Our Issue: Minimum parcel size required in order to rezone to the timber production zone.

Track the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Agendas

To track the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors agendas yourself, check the following link: http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/Govstream/archive/ArchiveIndex.asp  

February 2008 Update

The CCFA Board has been continuing to monitor the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting agenda for the appearance on the consent agenda of the final approval of the 40 acre minimum for TP zoning. Thus far, it has not appeared. We have seen several rezoning to TP hearings on the agenda.

October 24 Update: Decision from the Santa Cruz County Planning Commission,

“On October 24, 2007, the Planning Commission held a Public Hearing to consider an ordinance amendment to Section 13.10.375 of the Santa Cruz County Code in order to increase the minimum parcel size required for rezoning to the Timber Production (TP) zone district from 5 acres to 40 acres.  Chapter 13.10 is a local Coastal Program Implementing Ordinance.  
The Planning Commission approved the staff recommendation.  Aramburu made the motion and Dann seconded.  Roll call vote carried 3-2 with ayes from Aramburu, Dann, and Shepherd.  Commissioners Messer and Gonzalez voted no.”

October 22 Update: Letter to Santa Cruz County Planning Commission,
Negative Declaration for changing the minimum acreage of TP Zoning from 5 to 40 acres

Dear Mr. Johnston and Members of the Santa Cruz County Planning Commission,
The Central Coast Forest Association is amazed that the County of Santa Cruz could file a Negative
Declaration on the impacts of raising the minimum acreage to TP from 5 to 40 acres. If landowners of
zonings other than TP were still permitted to harvest timber, the answer would be different, but with
the current situation, there will be significant environmental impacts. Our assessment of the impacts is
listed below.

The initial study mentions that over 4,000 acres of land in the County are potentially affected and that
“many” of these property owners have applied for TP rezoning, “reducing the number of parcels
affected”. How many is many? Is it ten percent, twenty-five percent? The percentage of those
applying tells us how much land remains affected by the change. Download PDF of letter

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October 16 Update

In August 2007, the Planning Commission filed a negative declaration, stating that the proposed ordinance to expand the minimum acreage for TP lands from 5 to 40 acres would have no adverse environmental effects. See “http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/planning/plnmeetings/PLNSupMaterial/Environmental/Minutes/2007/20070904/002.pdf” for the report.

We replied with a letter that said we felt this was not true and urged them to do a full environmental impact study. The letter is enclosed below.

On October 24, 2007, the Planning Commission will have a public hearing about the proposed ordinance. Any members who believe they will be adversely affected by this change are urged to weigh in either with a letter or at the hearing.

The details, as I received them, are below.
Cate Moore

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the County of Santa Cruz Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the following item:
Item 10.

Public Hearing to consider an ordinance amendment to Section 13.10.375 of the Santa Cruz County Code for rezoning to the Timber Production (TP) zone district from 5 acres to 40 acres. Chapter 13.10 is a local Coastal Program Implementing Ordinance.

Applicant: County of Santa Cruz
Supervisorial District: Countywide
Project Planner: Sarah Neuse 454-3290
Email: pln320@co.santa-cruz.ca.us

Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Time: The morning Agenda beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Place: County Government Center
701 Ocean Street, Room 525
Santa Cruz Ca 95060

Any persons whose interests are adversely affected by any act or determination by the Planning Commission may appeal such act of determination to the Board of Supervisors. Appeals from any action of the Planning Commission shall be taken by filing a written notice of appeal with the Board of Supervisors and paying the appeal fee, not later than the fourteenth calendar day after the day on which the act or determination appealed was made.

If any person challenges an action taken on the foregoing matter(s) in court, they may be limited to raising only those issues which were raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Board of Supervisors at or prior to the public hearing.

For more information, call the project planner noted in the above description,
All interested persons are invited to provide comments to the Planning Commission either at the public hearing, or in writing. Written comments may be sent to the Planning Commission at the County Government Center, 701 Ocean Street, 4th Floor, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Staff reports on permit applications are available for review or purchase one week before the hearing by calling 454-3132 or free on the web at www.sccoplanning.com under the agendas link.

Download Environmental Impact (PDF)
Download Public Hearing Oct. 24 (word doc)

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May 15 Update

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
May 14, 2007 701 Ocean Street, 5th Floor
Santa Cruz, CA   95060    

RE:  Item #63 for May 15, 2007/Implementation of Court Decisions Regarding Zoning Requirements Affecting the Location of Timber Harvests  

The information in the staff report for Item #63 is correct and in order except for Attachment 13, which is tacked onto the end of the staff report regarding the Grading Ordinance Design Standards for  Private Roads and Driveways.

This item was not within the packet which was previously before the Planning Commission on March 28, 2007.

In a letter to the Planning Commission on March 28, I asked for clarification on this item, and therefore appreciate staff’s inclusion of the subject. There are errors, however, regarding the disposition of the language of the Grading Ordinance Design Standards for Private Roads and Driveways.

I am attaching the first three pages of the staff report for agenda item #31 of August 20, 2002. It is apparent that the discussions which took place in 2002 regarding the design standards were in response to the local Fire Chiefs concern that the fire equipment cannot navigate through 6 inches of rock, which was the language adopted in December 1999.   I am also attaching part of the 2002 letter from Supervisor Ellen Pirie with recommendations for removing the language pertaining to the rocking requirements.  

Until this issue is resolved, I ask that you consider this added portion of the staff recommendation for item #63 of May 15, 2007 separately, and extract it from the package for further review.  

Sincerely,
Lisa Rudnick Ben Lomond

View word doc l View pdf pages 1-3 l View pdf pages 6-7
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