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LandWatch is a community-based nonprofit organization, with members from throughout Monterey County. We help promote and inspire sound land use policies through grassroots community action.
http://www.landwatch.org/index.html |
6-09-07 - Monterey Herald Editorial suggests supervisors think again about immediate implementation of GPU4.
• CLICK here to read the Monterey County Herald's June 9th, 2007 editorial, "Slow down GPU4 plans" on their web site, www.montereyherald.com (on this website )
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6-07-07 - Thanks from the "YES on A" Team
A heartfelt thanks to all of you who contributed time, money, votes, and moral support to the Yes on Measure A campaign. This was a tremendous community effort, and this campaign couldn't have happened without your help.
The coalition of community groups, elected officials, community leaders, scientists, and others that sponsored Measure A remain committed to promoting common sense planning principles. We believe that a majority of voters support an increase in permanently affordably housing, farmland conservation, reduced traffic congestion, and safe and adequate drinking water. We will assess our options for ensuring that these policies are incorporated into the Monterey County General Plan, as the Board of Supervisors originally promised.
Sincerely,
The "Yes on A" Team |
April 2007 - New Community General Plan Initiative website announced.
Click here to see their new website (external link)
http://www.montereyplan.org/
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4-4-07 - The JUNE ‘07 BALLOT will include three important Measures about a new GENERAL PLAN for the unincorporated areas of MONTEREY COUNTY and the proposed Butteryfly Village development in North Salinas area.
Our organization agrees with other controlled-growth groups and recommends the following:
Vote YES on Measure A - Should a citizens-authored alternative general plan (the Community controlled-growth plan), be adopted?
Vote YES on Measure B - Should the county-approved general plan (Supervisor’s pro-growth plan) be repealed?
Vote NO on Measure C - Should the county-approved general plan (Supervisor’s plan) be adopted?
Vote NO on Measure D - Should the County-approved Butterfly Village project (large proposed development in North County) be approved?
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3-24-07 - A new comparison of the COMMUNITY GENERAL PLAN and the COUNTY SUPERVISORS' GPU4 PLAN has been prepared by the League of Women Voters. Read it and you will be convinced to VOTE for the Community General Plan..
- For more information CLICK here for the Monterey County Herald's March 24, 2007 story, "COMPARING GENERAL PLANS" (external link.)
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3-23-07 - LandWatch has issued a Membership Alert letter, "Critical Measures on the June 2007 ballot"
- CLICK here for a link to the LandWatch "Yes, Yes, No" recommendation on this website.
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2-22-07 - The Environmental Impact Report for the County's GPU4 General Plan for the Monterey County unincorporated area is the focus of a lawsuit filed on February 2 by LandWatch and several other organizations. It does not fully reflect the impact of potential future development allowed under the plan according to Chris Fitz, Executive Director of LandWatch.
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2-15-07 - Development is taking over California farm land, "setting a new state record for loss of farm land", according to manager of the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the Calif. Dept. of Conservation.
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2-15-07 - Interesting new letters to the Herald's Editor on the Supervisors' new General Plan are worth reading.
- To read the letter from Larry Parrish, "Political junk mail" refers to the Sheryl McKenzie realtor issue and the letter from Paula Lotz, "Informed decision" including the websites of the Community Plan Initiative and also the GPU4, CLICK here to read their letters to the Editor on their website, www.montereyherald.com (external link).
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2-14-07 - Your help is needed to correct the lies that are being spread about the LandWatch organization and the need for fair and sensible land use planning in Monterey County.
- For details on how you can help, CLICK here for a link to a February 13th LandWatch Membership Alert letter, "Help Spread the Truth" on this website.
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2-14-07 - The Petition covering a Referendum against the County Supervisors' new General Plan, GPU4, has been certified and accepted by the Supervisors for placement on the June 5th ballot. On February 27th Supervisors will consider whether to immediately repeal GPU4 or to place the Referendum on the ballot. Yesterday the Supervisors also approved an interim ordinance that would delay any new major rural subdivisions until after the special June election.
