GP2020 issues
scheduled for
Feb. 19 Commission hearing
By Joe
Naiman
The Alpine Sun
Four November and December hearings by the county’s Planning
Commission on the update to the county’s general plan produced
public comments on specific properties and roads, and broader
issues are scheduled to be discussed Feb. 19.
The Planning Commission’s motions during the Dec. 4
hearing, which followed three all-day November meetings,
included continuing the General Plan 2020 hearing for further
discussions on updates to unresolved issues not related to
specific properties or roads.
The actions to be discussed in February include the
general plan amendment process after adoption of the new general
plan.
“I think it’s critical that an orderly process be
developed,” said Planning Commissioner David Pallinger.
Planning Commissioner Bryan Woods lives in Ramona,
where the conversion of a planned residential development to an
open space area has forced the need to replace that area’s
housing need projections with added residential units elsewhere
within the community.
“In formulating the general plan we cannot anticipate
ownership patterns of land,” Woods said.
Commissioner Peder Norby hopes that an annual review after
adoption will determine how successful the county has been in
meeting general plan objectives.
The February topics will also include conservation
subdivision program issues such as minimum lot size and
conformance with community plans and community character.
Equity mechanism issues for downzoned land include the
possible implementation of a Purchase of Development Rights
(PDR) program in which a jurisdiction purchases development
credits to preserve those lands from further development and a
Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program in which
development credits are transferred from one location to
increase development potential at another location.
Equity mechanisms ensure that farmers are compensated
for the loss of their property value due to downzoning, as the
equity of the land is a critical factor in enabling farmers to
obtain loans and thus leaving the land in agriculture.
Williamson Act properties, economic impacts of
downzoning, and other Farm Bureau concerns will also be
addressed.
The February hearing will also address the San Diego
Association of Governments population forecast and the county’s
jobs/housing balance.
Other items expected to be discussed Feb. 19 include
permissive versus restrictive language in the general plan and
the policy for “pipelining” projects in the process between
application and approval.
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