Letters to the editor

Monterey County Herald
Posted on May 23, 2007

Planners left out

I am a former planner with 17 years' experience in land-use planning in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Planners must interpret and implement the general plan in their jurisdictions. This is a task that involves detailed understanding of land-use regulations and interpretation.

Therefore, it is critical that planners who will face the daily implementation of a plan at least have some involvement with its creation.

Measure A was written under the direction of LandWatch by attorneys, without environmental review or input from the public or county planning staff. If Measure A becomes law, how can the professional planners interpret or implement these laws? They were never consulted.

It is already complicated to navigate a project through the county Planning Department. I can only imagine the gridlock that would occur at the planning
office should Measure A be passed. The planning staff would be compelled to interpret an unclear document they had no hand in writing.

Vote No on Measure A.

Paul Tran
Pacific Grove