Posted by: thepinetree on 03/26/2015 11:03 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 03/26/2015 11:03 AM
Expires: 01/01/2020 12:00 AM
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Calaveras County General Plan, Concerns ~ Letter To The Editor By Calaveras County Republican Party
San Andreas, CA...It is our position that our Board of Supervisors in 2006 grossly erred with their original decision to undertake a “Comprehensive Overhaul” of our county’s 1996 General Plan. The BOS was sold a bill-of-goods, based on some very creative assumptions, with a price tag of $1 million+ dollars. These assumptions delivered by and outside group have proven to be without merit, reckless and because of the high dollar amount extracted from our unaware BOS, deplorable. Then over the past 9 years, with multiple revisions of the General Plan and Planning Directors, all adding to the confusion and concern as to the direction our rural county’s was headed. With each revision comes more ambiguous planning language, more restrictive and complex zoning and property rights challenges, all infuriating property owners and stalling development, one of our vital economic engines...
We view the current version of the General Plan as “enabling legislation” which allows government, not freemarkets,
the people, to determine land-use and growth in our beautiful rural county. The new General Plan with
it’s futuristic assumptions, attempts to look out 20 years into our county’s future, this alone is a receipt for failure in
these volatile times! No-one can see 20 years out with clarity! We need for a more general and flexible plan.
A better and far less expensive choice would have been to follow state guidelines on updating the general plan by
using the Periodic Revisions. The State allows Periodic Revisions to take place four times a year - certainly frequent
enough to keep on top of what is needed in our rural county. With only 44 people per square mile - what can get
away from us following this simpler procedure! With the ability to monitor and modify the General Plan as we go
along, maintaining it’s validity, reflecting concerns of property owners and making sure we are improving and
growing our rural county in ways both scenic and economic as well as using or resources wisely.
We understand the county governance is deeply intrenched and committed to completing this tyrannical exercise.
However, this is precisely the time to step back and reflect upon why we are all here! Life in our little rural county
is beautiful, from our scenic forest and roadways to our lush rivers, streams and rocky dry creeks, our cozy historic
towns and our vine-covered hillsides - our county lifestyle is amazingly beautiful and our resources plentiful -- all
allowing it’s proprietors a picturesque and sustainable lifestyle - the envy of many!
We believe the general plan needs to be “general in nature”. . . a statement of our county’s future goals and
aspiration, expected lifestyles, development potential, accompanied by a simple zoning map so that all property
owners present and future can utilize the potential of the land. A plan that is community sensitive, property rights
orientated, growth driven, with tourism and our most critical ag businesses unencumbered and prospering!
Remember, Progress is Everyone’s Business !
Respectfully,
Vicky Reinke,
Chairman, CCRP
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