The general plan update -- which defines acceptable land uses in each area of the county for future development -- made its official transition from the county planning commission to the board on June 12. On Monday, the supervisors will hold a continued discussion on the land use element, including agricultural resources, forest resources, public lands and land use classifications. Infrastructure and telecommunications will be discussed as part of chapters five and six.
◼ Dead Plan Walking - Thomas Bradshaw/Humboldt Sentinel
...once the hour or so of public comment was aired, featuring the usual line-up heavy with the developer and real estate lobby, the meeting swerved right off agenda; Sundberg led the way with charges that the document was just too big and unwieldy to digest and then justify to the public.
“At the end of this, we’re just going to get sued,” he said. “At the end we’re going to find out we can’t even afford to implement it....”
Long a champion of the plan update process before assuming his seat in 2008, Supervisor Mark Lovelace was visibly shaken by the turn of events and lashed out in response.
“None of us has any basis to say we can’t hack it,” he said. “I’m sorry, but this is the job we signed on to…the idea of even beginning to throw away twelve years of process is just not acceptable.”
Sundberg fired back, telling Lovelace he objected to being chastised.
“I think it’s borderline rude to say we’re not willing to hack it,” Sundberg said. “I’m asking the question of whether we can pare [the General Plan] down to where it’s understandable.”
Coming back to the center of the dais, Supervisor Virginia Bass said the conversation underway was one that should have happened some time ago.
“It’s something I have not had the guts to say,” she said. “I want to thank Ryan for bringing it forward.”
◼ C U, GPU? - Ryan Burns/The Journal 9/11
◼ Talk of new way to review planning document raises hackles; some supervisors say general plan update 'confusing' - Megan Hansen/The Times-Standard 9/12
Discussion at Monday's meeting on Humboldt County's general plan update has raised concerns that there's movement to scrap the process to date, but supervisors said Tuesday that's not necessarily the case.
The supervisors met Monday to discuss the fourth, fifth and sixth chapters of the county's draft general plan update. The general plan update -- which defines acceptable land uses in each area of the county for future development -- has been in the works for more than a decade and transitioned from the county planning commission to the supervisors on June 12.
Fifth District Supervisor Ryan Sundberg said he commented on how the plan is a large and confusing document that could lead to potential lawsuits. He said he wasn't proposing the board start over on the plan, but that the material be presented in a more easily understandable format.
◼ Options covered at next general plan update meeting; county staff to ask supes if they want new review materials - Megan Hansen/The Times-Standard 9/13
◼ Confused over GPU? Follow the money - Teresa MacClelland/LETTER TO THE EDITOR Times-Standard 9/14
◼ Supes Majority Offers Grab-bag of Reasons to Torpedo the GPU Process - Ryan Burns/The Journal 9/14
◼ The Supes’ GPU Hearing: The Live Blog - Hank Sims/Lost Coast Outpost 9/17
◼ Supervisors make the right move - Uri Driscoll/LETTER TO THE EDITOR Times-Standard 9/18
◼ Supes vote for general plan update primers; county staff to return Oct. 1 with new review materials - Megan Hansen/The Times-Standard 9/18
As part of the supervisors' decision, the new reports will be drafted starting with chapters five and six of the update, which covers community infrastructure and services, and telecommunications. At the next meeting on Oct.1 the board will receive the first report that compares the draft update and framework plan. They'll also receive a revised meeting schedule.
More information about the draft general plan is available online at
◼ www.planupdate.org.
