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County Voters Pass Measure E to Stop Sprawl on Farmland
In the February 5th primary election, Stanislaus County voters spoke out loudly against urban sprawl, passing Measure E by a 67 percent margin.
Measure E prevents the Board of Supervisors from approving new housing developments outside cities without further voter approval. It is the first countywide anti-sprawl measure passed in the San Joaquin Valley.
AFT California Director Edward Thompson, Jr., observed, “It appears that county officials didn’t exercise enough ‘local control’ over development to suit the people. The measure sends a clear signal to elected officials throughout the Valley that they ignore the public demand for an end sprawl at their peril.”
Media Coverage of Measure E
• Statistics Back Up Measure E Supporters
• County Shenanigans Didn’t Stop Measure E
• Growth Control Comes to the Central Valley
Board of Supervisors Adopts
New Agriculture Element of General Plan
In December 2007, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors adopted an innovative, new Agriculture Element of the county general plan.
Spearheaded by Supervisor Jim DeMartini, the new plan includes policies and procedures to discourage rural "ranchette" development and a requirement that developers mitigate the loss of farmland by acquiring agricultural easements to protect comparable land or by paying fees to enable land trusts to do so.
AFT California Policy Director Mike Darnell, who worked with county planners and officials on the new plan element, says, “This is definitely a step in the right direction. We would liked to have seen the mitigation program take into account how the land is developed, with higher fees for lower density projects that, in effect, waste good farmland. As a next step, we hope the Supervisors will consider a study of this approach.”
Agency Responsible For The Blueprint
Planning Process in Stanislaus County:
Stanislaus County Council of Governments (StanCOG)
900 H Street, Suite D
Modesto, CA 95354
Principal Contact Person:
Lark Downs
Senior Regional Planner
(209) 558-7830
larkdowns@stancog.org
Contact Us:
California Office
P.O. Box 74040
Davis, CA 95617
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