The Land Use Report

Tuesday, June 17, 2014 Each week, I check out the upcoming agendas of both the Santa Cruz County and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and I’d recommend this practice to everyone, particularly if you live in an area outside an incorporated city. Counties have expansive powers over land use in unincorporated areas, and since land use decisions affect us all, it is kind of a “good citizenship” thing to be aware of what your local Board of Supervisors is doing. If you knew what they were doing, you might want to get involved! Tuesday is the day that Boards of Supervisors meet, and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will be meeting in Salinas, starting at 10:30 this morning. One item of interest on today’s agenda will be the Annual Monterey County Crop Report. The County Agricultural Commissioner will make that report in person, shortly after the Board meeting gets underway. It is always interesting to see what is happening with the County’s agricultural economy. It is a three billion dollar plus business! While this may be an editorial comment, I do think, with that kind of money at stake, that County residents would be well advised to make sure that the County’s agricultural lands are protected and preserved. I invite listeners to track down the link to the Agricultural Commissioner’s website, found at kusp.org/landuse. That website has an abundance of interesting information about Monterey County agriculture, including some discussion of key land use issues. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Agricultural Commissioner’s Website Monterey County Board Agendas

Monday, June 16, 2014 Counties are subdivisions of state government, and they have plenary power over land use in all areas of the county that are not located within an incorporated city. Here are a few interesting items coming up for discussion tomorrow before the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. The most consequential item is probably Agenda Item #49. In a nine-page letter, the county staff is proposing a number of changes to the county’s permit procedures. An enduring goal, for more than the forty years I have followed these issues, has been to find a way to achieve a more “user‑friendly” permit process, while preserving environmental and neighborhood protections. This letter is intended to kick off another round of possible code changes. Agenda Item #50 is important, too. The county staff is proposing an ordinance that will govern how to administer a special tax for parks purposes that won voter approval in the election held on June 3rd. Finally, I think Agenda Item #34 (on the Consent Agenda) is worth your review. Santa Cruz County ranks fifth in the nation for the number of artists per capita, and has been selected to participate in a national pilot project program on Craft Entrepreneurship, sponsored by the online sales site, Etsy. You can get more information on all of these items at kusp.org/landuse. More Information Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Board of Supervisors Agenda – June 17, 2014 Staff Report, Agenda Item #49 – Code Revision Staff Report, Agenda Item #50 – Parks Funding

Friday, June 13, 2014 Here is a last minute reminder of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance “Gathering,” to be held tomorrow (Saturday) at Toro Park in Salinas. The “Gathering” will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and will feature guided hikes, and remarks from Doug Scott, a renowned wilderness historian and author of The Enduring Wilderness. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964. What better time to get involved with a group working to protect and provide stewardship for our local wilderness lands? If urban wetlands are more to your taste than wilderness, I have another suggestion for an outing tomorrow. One of the great nonprofit groups working in our region is the Watsonville Wetlands Watch. For years, the Watsonville Wetlands Watch has been planting native plants as part of its ongoing efforts to restore habitat adjacent to the sloughs. Tomorrow, the Wetlands Watch is hosting a tour of its native plant greenhouse and restoration sites. Restoration Specialist and native plant expert John Pritchard and Watsonville Wetlands Watch board member Kris Beall will lead the tour. It starts at 10:00 a.m. If you want to participate, you need to make a reservation by noon today. You can find out more about the Wetlands Watch, and about how to make a reservation for the tour, by going to kusp.org/landuse, and tracking down the links in today’s transcript. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog The Enduring Wilderness Information on Doug Scott Wilderness Act of 1964 Watsonville Wetlands Watch Newsletter Information and Reservations: Phone Kathy Fieberling - 831-345-1226 / Email Kathy Fieberling

Thursday, June 12, 2014 The “unhidden agenda” of the Land Use Report is to stimulate your personal engagement in the land use issues that are of such importance to our Central Coast Region. Land use policy and project decisions (usually made by local government agencies) often have a determinative effect on the future of our natural environment and local economy. In some ways, I am “behind the curve” in today’s Land Use Report, since the issue to which I’d like to draw your attention, the proposed City of Santa Cruz Wharf Master Plan, has just gone through a set of meetings, culminating in a “Community Briefing” held on May 19th. Your chance to get engaged, however, has not yet passed by. I can predict with some certainty that there will be other meetings, in the future, on the City’s proposed Wharf Master Plan. My purpose today is to spotlight this issue, and to try to make sure that you will start finding out what is being planned. It’s my bet that there will be mixed reactions, since a very expensive project is being advanced, and some community members will have problems with the scale of what is being proposed. The current Wharf environment is a little bit “funky,” to use a technical term. Something a lot more “upscale” and “glittery” is being suggested. I have put a link to a Community Briefing Slide Show in today’s transcript. I invite you to check it out at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog City of Santa Cruz Website – Wharf Master Plan Slide Show – May 19, 2014 Community Briefing