- For more information on the Supervisors' meeting CLICK to read the Monterey County Herald's February 14th story, "Projects put on hold until June election" on their web site, www.montereyherald.com (an external link).
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1-17-07 - Have you signed the Referendum PETITION on the County Supervisor's Update #4 of their version of a Proposed new COUNTY GENERAL PLAN? 9000 voter signatures are required to allow a third measure on the June ballot that asks voters whether or not they like the Supervisor's approved version of a General Plan. Locations where you can sign the PETITION are listed on a separate page on this website
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1-17-07 - County voters will have an opportunity in June to vote on three different measures associated with a new GENERAL PLAN. That PLAN will cover the rural growth over the next 20 years for unincorporated areas of the County. A final lineup of Measures for the June ballot won't be definite until a Feb 27th hearing in the U.S. District Court on two pending land-use lawsuits.
9,000 voter signatures are required to allow a third measure on the June ballot that will ask voters whether or not they like the Supervisors' approved version of a General Plan.
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01-10-07 - All County voters who want controlled growth for the next 20 years are urged to sign the new petition - a referendum on the Supervisors' developer-friendly, recently approved County GENERAL PLAN. With enough signatures, the June ballot will include a new measure to stop the County's PLAN - a recipe for urban sprawl. Signatures are being obtained at various locations in the County.
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01-04-07 - The fourth update of Monterey County's GENERAL PLAN was approved by the Supervisors on Wednesday, January 3rd. They also voted to place the Alternate CONTROLLED GROWTH GENERAL PLAN INNITIATIVE on the June Ballot along with their PLAN.
Opponents of the Supervisors' Plan vowed to immediately kick off a referendum campaign to put another measure on the June Ballot to overturn the Supervisor's Plan. If enough signatures are collected the Supervisors' Plan would be held in abeyance. If not, the Supervisors' Plan would be the County's basic land-use law for several months before the election in which voters could decide to repeal it.
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01-02-07 - COUNTY SUPERVISORS expected to vote on their 20-year GENERAL PLAN for future growth in unincorporated areas of the County at Wednesday's public meeting, January 3, in Salinas.
A decision is also expected on placing their PLAN and the COMMUNITY GENERAL PLAN (Initiative for controlled growth) on a future ballot.
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12-20-06 - COUNTY SUPERVISORS will consider putting their proposed 20-year GENERAL PLAN and the SLOW-GROWTH COMMUNITY GENERAL PLAN (Initiative) on the BALLOT for COUTY VOTERS at the next appropriate election date. Supervisors will hold a public hearing January 3, 2007 to approve their version of the Plan.
Supervisor Calcagno's move to put both their General Pan and the Initiative Slow Growth Plan on the same ballot may guarantee that both documents would be printed in English and Spanish.
- For more details CLICK here for the Monterey County Herald's December 20, 2006 story, "GENERAL PLAN MAY GO TO VOTERS" on their web site, www.montereyherald.com (external link).
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12-14-06 - "Supervisors are determined to force (this) wasteful development on residents by any means necessary" -- a line in Carolyn Anderson's Letter to the Editor in today's Herald. Since the October 21 Editorial, "Board vote on C. V. as example of arrogance", and the November 25 Editorial, "Board clearly ignoring voters", the residents in Monterey County have written more than 28 letters to the Editor with strong opposition to actions of the Supervisors.
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12-13-06 - Possible "Shoot-out" over COUNTY GENERAL PLAN and the slow-growth COMMUNITY GENERAL PLAN (Initiatiave) at the ballot box.
County Supervisors expect to finally approve their version of the 20 year rural growth General Plan at their January 3, 2007 meeting. Lawsuits are pending on the need for printing in Spanish and English. The recent request from the United Farm Workers Union to have the final General Plan printed in Spanish will delay printing a final Plan.
