Podcast: |
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
finneganenglish.org
In 2010, after about ten years of effort, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors adopted a new General Plan. One reason that it took so long to adopt a new General Plan is that the agricultural industry in Monterey County didn’t like a lot of the originally proposed policies. The Board ultimately sided with the agricultural industry.
It was the view of LandWatch Monterey County and the Open Monterey Project that the 2010 General Plan, as finally adopted, violated state law requirements, so these two groups sued the County. Both groups had exceptionally experienced and able attorneys, and instead of pushing its luck in court, the Board of Supervisors agreed to a settlement. It was a genuine compromise. Among other things, the settlement that the Board agreed to required the Board to consider new policies on development on steep slopes, and on water supply, and on the protection of wildlife corridors.
Last week, when the proposed new policies came before the Board, the agricultural industry was out in force, just like in the old days, and the Board appears to have repudiated its own settlement. I have links to various news articles on the controversy in today’s transcript. Next week, the Board is going to make its final decision
Monterey County listeners might want to study the issues, and then let the Board know whether they think more litigation is in the best interest of the people of Monterey County.
More Information:
Former Santa Cruz County Supervisor Gary Patton talks about land use, and land use decisions, with an emphasis on public participation and how the land use process works.