CoastWatcher

As the Half Moon Bay Review is reporting, the California State Assembly Local Government voted 5-2 today to allow AB1991 to live another day, and environmental stalking horse will now move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee where hopefully it will receive a more thorough vetting

Worth noting is that even those Assembly members who supported the bill today voiced concerns about the nature and future success of this type of land use subversive legislation.

As quoted in the HMB Review, Committee Chair Anna Caballero of Salinas said, “I support it here in the committee as a way to move it forward but I don’t know if I can support it on the floor.” She urged bill sponsor Gene Mullin to seek some compromise between the city and environmental leaders who oppose a bill they say runs roughshod over state protections.

For more information and an internet video tape of the meeting, go to the HMB Review or Coastsider websites.

Tomorrow the California State Assembly Committee on Local Government will entertain a proposal (AB1991) to allow a developer to build 129 houses on wetlands on two parcels of land known as “Beachwood” and “Glencree.” The legislation is needed because the proposal is illegal under California planning and environmental laws. AB1991 would exempt the development from the type of review required of all other coastal developers in California and would establish precedent for avoiding coastal resource planning and protection laws.

The project has a long and tortured history, including both good and bad legal decisions, that have alternately found wetlands and legal development rights. All the best information regarding the project can be found at Coastsider.com

If you value the existence of wetlands and other environmental resources in your town and along the California coast, please take a moment to send a note to the Committee asking that all developers be required to comply with basic environmental and plannings in California… or else a Beachwood boondoggle may be headed to your town….

To send the letter, go here.

While the proposed toll road through San Onofre State Park may look like a dead man walking, don’t be deceived.  The road’s sponsor, TCA, has asked the United States Secretary of Commerce to veto California’s denial and allow the road anyway.  You continuing support is necessary in order to show the federal government that California will not bow to destruction of our state park system for a quick buck.

The TCA has asked the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to override the California Coastal Commission’s NO vote regarding the Foothill-South Toll Road.  In a shocking testament to TCA’s consistent and repeated failure to address the public’s concerns regarding this toll road, they have urged the Department of Commerce to deny the public an opportunity to participate in a hearing on the appeal.

It is easy to get involved.  Send a letter here