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Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Keep Fort Ord Wild Website
I think it is probably accurate to characterize the former Fort Ord as the current “ground zero” for land use controversy in Monterey County. There are links to information about the current controversies in my KUSP Land Use Report blog at kusp.org/landuse.
Today, I thought I would alert you to an upcoming deadline. The City of Seaside is planning to do an Environmental Impact Report, or EIR, to evaluate a Specific Plan that would govern the future development of what is called the “Monterey Downs Horse Park” and the proposed Central Coast Veterans Cemetery. Both of these would be located on the former Fort Ord. The City would like the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, to allow Seaside to annex the property involved, and before they can get permission from LAFCO to take change of land use planning in the area, the city needs to have “Specific Plan” for how development would proceed, and must have evaluated possible environmental impacts.
As stage one in the preparation of the EIR, the City of Seaside has published what is called a “Notice of Preparation,” outlining how they plan to do their environmental review. If anyone wants to comment on the Notice of Preparation, the deadline for such comment is October 22nd.
The public is definitely engaged, already, in this planning process. Really, it is just beginning. I encourage your personal involvement.
More Information:
Monterey County Herald Article on Tree Clearing
Monterey County Herald Article on Cemetery Site
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.