Summary: Friday, January 1, 2016 / 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. In the Wednesday edition of this Land Use Report, I did a little reminiscing about the past history of community participation in land use decision making in Santa Cruz County. Anyone who has listened to the Land Use Report on any kind of a regular basis knows that stimulating community participation in land use issues is the “unhidden agenda” of this little feature on KUSP. I think that more community involvement in land use would be a great thing for all of the communities of our Monterey Bay Region. So, if you are looking for a New Year’s resolution to implement, let me suggest that you consider investing some time in helping to determine the future your local community by getting personally involved in the land use policy and project decisions that will affect your community in some pretty profound ways. Most of us, I think, are busy people, and the idea of spending time reading planning reports, or going to meetings, is not the first thing that comes to mind as we think about what to put on our New Year’s Resolutions list. However, I want to let you know something. Effective community participation is a “team sport.” To be effective, you have to work with others who care about the same issues you do, and here’s a secret. The result of your personal involvement (with others) will not only be better land use decisions, it will be lifelong friendships that will enrich your life. Happy New Year to all! More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
