Comments for Grow Smart Bay Area News http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news Grow Smart Blog Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:57:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on San Ramon sends growth boundary expansion to voters by gsadmin http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=304&cpage=1#comment-2146 gsadmin Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:57:24 +0000 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=304#comment-2146 Hi BobK, You (and the young man) are correct that the County is considering a development for that area. It's called "New Farm," and it has been written about extensively. Here's some background info: http://www.greenbelt.org/regions/eastbay/camp_tassajara.html However, Greenbelt Alliance has done a legal analysis of the New Farm project and found that it is not legal under current Contra Costa County general plan policy: http://www.greenbelt.org/resources/press/releases/release_2010july1.html The New Farm project application is not complete and will likely never be, given its non-conformity with the County's general plan. Thus the immediate threat to the Tassajara Valley comes from the urban growth boundary expansion on the November ballot. Thanks for the question, Sara Barz Greenbelt Alliance Hi BobK,

You (and the young man) are correct that the County is considering a development for that area. It’s called “New Farm,” and it has been written about extensively. Here’s some background info: http://www.greenbelt.org/regions/eastbay/camp_tassajara.html

However, Greenbelt Alliance has done a legal analysis of the New Farm project and found that it is not legal under current Contra Costa County general plan policy: http://www.greenbelt.org/resources/press/releases/release_2010july1.html

The New Farm project application is not complete and will likely never be, given its non-conformity with the County’s general plan. Thus the immediate threat to the Tassajara Valley comes from the urban growth boundary expansion on the November ballot.

Thanks for the question,
Sara Barz
Greenbelt Alliance

]]> Comment on San Ramon sends growth boundary expansion to voters by BobK http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=304&cpage=1#comment-2143 BobK Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:48:23 +0000 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=304#comment-2143 I had a chance meeting with a young man who had been working with the City on this. He said the County was set to approve a major project in the valley and the only way to block it is for the City to amend its line and add to its sphere of influence. Is there any truth in that? I had a chance meeting with a young man who had been working with the City on this. He said the County was set to approve a major project in the valley and the only way to block it is for the City to amend its line and add to its sphere of influence. Is there any truth in that?

]]> Comment on Brentwood votes down Measure F! by Grow Smart Bay Area News » Legal review finds “New Farm” proposal illegal http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=262&cpage=1#comment-1735 Grow Smart Bay Area News » Legal review finds “New Farm” proposal illegal Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:33:13 +0000 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=262#comment-1735 [...] convince San Ramon voters to expand the city’s urban growth boundary.  The driving force behind failed Measure F in Brentwood, Koch is no stranger to land-control scare [...] [...] convince San Ramon voters to expand the city’s urban growth boundary.  The driving force behind failed Measure F in Brentwood, Koch is no stranger to land-control scare [...]

]]> Comment on A new future for Minton’s Lumber Yard by lumber – YouTube – 2010 Lumber Liquidators Marathon Open 04 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=200&cpage=1#comment-1496 lumber – YouTube – 2010 Lumber Liquidators Marathon Open 04 Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:49:09 +0000 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=200#comment-1496 [...] Grow Smart Bay Area News » A new future for Minton’s Lumber Yard [...] [...] Grow Smart Bay Area News » A new future for Minton’s Lumber Yard [...]

]]> Comment on Brentwood votes down Measure F! by Grow Smart Bay Area News » Tassajara Valley threatened by developers’ plans http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=262&cpage=1#comment-1297 Grow Smart Bay Area News » Tassajara Valley threatened by developers’ plans Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:35:50 +0000 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=262#comment-1297 [...] can’t get a break in the open space protection business.  You defeat one measure and soon enough another, ahem, [...] [...] can’t get a break in the open space protection business.  You defeat one measure and soon enough another, ahem, [...]

]]> Comment on Brentwood: Vote no on Measure F by Grow Smart Bay Area News » Brentwood defeats Measure F! http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=244&cpage=1#comment-1288 Grow Smart Bay Area News » Brentwood defeats Measure F! Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:56:27 +0000 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=244#comment-1288 [...] Read a little more about the history of Measure F in Brentwood. [...] [...] Read a little more about the history of Measure F in Brentwood. [...]

