REDWOOD NEEDLES

Presented by the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter Newsletter, The REDWOOD NEEDLES

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What does the "land use" committee do anyway?

By Warren Watkins, Sonoma Group Land Use Committe Member

Although you may not spend too much time pondering the question of what happens at the monthly 4th Monday 5 pm regular meetings, the committee welcomes your input and attendance&emdash;Anytime.

Say, for example, you are a Club member (or non-member) and you are concerned about the Sears Point expansion or development plans at Gualala or Bodega Bay. You may call the Environmental Center and be referred to the Sierra Club Land Use Committee.

The process works best when you attend a meeting and inform the committee about land use issues and inconsistencies related to the Sonoma County General Plan. We strongly support the provisions of the General Plan! So, if a project is determined to be inconsistent with the General Plan, the committee may decide to write a letter to the appropriate public agency or representative. If a project conforms to the General Plan and is consistent with Sierra Club Land Use Policy, we may actively support the project.

When you bring an issue to our attention, we may ask you to follow the issue and keep us posted until the Club Executive Committee takes a position. Often a Land Use Committee member will assist you.

Lately, we have had plenty of issues to discuss. There are scary things happening with water, creeks, forests, vineyards, rivers, quarry mining, and requests to modify the Sonoma County General Plan. There are good things happening also, with vineyard setbacks, Open Space District purchases, City Vision, and perhaps, the Bohemian Ranch in West county.

So, when you see a land use issue you don't approve of, find out about it and come tell the Land Use Committee. We are all volunteers and need your help to make us aware of the many issues that may threaten our beautiful Sonoma County.

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