by billionaire Nicolas Berggruen. You can read up on Proposition 31 by checking the links at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Ballot Pamphlet Information on Proposition 31 Los Angeles Times Article on Proposition 31 Text of Proposition 31 California Forward Website California Forward Past and Present Leadership Wikipedia Article on Nicolas Berggruen

Thursday, September 13, 2012 FORA, or the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, is staying in the news. That may not be good news for FORA. The Monterey County Herald recently printed an editorial that pretty much makes that point. Here’s what The Herald said: "FORA leadership wants to keep the organization intact. While hoping for a 10-year extension of its empowering legislation, which is on the verge of lapsing, [FORA] managed to win legislative approval for just six more years and is now awaiting word on whether the governor will approve or veto that plan. "[Consideration of the legislation] has focused community attention on the tedious pace of Fort Ord redevelopment. Meanwhile, litigation over public records has produced a series of embarrassments for the authority. Considering all that, it would seem safe to presume that FORA's leadership is following all appropriate rules to the letter and is listening to input from everyone. In other words, that it is on its best behavior." Listeners might want to read the entire editorial. The Herald concludes that FORA continues to evidence bad behavior, most recently by unfairly shutting down comments from Monterey County Supervisor Jane Parker. In Monterey County, the future development of the former Fort Ord is probably the County’s biggest outstanding planning issue (with the exception of water supply issues). I urge Monterey County residents to get involved. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Monterey County Herald Editorial FORA Website Fort Ord Base Reuse Plan Keep Fort Ord Wild Website AB 1614 - Legislation Extending FORA LandWatch Monterey County Fort Ord Issues and Actions News Article on Special Meeting of Seaside City Council on FORA Lands  

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 As mentioned yesterday, the Monterey County Planning Commission is meeting today. The Commission meeting starts at 9:00 a.m., and will be held at the Monterey County Government Center in Salinas. As usual, you can find online references in KUSP’s Land Use Report blog. Item #5 on today’s agenda is a public workshop. The Commission is going to discuss proposed ordinances that would change the process for considering applications for subdivisions and lot line adjustments. One of the significant changes is the proposed elimination of the Monterey County Minor and Standard Subdivision Committees. I imagine that this item will be of most interest to the planning consultants and the land use attorneys who represent applicants and developers in the County’s planning process. That is probably a good reason for members of the public to be there, too! As Land Use Report listeners undoubtedly understand, the substance of land use regulations is important, but so is the process used to review development applications. The Minor and Standard Subdivision Committees are “technical” committees, which focus on engineering and similar details. Giving them a key role in the review of controversial applications may be unfair to the general public. Again, the Monterey County Planning Commission is meeting this morning. If you care about Monterey County land use issues, it would be good for you to be there! More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Planning Commission Agenda, September 12, 2012 Staff Report on Agenda Item #5 – Elimination of Subdivision Committee        

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 Is it possible to say “Monterey County” and not think immediately about some sort of water-related issue? It probably is, but I find it difficult. Each week, as I prepare these Land Use Reports, I check upcoming public meetings, and I almost always find one or more meetings that focus on water issues affecting Monterey County. Today, let me tell you about three of them. This afternoon, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will take up Agenda Item #16, and will respond to a request from the Monterey Peninsula Mayors that the County become a member of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority. Getting different local governments to work together to address water issues on the Peninsula is a great idea. Of course, past efforts have had some problems. Today, also at 1:30 p.m., there will be a Public Workshop on the Pajaro River Watershed Integrated Regional Water Management Plan, or IRWMP. That will take place at the Gilroy Library, 350 West Sixth Street, in Gilroy. Finally, the Monterey County Planning Commission will meet tomorrow, and will consider a use permit for the removal of the Old Carmel River Dam. That is Agenda Item #4. The Commission will also take up some very important non-water related planning issues. I encourage your attendance. There is a link to the Commission’s agenda at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agenda, September 11, 2012 Monterey County Planning Commission Agenda, September 12, 2012 Pajaro River Watershed Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) MOU Monterey County Weekly Article on County Decision on Regional Water Authority For more information on the IRWMP, please contact Lidia Gutierrez: Telephone: 925-766-5294 Email: lidia@gutierrezconsultants.com.      

Monday, September 10, 2012 Tomorrow night, the Santa Cruz City Council will make some important decisions. If you have a position on whether or not the City should invest $4.1 million dollars of its financial reserves in a new basketball arena, to be located at Front and Spruce Streets, on the fringes of downtown, you had better be there. There are lots of land use questions involved in this deal. The proposal is to build a 2700-seat arena with no dedicated parking. In addition, an existing private parking lot will be eliminated. Beach employees now parking at Front and Spruce Streets will be given free parking at the City’s downtown garage at Front and River Streets, a garage currently relied upon by downtown employees and the customers of downtown businesses. The normal environmental review process has been truncated, noise issues are of very real concern to the neighbors, and preconstruction work has already begun, even before official approval. What may be most fascinating to City residents who care about how their financial reserves are being deployed, is the fact that the proposed deal with the Golden State Warriors is not really a “loan” to the Warriors. It’s actually more like a “joint venture” agreement. The City would essentially be going into the basketball and arena business, and the City will get the entirety of its $4.1 million dollars back only if that business does well. Decision time is tomorrow night. There are links at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Staff Report – Arena Project September 5, 2012 Santa Cruz Sentinel Article on Warriors Deal Santa Cruz Sentinel Editorial Supporting Warriors Deal September 7, 2012 Santa Cruz Sentinel Article on Warriors Deal