Sierra Club
Redwood Chapter Newsletter
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North Group Report Diane Beck | |
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General Plan Update After four years and scores of meetings with a wide variety of groups in Humboldt County, the County Planning Department is finally ready to move into the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) phase of the Humboldt County General Plan Update (GPU). This first update since the plan was adopted in 1984 will guide future development in the county for the next quarter century. After years of grappling with the multitude of issues and input from hundred of residents, the county Board of Supervisors voted on September 13 to procede to the EIR stage and study a Preferred Alternative (Sketch Plan B) plus three additional atternatives. The EIR document will take a year to develop. Watch for upcoming meetings on particular policies and go to the Healthy Humboldt web page for continuously updated information on the GPU. Two coalitions of groups were the most effective in presenting their ideas in an organized manner to the Planners and Board of Supervisors, the Humboldt Economic and Land Plan (HELP), supported by developers and those who wished to see vigorous growth, and the Healthy Humboldt Coalition, supported by environmentalists and those who wish to prepare for modest growth, infill in existing communities, and preservation of ag and forest lands. HELP envisions a 2 percent per year increase in population or 80,000 people by 2025 (there are 128,500 residents at present), and Healthy Humboldt a 0.6 percent increase. Fortunately for us, the California Department of Finance also projects a 0.6 percent increase, and the Planning Department and Board of Supervisors agree but will include in the plan mechanisms for change if the projections are off. What has been refreshing to see is how similar most residents' visions are, at least those who spoke out at the various meetings and workshops. No one wants sprawl. Everyone wants to preserve the character of their own towns and communities. Everyone wants forest, ag, and ranch lands preserved. In the end, the HELP folks were not sufficiently credible. And they succeeded in shooting themselves in the foot when they threatened to sue the county if it didn't do as they wish three days before the Supervisors were due to vote on the Preferred Alternative. The public process involved in the General Plan Update has been confusing and messy and drawn out; but has been very public and a very healthy thing, and we are most grateful to Kirk Girard and the Planning Department. We are especially grateful to Diane Ryerson, former Chair of the North Group, for her outstanding work on the Plan from the beginning. Other members of the Healthy Humboldt Coalition who have done great work are Mark Lovelace of the Humboldt Watershed Council, Tim McKay of the Northcoast Environmental Center, and Shirley Shelburn. We are deeply in their debt. |
Eureka (Palco) Marsh The City of Eureka is finally on its way to implementing its plan for the enhancement of the marsh. Now rather derelict and ill-functioning, the marsh dearly needs attention. The only real objection we have with the enhancement plan is the appellation "Palco" Marsh. City staff member Lisa Shikany maintained at a workshop in August that the name was "historical," and there were no plans to change it. We are not sure how historical it is, but another timber mill owned the site in the 1930s. However historical the name is, however, does not seem to be the point, and it ought not preclude naming it something else like Eureka Marsh, a name now used by many residents. Calling the marsh "Palco" may, in fact, falsely indicate that Pacific Lumber Company still owns and maintains land that it sold to the City of Eureka nearly 20 years ago. It might make a difference if Pacific Lumber had actually donated the land to the City, but it did not. The State Coastal Conservancy bought the land and donated it to the City, with a conservation easement, in 1985. In a discussion of the mitigated Negative Declaration for the Enhancement Plan in early September, City Council member Chris Kerrigan indicated an interest in a possible name change, but no discussion ensued. Giving credit, in effect, to Palco for a project it had no part in creating seems wrong. And naming a project that will restore and enhance a saltmarsh ecosystem after a timber company seems risible. With the approval of the Negative Declaration, signs will soon be designed and manufactured. So it is important to let the mayor and City Council hear now from folks who would like to have the project be named the Eureka Marsh. So please send letters, and especially get your friends in Eureka to send letters, to: Mayor Peter La Vallee and the City Council of Eureka, City Hall, 531 K Street, Eureka, CA 95501. Or send e-mails:
The City Manager is still going forward with plans to build Waterfront Drive Extension through the marsh along the railroad right-of-way. We are continuing to fight this one. |