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Conservation Issues of the Ventana Chapter | monterey county

Monterey General Plan Update

County allowing only 45 days for review of General Plan Draft EIR

October 2008

The Draft EIR (DEIR) for Monterey County's latest General Plan Update is out and being reviewed by Chapter members. A General Plan is often called a "land use bible." This version of the General Plan Update has been ongoing for nearly nine years and has seen many political and legal battles.

The Board of Supervisors acquiesced to development interests by limiting public input to only 45 days for this approximately 1000-page document. The public has only until October 28 to comment. The issues will be the same as with previous versions:

• Can the county's natural resources, its air and water and its infrastructure and services cope with the amount of growth the pro-development Board desires?

• Can the side effects-the environmental impacts of the growth -be managed appropriately?

The Chapter is especially concerned about the County's attempts to greatly weaken the existing ordinances that protect steep hillsides from development and conversion to vineyards. These hills are home to an incredible array of special status plants and animals as well as serving as our vital watershed. Sierra Club has repeatedly called for a full evaluation of this dangerous policy change, but to date that has not occurred.

The more comments Supervisors receive about protecting the environment, the better. See the Chapter Chair column for addresses and more information.




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