Wednesday, June 11, 2014 I often mention on this Land Use Report that the Monterey Bay Area is blessed with a huge inventory of active, community based nonprofit organizations that do great work on land use and environmental issues. Think about the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, or LandWatch Monterey County, or the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, as examples. In fact, I have prepared a list of “Land Use Links,” which you can find in the transcript of each and every Land Use Report. Check those “Land Use Links” for even more names of nonprofit groups that do good work on land use issues. One of the groups you will find listed is the Ventana Wilderness Alliance. The VWA has its offices in Santa Cruz, but its focus is to protect, preserve, and restore the wilderness qualities and biodiversity of the public lands within California's northern Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur coast. It’s a great group, and if you would like to find out more about it, you can attend the VWA Annual “Gathering,” to be held on Saturday, June 14th at Toro Park in Salinas. This year’s program will feature remarks by Doug Scott, a renowned wilderness historian and author of The Enduring Wilderness. There will be guided hikes at the VWA “Gathering,” too. You are invited. I hope you’ll go! You can get lots more information at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Ventana Wilderness Alliance Website Information on the VWA “Gathering” in Toro Park National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance The Enduring Wilderness Information on Doug Scott

Tuesday, June 10, 2014 This afternoon, the Santa Cruz City Council will be deciding the fate of a redwood tree located at 912 Broadway. The staff report on this item doesn’t provide any picture of the tree, and doesn’t list its height, but I looked up the address on Google Maps, and it’s pretty clear that this tree is truly an impressive specimen. It definitely qualifies as a “heritage tree,” as that term is defined in Chapter 9.56 of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code. Any tree with a circumference of at least forty-four inches (meaning that the tree is approximately fourteen inches in diameter) is a “heritage tree,” worthy of special protections. Heritage tree or not, the property owner wants to cut it down, on the basis that the redwood tree is damaging the sidewalk, a paved parking area, and plumbing. The City’s arborist points out that you don’t need to kill the tree to cure these problems, but the property owner wants the death penalty, anyway. The City Council is going to decide. I have to report that the tree’s chances aren’t very good, based on past precedent. Every year, on average, the City gives out 170 permits allowing property owners to cut down heritage trees. Very few applications are ever denied. On the other hand, the City’s arborist doesn’t usually come down on the side of the tree, either. This time, the tree might get saved. There is more information at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Santa Cruz City Council Agenda – June 10, 2014 Tree Appeal, 912 Broadway Google Maps – 912 Broadway (Earth View) Heritage Tree Ordinance (Chapter 9.56) Save Our Big Trees Website

Monday, June 9, 2014 Frequent listeners may remember the acronym “NOPOC,” meaning “Neighbors Organized to Protect Our Community.” This grassroots group is hoping to stop, or modify, a proposed PG&E power line project. The proposed new power line would cut through Watsonville, Corralitos, Pleasant Valley, and Day Valley, and tubular steel poles up to 105-feet high would be used. NOPOC thinks there is likely to be a better way. If you are interested, NOPOC is meeting tonight at 6:30 at the Corralitos Cultural Center, 127 Hames Road in Corralitos. You are definitely invited. The “Sustainable Santa Cruz County” transportation and planning program is holding a community meeting tonight, too. It’s at 7:00 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary School, 8005 Winkle Avenue, Santa Cruz. There is also a meeting on Tuesday, June 10th, again at 7:00 p.m., at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 125 Canterbury Drive in Aptos. Finally, you might want to listen in to the Board’s discussion of the County’s Capital Improvements Program. The Board meets tomorrow. The Capital Improvements Program is the County’s investment strategy for the public infrastructure that supports our local community. There is more information on all of these meetings at kusp.org/landuse. Pick a meeting and get involved! More Information Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog The NOPOC Website The Sustainable Santa Cruz County Website Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Agenda – June 10th Capital Improvements Program Staff Report

