Dear Editor:
I have to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Board of Supervisors for its decisive adoption of the San Benito County Growth Control Initiative.
Having read the excellent, impartial analysis of the initiative by the Planning Department and knowing the voting record of this Board concerning excessive growth issues and its support of local agriculture, I rationally thought there was a possibility of immediate adoption.
However, feeling the emotional atmosphere of the meeting with joint appeals for “let the voters decide in March 2004” as well as “continue the Board’s good leadership,” I have to confess my uncertainty as I held my breath and heard the voices on roll call vote.
How proud I am of our Board of Supervisors 4-1 vote to make permanent our county growth at 1 percent to 2 percent annually, to put our future minimum Agricultural Productive parcel size at 20 acres (160 acre minimum for Agricultural Rangeland), and to bring the tool of Transferable Development Credits into realization.
The Board of Supervisors displayed true courage and conviction in its role of doing what was best for the county when it set aside any personal agenda or ego and determined that the decisions about the future growth of this county are best made by all of the voters of our community, not just five people. This vote gave all of us the vote in the future of our county.
As with any major ordinance there will be public meetings for questions and inputs on the TDC program.
We would ask that copies of the Planning Department analysis of the initiative and TDC program be made available to read or copy at the Planning Department, county library, and County Clerk’s office. Citizens and fellow farmers, please study the initiative and its analysis and let’s help craft the best ordinance for this county.
Janet Brians
Hollister
