Letters to the editor

The Carmel Pine Cone
Posted on June 1, 2007

Sprawl is exaggerated

Dear Editor,

The fear of sprawl is one of many exaggerations advertised by Measure A supporters. Comparing the County of Monterey to the city of San Jose is
unreasonable. Unrestrained development in Monterey County is not possible because of market, cost, and regulation. The growth in Santa Clara County occurred in the 1960s and ’70s when population and job expansion was greater, land was cheaper, and regulation was minimal. Today, Monterey County’s population is already among the slowest growing in the state, land and building costs have soared, and state and local government regulations have intensified.

The image of sprawl waiting to cross the county line to pave over Salinas Valley is unrealistic. There is negligible pressure from adjacent counties to overflow here. Rural property owners in Monterey County are often shocked to learn what they cannot build even with a relatively simple home addition. They face many overlapping government agencies with design, planning,
building, fire, and water restrictions. GPU4 (Measure C) increases limitations on property owners to insure adequate water, sewers and roads. The issues raised by Measure A supporters have already been regulated. Think about it and vote no on A, no on B, and yes on C.

Thomas Carleton
Salinas