By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District
The Sustainability Update Draft Environmental Impact Report is now available! The Draft EIR is posted on the County’s CEQA Documents page, and you can visit the project EIR page at https://sustainability-update-sccgis.opendata.arcgis.com/pages/eir#deir to learn more.
Hard copy documents are available for review in-person at three locations: Planning Department public counter, 701 Ocean St., 4th Floor, Santa Cruz; Downtown Library, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz; and Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.
The 45-day public comment period is from April 14 through May 31, and draft EIR comments can be submitted to [email protected]. A virtual community meeting on the Draft Environmental Impact Report will take place May 9 at 6 p.m.
The Sustainability Update is the biggest change to the County’s General Plan in over 25 years.
The Update primarily focuses on the more urban parts of the county, such as Live Oak, Soquel, and Aptos, and proposes new zoning tools and design guidelines that would allow us to meet our housing and sustainability goals over the coming decades.
For more information, please visit the project website: https://sustainability-update-sccgis.opendata.arcgis.com/pages/get-involved#events.
•••
RCD Offers Free Chipping
The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz has announced the popular no-cost chipping program will return again this year! For a second year, the RCD will offer County residents no-cost chipping services.
The chipping program aims to help County residents who live in the wildland-urban interface in particular, because those areas are especially at-risk of wildland fires. The program will also be available to residents rebuilding in the CZU fire burn area.
County residents can check if their property is eligible by visiting the RCD’s website: rcdsantacruz.org.
Two options are available: Sign up as an individual and have the RCD’s contractor come do the chipping (chips must remain on site), or sign up as a group with eight or more neighbors and receive reimbursement for contracting your own chipping.
To be eligible, the vegetation to be chipped must come from within a 100-foot radius of the home, or within 15 feet of either side of a private road. Piles will be chipped between May 9 and May 20.
•••
Community Meetings
In 2022 we are hosting monthly in-person hybrid meetings at rotating locations throughout the First District on the second Thursday of every month. Upcoming meetings include:
Prospect Heights Neighborhood Town Hall
Thursday, May 12, from 6-7:30 p.m.
Hybrid meeting: In-person at DeLaveaga Elementary School, 1145 Morrissey Blvd, Santa Cruz or virtual — https://zoom.us/j/96708318897
Coastal Town Hall
Tuesday, June 14, from 6-7:30 p.m.
Hybrid meeting: In-person in the Santa Cruz Harbor public meeting room, 365 A Lake Ave., Santa Cruz, or virtual — https://zoom.us/j/96708318897
Want to speak to us sooner? We invite you to give us a call at (831) 454-2200 or email us at [email protected].
•••
Supervisor Koenig also hosts monthly office hours at the Sheriff Center in Live Oak on the first Wednesday of every month, from 1-3 pm.
The Sheriff Center is located at 5200 Soquel Ave, and the 1st District office is on the first floor, directly to the left after entering the main entrance.