Castrovillle leaders wary of Measure A

Posted on May 30, 2007

By JIM JOHNSON
Herald Salinas Bureau

Castroville could be targeted for growth beyond the small north Monterey County community's means, and planned development in its community plan could be waylaid by restrictions contained in the general plan initiative if Measure A passes, say a group of community leaders.

Supervisor Lou Calcagno and a group of fellow community leaders held a news conference Tuesday in front of the Giant Artichoke on Merritt Street in Castroville to announce their opposition to Measure A, which they said would "choke" the town and "seriously jeopardize" the recently approved community plan.

But Measure A backer Chris Fitz, LandWatch Monterey County's executive director, scoffed at the charges, saying the initiative supports appropriate growth in Castroville under its community plan and suggesting the community leaders were either "misunderstanding the initiative" or "being disingenuous."

Developed over four years of community meetings, the Castroville Community Plan could double the size of the 7,000-population community by adding about 1,655 new housing units, as well as new industrial, commercial and public-use development. It would allow the conversion of nearly 400 acres of farmland to urban-style uses.

The plan was approved by the supervisors earlier this year, but much of the plan is in the Coastal Zone and will be subject to state Coastal Commission review.

Supporters of both the supervisor-approved general plan update, known as GPU4, and the citizen-written initiative, known as GPI, have backed the community plan.

Planning Commissioner Cosme Padilla, who served on the Castroville Citizens Advisory Committee that guided development of the community plan; Castroville Water District General Manager Eric Tynan; North Monterey County Fire Chief Chris Orman; and North Monterey County Chamber of Commerce President Greg Burch all spoke against Measure A at Tuesday's event.

On June 5, voters will get to decide which version of the general plan will govern growth in unincorporated areas of the county over the next quarter century.

Measure A asks voters if they prefer GPI, Measure B asks voters if they want to repeal GPU4, and Measure C asks voters if they want to approve GPU4.

Calcagno said the initiative's limits on where growth can occur would inevitably push more development into Castroville beyond the limits of its community plan.
He said the initiative directs growth into just five "community areas," including Castroville.

But he added that development challenges in some community areas such as Pajaro, where flooding is an issue, would force needed growth into Castroville.

"Castroville would have to take the brunt," Calcagno said.

"I don't want any more (growth) pressure on Castroville," Padilla said. "I think we're doing our share already."

Both Calcagno and Padilla voted for GPU4 while it was before the supervisors and planning commissioners.

Padilla said the initiative's provisions requiring a "permanent" water supply and development of infrastructure before projects could begin would place an undue burden on developers looking to build within the guidelines of the community plan. He said the community plan requires an "adequate" water supply and uses developer fees to build needed infrastructure.

LandWatch's Fitz expressed surprise that the group of Castroville community leaders appeared to be arguing both for and against development in the community.

"Let me get this straight," Fitz said. "They're arguing there would be too much development and that they couldn't get enough development at the same time?

Why is there an issue here?

"Our initiative allows them to do exactly what they want. Clearly the county is going forward with development and great development is going to happen there. The Board of Supervisors gets to decide on all projects. They pretend there are magical market forces out there that will force development. It's a myth that there are growth pressures that force development to occur."

Fitz said county officials have indicated that they believe the Castroville community plan is "absolutely consistent" with the initiative, including its water supply and infrastructure requirements.

LandWatch has consistently backed the community plan, Fitz said, and has taken heat for it from some of the organization's supporters. Fitz acknowledged that he couldn't remember if anyone from Castroville was included in drafting of the initiative but said community members were invited to a series of forums held to review it.