Measure to slow development in Silicon Valley commuter county qualifies for ballot

[quaint]

MercuryNews

Saying that Silicon Valley residents seeking cheaper housing are bringing too much traffic and sprawl, activists in San Benito County, the rural county touching Santa Clara County’s southern edges, have qualified a measure for the November ballot that could dramatically put the brakes on new development there.

The measure, if approved by a majority of San Benito County residents, would ban most new development on land zoned for farming and ranching in the county unless it is approved by voters.

County supervisors allowed developers to cut down our orchards and build subdivisions to house Silicon Valley workers,” the November ballot measure says. “For many years, inadequate road impact fees allowed our roads to deteriorate. Our schools are overcrowded and residents feel that the supervisors have not required developers to do enough to support our schools. A majority of San Benito residents live in areas with less than three acres of parks or open space for every 1,000 residents. Many residents now realize that our supervisors’ cumulative land use decisions are negatively impacting our quality of life. Our peaceful, rural lifestyle is disappearing.”

Good luck!

[Auggie]

1. Additionally, the state mandates housing at the expense of rural charm and agriculture

[The Mouth]

2. We need a lot fewer people in California

Every place is overcrowded.

Not enough water and not enough infrastructure.

[CoopersDad]

3. I live here in Santa Cruz County where housing is ridiculous.

And people need to travel further and further to find affordable homes.

It's not just here, mind you, but it's particularly painful for workers and those at the middle and top don't care to invest in public transit, regional rail transit, or truly affordable housing.

I'm a supporter of Transit Oriented Development and promote 50-100% affordable housing to the exclusion of new high end housing construction. There's no shortage of unaffordable housing so lets give that a rest.