- For more information CLICK here for the Monterey County Herald's December 13, 2006 story, "General plan work nears end" on their web site, www.montereyherald.com (an external link).
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12-7-06 - Supervisors endorsed a new idea for Monterey County's 4th version of the 20-year GENERAL PLAN during their recent meeting. This new idea would make it tougher for cities in the Salinas Valley to encroach onto prime farmland.
Officials from Soledad and Greenfield criticized the idea which was proposed by Supervisor Lou Calcagno.
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11-26-06 - Another GENERAL PLAN story in the Commentary section of today's Herald. "A map to nowhere" and "Obsessing over details has effectively replaced public policy with regulation and has served to feed, rather than finish this protracted mess." These are lines found in this informative article.
- To read the full story CLICK here for the Monterey County Herald's November 26, 2006 Commentary, "General Plan: a map to nowhere" on their web site, www.montereyherald.com (an external link).
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11-25-06 - Monterey County SUPERVISORS WERE ELECTED TO LISTEN AND LEAD, NOT TO DICTATE! Today's "Herald's View' sends an important message to all concerned residents, service clubs, everyone who believes in fair play and democracy and to the County Supervisors.
Voters in Monterey County want to vote on an overarching version of land use in the County. The lengths to which the Supervisors have gone to block a public vote, and what angles they're willing to try next, raise issues much larger than zoning.
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11-22-06 - GENERAL PLAN (Controlled Growth) INITIATIVE goes back to the U.S. District Court judge in San Jose. On Monday, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the case to be reheard.
Chris Fitz, Executive Director of LandWatch Monterey County, said, "It's a victory." However, Charles McKee, County Counsel said, "the change of courts doesn't mean the litigation is headed for a quick resolution."
- To read more CLICK here for the Monterey County Herald's November 22, 2006 story, "General plan's foes win one" on their web site, www.montereyherald.com (an external link).
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11-22-06 - County Supervisors continue PUBLIC HEARINGS on their GENERAL PLAN (GPU4). A policy requiring mitigation measures from developers and cities was strongly opposed at Tuesday's Hearing. Next Hearings scheduled for December 5, 6, 12 with final action to be taken on December 19.
- To read more CLICK here for the Monterey County Herald's November 22, 2006 story, "Sparks fly over compensation plan" on their web site, www.montereyherald.com (an external link).
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LandWatch News Alert
Democracy in Monterey Under Attack
Recent Actions by LAFCO, the Board of Supervisors Deny Citizens Right to Vote
Concerned Citizen:
An inspired and well-informed group of Carmel Valley residents has spent six years and $150,000 pursuing the creation of an independent Town of Carmel Valley. Instead of putting the issue to the voters of Carmel Valley, five of seven members of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) have hijacked the democratic process!
Elected officials in Monterey County have repeatedly denied citizens of their right to vote. Recent press reports and editorial page opinions have made the clear connection between LAFCO's denial of the democratic process and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors refusal to let citizens vote on the Rancho San Juan/Butterfly Village Referendum and the Community General Plan Initiative (see below).
You can do two things to LandWatch lead the effort to restore voting rights to all Monterey County citizens:
* Make a charitable contribution to LandWatch by mailing a check today to
* LandWatch Monterey County
* P.O. Box 1876
* Salinas, CA 93902-1876
* Forward this email to 10 Monterey County voters and invite them to register for the LandWatch action alert list here: http://www.landwatch.org
The proponents of incorporation in Carmel Valley continue to explore their alternatives. At a LandWatch "Around the County" meeting in Carmel Valley last week, a group of 40 incorporation proponents and concerned residents from the Valley joined together in an expression of commitment and solidarity.
Incorporation efforts, the RSJ Referendum and the Community General Plan Initiative all seek the same goal - RESPONSIBLE LAND USE POLICY! Incorporation proponents and LandWatch members throughout Monterey County have made a pledge to stand up to this attack on democracy. Together, we will prevail!
