(19:36) SANTA CRUZ COUNTY – A community meeting will be held Wednesday (June 3rd, 2015) in Aptos regarding the future of Aptos and other unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County. Guest Speaker Gary Patton will discuss how citizens can protect land from future development. Zoning changes are reportedly being considered by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors which could change the entire nature of certain portions of the county. One of the changes the Board has proposed could virtually eliminate public hearings on developments. The board also seeks to change zoning codes for agricultural, residential, and commercial uses. Those changes could leave the definitions of “sensitive habitat” and “agricultural use” up to the planner of a development, which would violate the 1979 voter-approved Measure J. That measure set county growth at half a percent per year, kept agricultural land for agricultural uses, and protected the county’s natural resources, while specifying that any changes to those ordinances must be approved by the voters. Supervisors are reportedly seeking to essentially overturn Measure J by changing the zoning laws. Wednesday’s meeting is scheduled to run from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. in the Aptos Library Meeting Room.
