LAND USE ADVISORY COMMITTEES

March 5, 2003

Laurence Hawkins, Jr.,
Chair, Monterey County Planning Commission Committee on LUAC's
1875 Abraham Court
Seaside, CA 93955

Dear Chair Hawkins and Committee members:

The Leagues of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas Valley wish to comment on potential changes to the Land Use Advisory Committees (LUAC's). The League promotes active citizen participation in government. We opposed the elimination of several LUAC's in the 1990's and are pleased to know that consideration is being given to reestablishing LUAC's countywide. LUAC's play an invaluable function in bringing land use recommendations closer to the public - a particularly notable function since local land use decisions do not always reflect the will of the local electorate. LUAC's should be given the opportunity to provide meaningful input into the land use decision making process.

The role of LUAC's should be expanded beyond the current role as a "design review" body. While this is an important function, it is impossible to divorce design review from General Plan policies and environmental review. This bifurcation of the process does not serve the community well. Where does design review begin and other planning considerations leave off? For example, a well designed structure on 30% slope or ridge line requires LUAC's to consider County General Plan policies and the Zoning Ordinance. The Safeway project at the mouth of the Valley which would be elevated four feet to avoid flood plain issues, has the potential to increase flooding. Where does design review begin and environmental review stop? Can LUAC's legitimately make decisions without consideration of a project's environmental impacts?

LUAC's are frequently the first line of contact with the local community. They provide opportunities to address issues at an early stage in the planning process and avoid confrontations/legal entanglements later in the process. To this end, we recommend that a more complete public meeting notification process be developed.

These are a few issues we hope the Planning Commission will consider when it redefines the roles and responsibilities of LUAC's. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Beverly G. Bean, VMD, President, LWV of the Monterey Peninsula
Anne Herendeen, President, LWV of the Salinas Valley