]]> Comment on Brentwood: Vote no on Measure F by Streetsblog San Francisco » “Grow Smart Bay Area” Promotes Development as a Tool for Change http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=244&cpage=1#comment-1269 Streetsblog San Francisco » “Grow Smart Bay Area” Promotes Development as a Tool for Change Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:17:41 +0000 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=244#comment-1269 [...] F, the Brentwood Urban Limit Expansion proposition that goes before voters on June 8th, which they argued would allow sprawl to encroach on farmland and valuable open [...] [...] F, the Brentwood Urban Limit Expansion proposition that goes before voters on June 8th, which they argued would allow sprawl to encroach on farmland and valuable open [...]

]]> Comment on Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Plan – Almost There! by captain:g.moscato sr. http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=175&cpage=1#comment-806 captain:g.moscato sr. Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:09:54 +0000 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=175#comment-806 You are about to imbark on rapeing a acreage that has not bin truly touched in the last 80yrs.Said it befor and will again put a fish hatchery on the creek going through the station,from the mouth of the old yaght harbor.Create it!!! Do Not Develope IT!! You are about to imbark on rapeing a acreage that has not bin truly touched in the last 80yrs.Said it befor and will again put a fish hatchery on the creek going through the station,from the mouth of the old yaght harbor.Create it!!! Do Not Develope IT!!

]]> Comment on Milpitas Post urges thoughtful planning by Stephanie Reyes http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=139&cpage=1#comment-47 Stephanie Reyes Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:07:10 +0000 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=139#comment-47 Mr. Ruth accurately notes that cities around the region are facing extreme budget challenges. Creating more homes to provide both property tax revenue and sales tax revenue (from more shoppers for local businesses) makes sense. But hillside homes would have a negative impact on the city’s coffers. Research by the Real Estate Research Corporation and others documents that compact growth can be as much as 70 percent cheaper for governments than equivalent volumes of scattered growth. It simply costs less to provide infrastructure (such as streets, schools, flood control or sewers) and often services (such as police or fire protection) to denser, more contiguous households than to far-flung, low-density communities. I can understand why Mr. Ruth might want to <a href="http://www.themilpitaspost.com/ci_12735070?IADID=Search-www.themilpitaspost.com-www.themilpitaspost.com" rel="nofollow">develop on his hillside property</a>, but those who are truly concerned about the Milpitas city budget should support focusing growth within the already developed areas of the city. Mr. Ruth accurately notes that cities around the region are facing extreme budget challenges. Creating more homes to provide both property tax revenue and sales tax revenue (from more shoppers for local businesses) makes sense. But hillside homes would have a negative impact on the city’s coffers. Research by the Real Estate Research Corporation and others documents that compact growth can be as much as 70 percent cheaper for governments than equivalent volumes of scattered growth. It simply costs less to provide infrastructure (such as streets, schools, flood control or sewers) and often services (such as police or fire protection) to denser, more contiguous households than to far-flung, low-density communities.

I can understand why Mr. Ruth might want to develop on his hillside property, but those who are truly concerned about the Milpitas city budget should support focusing growth within the already developed areas of the city.

]]> Comment on Milpitas Post urges thoughtful planning by RICHARD RUTH http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=139&cpage=1#comment-46 RICHARD RUTH Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:32:41 +0000 http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=139#comment-46 Did you read my article in the Milpitas Post July 2, 2009? I think I made a good case for the economic need in our community for luxury housing. At a time of a city budget deficit and faced with population growth and limited land the city must redefine its' resource use. As a broad theme reasoned growth is necessary and if Milpitas had farms, forests or watersheds to protect the Greenbelt initiatives might have value. Here in our community I believe they are stiffling our growth. Did you read my article in the Milpitas Post July 2, 2009? I think I made a good case for the economic need in our community for luxury housing. At a time of a city budget deficit and faced with population growth and limited land the city must redefine its’ resource use. As a broad theme reasoned growth is necessary and if Milpitas had farms, forests or watersheds to protect the Greenbelt initiatives might have value. Here in our community I believe they are stiffling our growth.

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