Measure A foes target Castroville
LandWatch's Fitz quick to counter claims

Posted May 30, 2007

By DAWN WITHERS
The Salinas Californian

CASTROVILLE - Ambitious growth plans for the community of Castroville could spiral out of control if voters next week approve Measure A, the general plan
initiative, opponents of the measure said Tuesday.

Monterey County officials and business leaders said passage of the initiative would overwhelm Castroville by focusing too much of the county's new development there.

"We're looking at (Measure A) and it just reeks of special interests," said Greg Burch, president of the North Monterey County Chamber of Commerce.

In the June 5 election now less than a week away, voters will decide which general plan they want to govern growth within the unincorporated county over the next two decades. The choices are Measure A, an initiative with more restrictive growth control measures that would concentrate development in five community areas, including Castroville; or General Plan Update 4, approved by the county supervisors in January but not yet in effect.

The existing Castroville Community Plan calls for converting hundreds of acres of farmland into business and residential uses. It proposes the construction of
1,655 homes, a 138-acre industrial park and a commuter station for trains and other transportation, as well as new bike and pedestrian paths.

Measure A opponents say that even more development would come to the community under the measure, creating untenable traffic and other growth pressures.

Measure A would also require that roads and sewers be in place prior to development - something measure opponents say would slow fulfillment of the
Castroville Community Plan and make changing the plan difficult.

But Chris Fitz, executive director of LandWatch Monterey County, said Measure A will in no way affect the Castroville plan. The initiative targets subdivisions and developments outside community areas, Fitz said, and doesn't dictate what happens inside those community areas.

"It's absolutely outrageous, and it shows how desperate (the opposition) are," he said.

Supporters of Measure A believe that if passed, the initiative will control growth and direct it to communities that have established populations and
jobs. They contend that city-centered development is less expensive than the additional rural developments GPU4 would allow. Castroville is designated as a
growth area under both Measure A and GPU4, meaning the community will be a focal point of additional growth no matter which plan voters choose.

Monterey County planners and the Board of Supervisors are in the process of obtaining California Coastal Commission approval for the Castroville Community Plan by next spring. The plan will double the size of the
community over the next 20 years.

Monterey County Supervisor Lou Calcagno, who spoke against Measure A at the press conference, said as an elected official he will support whichever plan voters endorse.

"As a supervisor, I am going to be there whatever happens at the voting precincts," Calcagno said. Eric Tynan, Castroville Water District general
manager, and North County Fire District Chief Chris Orman also spoke against Measure A at the press conference.

Contact Dawn Withers at withers@thecalifornian.com.