On October 20 and November 10, 2010, the Board of Supervisor spent long days listening to dozens of speakers either supporting or attacking a visionary effort to revise an archaic General Plan.

Since 1998, EHL has participated intensively in the Update process, serving on an advisory committee that introduced “smart growth” concepts to save the scenic countryside and focus growth within towns and closer to infrastructure and services. The alternative is continued wasteful estate lot subdivision, which is a “death by a thousand cuts” to wildlife.

A series of alternatives is now before the Board. An excellent map removes dispersed density from high fire areas, saves the taxpayer $5 billion in road costs, and reflects local community input. Another map makes so many landowner-requested exceptions to the planning principles that its adoption would mean failure. And there are in-between options. At the hearings, EHL organized compelling grassroots testimony in support of the best map, serving as an essential counterpoint to various financial interests. We also submitted detailed written comments to the Supervisors.

To complement the land use map, we are supporting a program called Conservation Subdivision to modestly cluster development and thereby preserve on-site farmland and habitat. EHL is also helping lining up funding to support a program to preserve farmland through purchase of development rights.

Decisions are expected next year.