Regional Op-Ed: Grass Valley Neighbors supports Measure Y

Published on Oct 6, 2008 - 7:08:58 AM

By: Steve Enos, Grass Valley

About 10 years ago I helped start "Grass Valley Neighbors". Since then Grass Valley Neighbors has worked hard to full fill our mission statement... "To promote greater citizen involvement in the city's decision-making process and ensure that growth is managed in a way that improves our community and preserves its small-town character".

Starting in 1999 with the fight over the proposed design of Les Schwab Tire, to the future Walgreen's in Glenbrook Basin, to most recently the proposed Long's Drug's (with dual drive-thru lanes) at the former Hills Flat Lumber site, Grass Valley Neighbors has persevered to full fill our mission statement.

Grass Valley Neighbors believes we all want a sustainable community that provides security, well-being and a high quality of life for all our residents for this and future generations. But unfortunately there are far to many examples of towns that have allowed themselves to be degraded by new development which bares little resemblance to the character of their existing community. Our decisions must respect and protect our unique character, historical heritage and our small town sense of community.

Grass Valley Neighbors believes that broad, open citizen involvement in public planning and policy-making respects and enhances our democratic process. Increased citizen involvement generates many benefits, including policies that better serve the broader public interest.

Local governments must do more to actively engage citizens and create productive processes for meaningful involvement. It is difficult to overstate the importance of strong public involvement in achieving good governance. Citizens who are empowered with opportunities for meaningful participation will tend to appreciate and support their government and their decisions.

For these reasons Grass Valley Neighbors and I support the Grass Valley voter initiative Measure Y, the "Protect Grass Valley" voter initiative.

Measure Y provides voters the opportunity to ensure growth will be consistent with our General Plan while at the same time allowing the needed flexibility to get walkable, mixed use, "smart growth" projects.

Measure Y establishes an "Urban Growth Boundary" that can only be changed by the voters. The Urban Growth Boundary will stop urban development from sprawling into rural areas, protect open space and prohibit the costly extension of infrastructure such as roads, sewer, and water services.

Measure Y provides a clear and predictable future by limiting the maximum number of new residential units that can be built to the level designated in our adopted General Plan. This limit can only be changed by the voters.

Measure Y also requires any large developments to prove they will provide adequate revenues to pay the costs of supplying city services to development. This ensures existing residents and taxpayers are not financially burdened by future growth.

Measure Y empowers Grass Valley voter's with three powerful tools to ensure growth will be consistent with our General Plan and will be environmentally and economically responsible.

Please join me and other concerned Grass Valley Neighbors by voting YES on Measure Y.


Steve Enos is a professional land use planner, the only Green Party member ever elected to the Grass Valley City Council and a founder of Grass Valley Neighbors and Wolf Creek Community Alliance. He can be contacted at senos@localnet.com.

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