he next round in the struggle to save and improve the
County's Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO) will be a Planning Commission
Workshop on Friday, March 22 beginning at 9AM at the Department of Planning
and Land Use Hearing Room, 5201 Ruffin Rd. Another meeting will be scheduled
for March 29th should additional time be required.
The focus of this workshop will be to discuss the proposed
changes to the RPO in a number of areas and compare them to regulations
in state and federal jurisdictions.
In the late 1980s, the County of San Diego was faced
with rampant mass grading of hillsides and ridges, loss of wildlife habitat
and deteriorating community character. In 1988, in an effort to avert the
passing of a ballot measure that would have severely curtailed development,
the County Board of Supervisors took a pro-active role. The Board invited
citizen group members and building industry representatives to help put
together regulations that provided a balance between economic development
and resource protection. The committee met over several months to put together
a compromise proposal. At the time it was supported by both environmental
and building industry interests.This proposal became the Resource Protection Ordinance
(RPO) on May 31, 1989. RPO applies only to discretionary land use permits,
such as tentative subdivision maps and major use permits. Exemptions are
provided in RPO for several different types of projects and uses including:
certain essential public facility projects, certain sand, gravel or mineral
extraction projects, projects where imposition of RPO would result in a
"taking" of a property, and continuation of pre-existing agricultural
uses.In effect, the RPO has created a level playing field
for landowners, and a stable reference point for elected officials, by laying
out protection against development on wetlands, floodplains, steep slopes,
sensitive biological habitats and historic and prehistoric sites.
But last November, County Supervisor Horn moved to repeal,
break up and otherwise weaken and reduce the RPO. The proposed changes resulted
in a 100-page staff technical report. At meetings in January of this year,
the Board voted to continue the matter for further public review and analysis
by staff, planning and sponsor groups, the Planning Commission and the public.
The Endangered Habitats League (EHL), a citizen's non-profit
group that is helping to evaluate the changes, has issued a report, Streamlined
RPO, that recommends ways to accomplish RPO's important goals while increasing
efficiency and eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens on business.Dan Silver, EHL representative, served on a special
industry and citizen's committee appointed by the board to evaluate options
for improving RPO. "There is a wide diversity of views on the committee,
and consensus has not been achieved on some policy issues. However, committee
members were able to work together successfully on many improvements,"
said Silver. "Streamlined RPO sets forth a constructive middle ground
between those who insist on no change and those who want major weakening.
It also differs from the recommendations coming from staff in very significant
ways."
Carolyn Chase, a local environmental activist concerned
with quality-of-life issues, has a different take on the process. "It's
not too hard to figure out what's coming down. It's right there in the 'Conclusion'
in the staff report: 'If all of the above staff recommendations are eventually
implemented RPO would be completely rescinded.' And it will cost the taxpayers
at least $180,000 just to evaluate the changes. My question is, What's the
hurry? And where is the mainstream, public support for these changes? "Also according to the staff report, 'Definitions
and regulations within RPO regarding floodplains and wetlands generally
have not been problems, nor has the concept that prehistoric and historic
sites of extraordinary significance should be preserved.'"Why are the proposed floodplain changes some of the
most extensive? Why should the county spend money to do Environmental Impact
Reports to evaluate changes to wetlands and historic resources, changes
that aren't needed in the first place? Why was a report issued claiming
that significant portions of the proposed changes do not need an Environmental
Impact Report? This so-called "Negative Declaration" has environmentalists
looking forward to eventually winning another moral and legal challenge
against the County p; the kind of challenge they have fought for and
won before.The RPO protects: steep slopes, floodplains, floodways;
sensitive habitat lands, wetlands and wetlands buffers, and significant
prehistoric or historic sites. Don't we still need to protect these things?
Don't we still wish to allow for well-designed and appropriate developments
in a consistent manner? Don't we still want to leave a legacy of open-spaces
and natural places for future generations?"Elimination of study requirements, elimination
of fee requirements, elimination of criminal provisions, deletion of floodplain
regulations, changes that result in increased 'cut and fill,' increased
concrete and riprapped river allowances, new variances and exceptions....
There is page after page to digest and compare. It's such glamorous work,
trying to protect our environment," Chase joked. "Well, parts
of it. There are only parts of it left you know."To receive a copy of Streamlined RPO or help with efforts to defend our region's natural heritage, send a self-addressed-stamped envelope to Earth Media, P.O. Box 99179, San Diego CA 92169, or send email to: cdchase
aol.com. Send contributions to: Endangered Habitats League, c/o San Diego Earth Day, P.O. Box 9827, San Diego CA 92169.
Alice Martinez is an ET staff reporter, San Diego Earth Day volunteer
and computer system specialist.