Regards,
Chris Fitz, Executive Director
LandWatch Monterey County
Vote on C.V. an example of arrogance
THE HERALD'S VIEW
When it comes to land use, Lou Calcagno and Jerry Smith apparently have decided that public opinion doesn't matter. They're willing to prevent public votes on big issues, no matter what it takes, no matter how bad it looks.
The latest example of official arrogance came Wednesday when the two county supervisors, joined by three others on the Local Agency Formation Commission, chose not to let the people of Carmel Valley decide whether to incorporate.
In a stunning reversal of a decision 10 months earlier, Calcagno, Smith, commissioners Ralph Rubio and Tom Perkins and alternate Matt Gourley, filling in for absent Anna Caballero, voted to require a full environmental impact review. That gives development interests and other incorporation opponents time to create other obstacles in case the $500,000 cost of performing the study doesn't kill the incorporation effort outright.
County supervisors previously blocked public votes on the Rancho San Juan development and an alternative general plan drafted by community groups. Even after the courts cleared the way for the general plan measure, the supervisors are trying to stall that vote indefinitely. What happened Wednesday was an extension of the same kind of thinking.
Commissioners gave various inconsistent reasons for their vote, which ignored the opinion of the LAFCO staff and consultants. Smith, for instance, said he wants to assure more affordable housing is built in the valley, while Rubio says a new municipality can't support itself.
Ultimately, it was an illogical and disingenuous decision that insults incorporation backers who have worked six years to bring the issue to a vote. It was another gift to development interests led by lawyer Tony Lombardo. After making a career arguing that various developments didn't need environmental impact reviews, Lombardo this time successfully argued the opposite.
Incorporation backers contend convincingly that the decision has nothing to do with protecting the environment and, in fact, is meant to push more construction into a largely bucolic region overwhelmingly opposed to large-scale development.
Is incorporation a good idea? Maybe. Maybe not. Generally, those at the mouth of the valley tend to feel one way and folks in the more rural inland feel another. There's been a lot of talk about straw votes and opposing views in the neighborhoods. The way to settle it is an official public vote by valley residents. Instead, five men from Seaside, Moss Landing, Gonzales and King City took the decision away from Carmel Valley. The commission's only valleyite, Anne McGowan, was on the losing side of a 5-2 count.
Incorporation proponents say they want to create their own town partly out of fear that the Board of Supervisors is forcing unwanted development on them. What happened Wednesday demonstrates why they're afraid. When the commission meets again Monday to tie up loose ends, it should undo them instead.
Copyright © 2006 The Monterey County Herald
Reprinted with Permission from the Monterey County Herald |
No Local Government
LAFCO move will stall Carmel Valley incorporation for three years.
Oct 26, 2006
By Jessica Lyons, Monterey County Weekly
Last week, members of the Local Agency Formation Commission borrowed a page from the playbook of the County Board of Supervisors. They denied the residents of Carmel Valley a chance to vote on becoming a town. LAFCO commissioners were influenced by Tony Lombardo and his clients in making their decision.
Read full article here...
http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/
issues/Issue.10-26-2006/news/
Article.news_4
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Incorporation Now
Even the residents of Carmel Valley deserve democracy.
Oct 26, 2006
By Eric Johnson, Monterey County Weekly
This is the fourth time in six months that a local political agency has derailed a citizens' initiative. The Weekly points out just how how democracy is being hijacked in Monterey County. Voting has been denied on a Town of Carmel Valley, developments at Rancho San Juan and Butterfly Village, and for the Community General Plan Initiative.
Read full article here...
http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/
issues/Issue.10-26-2006/opinion/
Article.local_spin |
LandWatch Monterey County promotes and inspires sound land-use legislation.
LandWatch is dedicated to preserving our community's economic vitality, high agricultural productivity, and the health of our environment by encouraging greater public participation in planning.
