Calhouns Can(n)ons

A Letter To The Supes

I sent the following to the Board of Supervisors. On Tuesday, they'll be voting on whether to delay certifying the Statement of Overriding Considerations (SOC )on the Santa Margarita Ranch development project or whether to lock it in as is forever.

I find it really interesting that this project, if the SOC is certified, will be described as "essential" for the "public good." Let's see, some really nice high end homes, a golf course, a dude ranch, and B&B, craft studios and galleries and shops are considered "essential?" Really? That's not a word that comes to mind. "Nice," maybe, but "essential?" No. To me "essential" is sewage treatment, clean water, safe bridges, roads, secure water sources, hospitals, schools, public parks, and such like. But golf courses? High end beautiful homes for those who can afford them? A dude ranch? Naw.

Well, Tuesday afternoon will tell.

Dear Sirs,

I would urge you to delay a final vote on the Santa Margarita Ranch project. Once some of the more serious, still contentious points are finally settled, the project will be nice but hardly “essential” for the “public good.” And that SOC that had better be right or else you run the risk of turning Santa Margarita into another Los Osos.

As you recall, the SOC for the Los Osos Wastewater Project (which was later rescinded as being false or incorrect or not accurately supported) contained at least one demonstrably false statement – there was no “strongly held community value” requiring a sewer plant be put in the middle of town. The Coastal Commission had a chance to set that right but, in the name of expediency, failed to do so – remember Chairman Potter and his “bait and switch” comment, which should have resulted in red flags being tossed down on that play immediately.

A delay at that point could have determined how correct that SOC really was, but the CC couldn’t be bothered. They just wanted the thing off their plate. The result was a disaster for this community and an expensive mess for the county.

Please don’t let Santa Margarita become the next Los Osos with a papered-over incorrect or incomplete SOC. There are serious issues to be still be finessed and resolved by the next Board. I would urge you to let the new Board weigh in with their concerns. After all, they’re the ones who will have to live with any problems for a long, long time. The Santa Margarita development is one of those things that is too important not to get right since there can be no do over if you get it wrong.

Sincerely,