The Committee is Watching...

... Governor Schwarzenegger's infrastructure bond measure, which may crowd out any future efforts to issue bonds to fund open space protection.

... The Santa Clara County Habitat Conservation Plan, where CGF Advocate Brian Schmidt has been appointed to a Stakeholder Advisory Group.

... Rezoning of East Bayshore Road in Palo Alto that could allow auto malls on the Bay side of Highway 101.

... Stanford's proposed Rosemount Hotel and commercial/office development on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park where 600 new jobs will exacerbate the region's jobs/housing imbalance.

... Coyote Valley, as San Jose's environmental studies slowly grind forward, which could result in greater loss of the area's productive farmlands.

... A potential half-cent increase in the Santa Clara County sales tax that could be controversial in its effect on land use planning, especially for transportation issues.

... Morgan Hill, which is considering a new and unnecessarily-expanded Urban Limit Line.

... The impacts on sensitive coastal habitats from Maverick's popular Mega-wave surfing contest which this year attracted a reported 50,000 spectators. Despite the difficulty in viewing the big waves from ashore, many people ventured out onto the steep and crumbling Seal Cove Bluffs, as well as the rocky tide pools of the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve below.

... The Santa Clara County Viewshed Protection Stakeholder's Group, where Brian Schmidt was also appointed to review proposals to increase protection from unsightly development.

The Committee Applauds…

... The Golden Gate National Recreation Area which will be holding several Open Houses in April to solicit public input into planning for trails and management of GGNRA lands in San Mateo County.

... A new vision for El Camino called the Grand Boulevard which calls for planning strategies to revitalize California's most historic transportation artery.

... Ocean Colony Partners in Half Moon Bay who will be removing illegal rip-rap (boulders on the bluffs) and establishing no-development setbacks from the crumbling cliffs.