LandWatch will keep the public informed about the status of land-use planning in the county. We will monitor the local government agencies responsible for land use decisions, and participate in the public process to promote land use policies that protect the environment, and that will maintain economic vitality. LandWatch is the only professionally-staffed nonprofit organization in Monterey County dedicated solely to this mission.
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P.O. Box 1876 • Salinas, CA 93902 • 831-422-390 • FAX: 831-422-9391
Landwatch@mclw.org • www.landwatch.org
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11-03-06 - Backers of the GENERAL PLAN INITIATIVE are awaiting a decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to expedite a decision which would allow county voters to decide on the plan for Monterey County's unincorporated areas.
A Santa Monica-based attorney, Fred Woocher, filed a motion on October 25, 2006. The LandWatch Monterey County organization and other slow-growth supporters argue that voters should decide whether or not the Alternative General Plan (Initiative) should be implemented.
- For more details CLICK here for the Monterey County Herald's November 2, 2006 story, "Growth plans in 'quagmire' " on their web site, www.montereyherald.com (an external link).
- You may also read the Carmel Pine Cone's November 3, 2006 edition for the story, "General plan initiative backers file motion to speed up court ruling".
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9-25-06 - Monterey County 4TH DRAFT GENERAL PLAN UPDATE (GPU4) requires your public input. It is incomplete and includes significant errors and omissions. All Concerned Residents are urged to write to Mike Novo, Interim County Planning Director, 168 West Alisal St. 2nd floor, Salinas, CA 93901. Let him know you are aware of the problems in the DEIR and GPU4 that are outlined in the LandWatch letter to members.
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Action Alert - LandWatch Members & Supporters
Monterey County's General Plan Update #4 (GPU4) — the 4th draft General Plan Update in the past 7 years — is a blueprint for gridlock, continued groundwater overdraft, further loss of open space, and rampant development of sprawling, unaffordable homes. LandWatch Monterey County's 55-page review of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) of GPU4 reveals significant errors and omissions in fact, analysis, and conclusion.
We urge LandWatch members to let the Monterey County Planning and Building Inspection Department know that the DEIR needs to be rewritten and recirculated to the public.
Please send your comments by October 6, 2006 to:
 Mike Novo
Interim Planning Director
Monterey County Planning and Building Inspection Department
168 West Alisal St., 2nd Floor
Salinas, CA 93901
By law, the County must respond to your letters.
Here are some points we encourage you to make:
Points to make:
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GPU4 is legally inadequate because it understates most of GPU4's impacts on the environment.
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The DEIR does not describe GPU4 accurately. For example, the DEIR does not accurately identify the total number of residential units that could be accommodated under the Plan (i.e., at build-out).
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GPU4 is based on the 1982 Plan which includes a buildout of 229,000 units. The GPU4 DEIR uses a buildout number of about 54,000 units. As a consequence, the DEIR dramatically underestimates impacts on transportation, water demand, air quality, noise, and public services. The law requires that 229,000 units at a minimum be used in the DEIR.
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The DEIR does not identify that GPU4 would allow subdivisions throughout unincorporated Monterey County. Impacts on biological resources, safety and agricultural resources are vastly underestimated.
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The assessment of alternatives to GPU4 draws the wrong conclusions because it does not accurately identify buildout for either the 1982 General Plan or GPU4.
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GPU4 would allow hundreds of thousands of acres of steep slopes to be converted, further endangering wildlife, oak forests; view shed and water quality countywide.
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In its assessment of alternatives, the DEIR identifies the Community General Plan Initiative as the environmentally superior alternative, but incorrectly states it would not provide enough room for growth. It also inaccurately states that it was developed by one organization without public input.
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The Community General Plan Initiative accommodates growth that meets AMBAG’s population forecasts through 2030. The Initiative was developed by several non-profit public community interest organizations. It is based on the Community General Plan that included seven public workshops involving hundreds of members of the public. The Initiative provides for ultimate public participation - a vote of the people.