Friday, April 11, 2014 You could probably tell from listening to the Land Use Report yesterday that I pay quite a bit of attention to the land use, water, transportation, and environmental issues that affect Carmel Valley. One way I keep up to date on land use issues affecting Carmel Valley, and affecting Monterey County in general, is by subscribing to the newsletter of the Carmel Valley Association, or CVA. I definitely encourage listeners to do the same. I often find out about Monterey County land use issues, in the first instance, from the CVA Weekly Bulletin. The latest edition of the CVA Weekly Bulletin indicates that the Carmel Valley Association Board of Directors has come out in favor of Measure O, a ballot measure going before the voters of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District in June. If you are one of those voters, you should start paying attention to Measure O, if you haven’t already started doing that. In essence, Measure O would start the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District down the road to a possible public acquisition of California American Water, the private, for-profit water company that currently delivers water to the Peninsula. The CVA Weekly Bulletin didn’t outline the reasons for the CVA position in favor of Measure O, but it did say that it would be publishing its argument for a “Yes” vote in future editions. Good reason to subscribe! More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog CVA Weekly Bulletin CVA Website Monterey Elections Notice About Measure O Ballot Argument Monterey Herald News Article on Ballot Language Lawsuit Coast Weekly Article on Ballot Language Lawsuit Ballot*Pedia Website Discussion of Measure O Monterey Herald Editorial on Measure O

Thursday, April 10, 2014 The Carmel River is a major source of water for the Monterey Peninsula. It is a source of water for fish, too, including endangered steelhead trout. In fact, the California American Water Company has been taking more water out of the river than they are legally allowed to remove, and they have been doing that for years. These excessive water diversions have degraded the river’s ability to support steelhead, and Cal-Am is under an order to cut back. A big motivation for the proposed desalination plant is the fact that diversions of water from the Carmel River have to be reduced. There is a nonprofit organization that focuses specifically on the Carmel River, and perhaps even more importantly, on the Carmel River watershed. That organization is the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy, and I’d like to make sure that listeners who care about the Carmel River know about its work. I have put a link to the Conservancy’s website in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report, and I encourage you to visit the website, look around, and then to subscribe to the email alerts that the Conservancy will provide, from time to time. They’re free! Most recently, the Carmel Valley Association has alerted its supporters that the Conservancy will be doing an update to the 2005 Watershed Assessment and the 2007 Action Plan. You might want to get informed about some exciting projects in process and on the way! More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Carmel River Watershed Conservancy Website Carmel River Watershed Conservancy Facebook Page

Wednesday, April 9, 2014 Local governments make most of the land use and development decisions that I talk about here on the Land Use Report. That particularly includes city councils and county boards of supervisors. County governments have land use jurisdiction over all lands that are not located within the boundaries of an existing city. If land is located within a city, then the city council of that city has jurisdiction City councils and boards of supervisors almost always make their decisions based on advice and recommendations provided by the city or county planning commission. Sometimes, the decisions made by planning commissions are final, though subject to an appeal to the council or the board. Planning commissions, in other words, are important. If you care about land use, you really should be following the activities of your local planning commission, just as you should also be following the decisions of your local city council and board of supervisors. Today, the Monterey County Planning Commission is meeting in Salinas, starting at 9:00 a.m. A link to the Commission’s agenda is at kusp.org/landuse. The commission will be considering a “Right To Farm” ordinance, new procedures governing how to amend the County General Plan, and an ordinance change that would make it more difficult for oil companies to explore and produce oil and gas in residential districts in Monterey County. There are some other items of interest, too! More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Monterey County Planning Commission Agenda – April 9, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting Website – Agendas and Minutes

Tuesday, April 8, 2014 Last Thursday, I alerted listeners to a meeting of the Coastal Commission being held this week in Santa Barbara. On the Commission’s agenda on Wednesday, April 9th is a proposed “Eco‑Resort.” This 184‑room condominium development would be located within the sand dune habitat found on the ocean side of Highway One, in Sand City. Links to lots of information, including pictures and diagrams, are found in today’s transcript. Check that out at kusp.org/landuse. The project is unusual in that the Coastal Commission staff recommends approval, albeit with a lot of conditions. Developments on the ocean side of Highway One, in the middle of the habitat of an endangered species (in this case the snowy plover), are not usually projects that the Coastal Commission staff thinks are a good idea. In this case, though, approval of the project would set the stage for the settlement of a lawsuit against the Commission. That is an obvious factor in the consideration of the proposal. At least one environmental group, called the Pelican Network, is supporting the development. The Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Audubon are all opposing it, and have written a strong letter, outlining their environmental objections. I encourage listeners to weigh in on this important matter. There is still time to let the Coastal Commission know what you think. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Coastal Commission Agenda Monterey Bay Shores Project Website Monterey Bay Shores Project Pictures and Diagrams Monterey Bay Shores Facebook Page Audubon California Alert Pelican Network Website Coast Weekly Article on the Eco-Resort Monterrey Herald Article on the Eco-Resort April 3, 2014 Land Use Report on the Eco-Resort Click here to receive a copy of an opposition letter from environmental groups

