Where the Action Is!
From Janet Brennan, LWVMP president
General Plan Update (GPU) 5
The LWV of the Salinas Valley and the Monterey Peninsula sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors describing major differences between GPU4 and GPU5, those provisions in GPU5 that we support and nine recommendations. The recommendations follow:
1. The number of housing units allowed in GPU 5 should be further reduced to a level that is more consistent with AMBAG's population forecasts for the region, which recognized major infrastructure constraints to new housing development. The estimated number of housing units that could be built under GPU 5 is currently only 2,000 less than under GPU 4. It would still allow almost 9,000 more units than were proposed in the Community General Plan Initiative (CGPI).
2. Affordable and workforce level housing units should be the County's
priority and should constitute a larger percentage of the total number of
units allowed over the next 20 years. Simply relying on a 20% inclusionary
requirement with 80% market rate has not produced the types of housing that
our workers need. Adding four market-rate homes for every one that is
affordable simply places additional burdens on our infrastructure and does
not serve the resident population. We urge the County to take a leadership
role in working with cities, the development community and non-profit
organizations to focus on meeting the county's share of affordable housing.
3. The Affordable Housing Overlay Districts at Mid-Carmel Valley and near Monterey should be deleted because there is no water. These Districts should also be identified in Community Areas and Rural Centers where infrastructure is planned and community services are available instead of just encouraged prior to needed infrastructure studies. They should also be identified adjacent to cities or in immediate proximity to areas where services are available.
4. Consider adoption of in-lieu fees for all "mega-mansions" built, recognizing that these add to the demand for public services, increase auto traffic and create more service level jobs, without affordable housing to support them. The fees could be used to acquire property which could then be placed in land trusts to be maintained in perpetuity for affordable housing. This could be a means of providing needed affordable units in areas where land costs are high.
5. Preservation of the permanent affordability requirement for inclusionary housing units and non-negotiable terms of affordability for workforce housing.
6. Mapped land use densities for areas severely constrained by lack of infrastructure, such as in North Monterey County, should be revised to reduce the number of units allowed per acre.
7. Adoption of a LOS D standard for areas already at LOS D and Community Areas. Adoption of a LOS C standard for areas at C or above.
8. Additional criteria for identification of a long-term water supply. At a minimum, water supply projects should be under construction and consistent with the project description in their environmental documents.
9. Cultivation on slopes over 25% should be prohibited in order to protect wildlife corridors and habitats and oak woodlands, and to prevent water quality degradation through runoff and erosion.
Letter to Monterey County Housing Advisory Committee
"The Leagues of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula and the Salinas Valley have long supported provisions to provide affordable housing in unincorporated areas of Monterey County. We have supported permanent inclusionary housing as well as Work Force I and II housing.
"In addition to your recent recommendations to increase in-lieu fees, we urge you to consider adoption of in-lieu fees for all mega-mansions built, recognizing that these add to the demand for public services, increase vehicle traffic and create more service-level jobs, without affordable housing to support them.
"The fees could be used to acquire property which could then be placed in land trusts to be maintained in perpetuity for affordable housing. This could be a means of providing needed affordable units in areas where land costs are high."
Letters to Senators Feinstein and Boxer and Congressman Farr Urging Override of Veto of SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program)
"We urge you to vote to override the President's veto of the SCHIP bill and we also ask you to take action in lobbying your colleagues to do the same. Without SCHIP millions of children whose families cannot afford healthcare coverage will go uninsured."