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The DEIR must be rewritten and recirculated to the public. To do otherwise is to risk incurring even more delays and costs in a planning process that is already absurdly long and expensive. Monterey County taxpayers deserve more from their elected officials.
It would be helpful if you let us know by responding to this e-mail that you have sent a letter. If you would like a copy of LandWatch's complete review of the DEIR, please contact Janet Brennan at janetb@montereybay.com.
Thank you!
Regards,
Lupe Garcia
Deputy Director
LandWatch Monterey County promotes and inspires sound land-use legislation.
LandWatch is dedicated to preserving our community's economic vitality, high agricultural productivity, and the health of our environment by encouraging greater public participation in planning.
LandWatch will keep the public informed about the status of land-use planning in the county. We will monitor the local government agencies responsible for land use decisions, and participate in the public process to promote land use policies that protect the environment, and that will maintain economic vitality. LandWatch is the only professionally-staffed nonprofit organization in Monterey County dedicated solely to this mission.
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9-20-06 - The full U.S. Circuit of Appeals ruled (14-1) on Tuesday that election materials (petitions) are not required to be printed in other languages (such as Spanish.) The Monterey COUNTY COMMUNITY GENERAL PLAN initiative and the referendum to stop the BUTTERFLY VILLAGE in the Rancho San Juan area north of Salinas may now go before the voters in special elections by January, 2007.
The Orange County case, known as Padilla v. Lever was used by Latino activists to block two County Land-Use ballot measures. This new decision by the full Court reversed an earlier decision by a three-judge panel of the Court. Lawsuits are still pending. Representatives of LandWatch and Citizens for Responsible Growth have asked County officials to quickly schedule elections on the two measures.
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8-16-06 - Legal decisions on placing the NORTH SALINAS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT called BUTTERFLY VILLAGE on the November ballot still pending. On Tuesday a federal judge denied a motion to force the Board of Supervisors to place the referendum on Butterfly Village on the ballot. However, the 9th Circuit Court is still expected to make a decision on the need for referendum petitions to be printed in Spanish as well as English. An appellate decision is expected in a few weeks.
- For more details CLICK here to read the Monterey County Herald's August 16, 2006 story, "Judge rules against Butterfly Village" on their web site, www.montereyherald.com (an external link).
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8-11-06 - LANDWATCH MONTEREY COUNTY urges all concerned County residents to attend the Salinas City Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 15, at 7:00 PM in the City Hall Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Avenue. Details of the GENERAL PLAN Fourth Update (GPU4) will be presented for comments on the many deficiencies and defects in this Plan. LandWatch calls this Update "A Plan for Sprawl!"
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Action Alert - LandWatch Members & Supporters
Attend the Salinas City Council Meeting
Tuesday, August 15 at 7:00 P.M.
Salinas City Hall Rotunda
200 Lincoln Avenue
on the corner of Lincoln Avenue & W. Gabilan St.
Monterey County is proceeding with the Fourth Draft
of its General Plan Update [GPU4].
It is a plan for sprawl!
The County Staff will be presenting the details of GPU4 to
the City Council of Salinas for comment and support.
LandWatch urges members & supporters to attend this important meeting to bring public attention to the many deficiencies and defects of GPU4.
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.
Contact LandWatch for more details at 422-9390 ext 14.
LandWatch Monterey County promotes and inspires sound land-use legislation.
LandWatch is dedicated to preserving our community's economic vitality, high agricultural productivity, and the health of our environment by encouraging greater public participation in planning.
LandWatch will keep the public informed about the status of land-use planning in the county. We will monitor the local government agencies responsible for land use decisions, and participate in the public process to promote land use policies that protect the environment, and that will maintain economic vitality. LandWatch is the only professionally-staffed nonprofit organization in Monterey County dedicated solely to this mission.
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