Monday, April 7, 2014 I encourage you to check out the written version of these Land Use Reports to get more information. If you do, you’ll find the title of today’s report is “Water and Development.” Those two words encapsulate most of the subject matter I address here on the Land Use Report. I guess we could throw in the word “transportation” to round it all out. In terms of “water,” here are some “heads up” announcements. Tonight, the City of Santa Cruz is going to hold a Water Conservation Master Plan Modeling Workshop, starting at 5:00 p.m. in the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. Water wonks are definitely invited. The workshop will be followed by a meeting of the City’s Water Commission, starting at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers. Tomorrow, the City Council itself will be meeting in those chambers, starting at 2:30 in the afternoon. A good part of the meeting will be devoted to water-related matters, including a proposal to spend $350,000 to study water supply reliability. Water rationing issues are also on the agenda. In terms of “development,” here is an advance notice of a luncheon meeting of the League of Women Voters of Monterey County. On April 9th, that’s Wednesday, you can attend their noon luncheon and get a “development” update provided by LandWatch Monterey County. Check out these items at kusp.org/landuse. More Information Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Water Conservation Workshop – April 7, 2014 Water Commission Agenda – April 7, 2014 Santa Cruz City Council Agenda – April 8, 2014 Agenda Report – Water Rationing at the City Council Agenda Report – The $350,000 Contract LandWatch At The League of Women Voters – April 9, 2014 LandWatch Website

Friday, April 4, 2014 Land use issues are usually thought of as “environmental” issues, since the decisions we make about land use have an incredibly important impact on the natural environment that ultimately sustains all life. Land use decisions also have significant economic and social consequences, and I have often characterized land use issues by reference to the “Three E’s” (“Environment,” “Economy,” and “Equity”). For today’s Land Use Report, let’s focus in on how important the “environmental” perspective is when we talk about land use. I want to highlight the “environmental” aspects of land use issues, because I am recommending that listeners tune in to, or record, an upcoming television documentary about environmental education, produced by Bob Gliner, a former professor at San Jose State University and now an outstanding and award-winning documentary filmmaker. “Growing Up Green” documents a unique statewide effort in Michigan, where both rural and urban schools have built school reform around a study of the environments that students inhabit. I think that many KUSP listeners will find it to be inspiring. If you’d like to watch or record “Growing Up Green,” it will show on KQED-9 on Monday April 7th, at 11:30 p.m. and on Tuesday, April 8th at 5:30 a.m. There is more information at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog KQED-9 Website Announcement Bob Gliner Website

Thursday, April 3, 2014 The California Coastal Commission meets next week. On April 10th, the Commission will hold a public hearing on a proposed Sand City resort development often called the “Ghandour project.” It includes 1.34 million square feet of new construction, comprised of 184 condominium units, plus associated commercial development. It would be located to the ocean side of Highway One, and the development would be right in the middle of significant coastal dune habitat, including habitat that supports the snowy plover, an endangered species. This proposal is not something that the Commission would normally think was a very good idea. In fact, there are lots of Coastal Act policies that would normally make this proposed development a non-starter from a Coastal Commission perspective. The proposed Monterey Bay Shores Resort, however, does not come to the Commission through what might be called a “normal” process, and the staff recommendation is for approval with conditions. Litigation and administrative appeals over the period of fifteen (15) years, during which time the Commission has refused to approve the project, ultimately resulted in a settlement agreement, signed last December 24th. You could say that this was a wonderful Christmas present for the developer. If you care about this kind of coastal development, check today’s transcript at kusp.org/landuse for more information. You can still get involved! More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Coastal Commission Website Meeting Agenda – April Meeting Staff Report: Hotel On The Dunes

Wednesday, April 2, 2014         The most important land use and planning decisions in any city are made by the city council. However, cities generally establish lower level planning bodies to handle issues that require public input but that are not necessarily seen as needing a council level decision.  Of course, the process established almost always allows an appeal to the council, so that members of the public can receive review at the highest level, should they be dissatisfied with a lower level decision. Typically, a city council will create the position of “Zoning Administrator,” or ZA. The ZA is usually a staff person who makes decisions on behalf of the city where public input is desirable. I recently had an opportunity to participate in a ZA hearing at the City of Santa Cruz. I found it professional, and fairly conducted, with all parties (including the city staff) having an ample opportunity to express their views. City councils also appoint a “Planning Commission,” comprised of a number of citizen volunteers, who hear more involved and controversial planning and land use items. Often, the decisions of the planning commission are “advisory” to the council. Sometimes the commission can make a “final” decision, subject to appeal. If you’d like to see the City of Santa Cruz ZA and Planning Commission in action, be advised that the ZA meets today, at 10:00 a.m., and the planning commission meets tomorrow, at 7:00 p.m.  Links to the agendas are in today’s transcript. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission – Meeting of April 3, 2014 City of Santa Cruz Zoning Administrator – Meeting of April 2, 2014