Coast to open for development

Hello my friends,

The Sonoma County Permit Resource Management Division is rewriting the General Plan for the coast. The new language aims to change areas that are zoned for agriculture to "agricultural tourism." This opens the door for vineyards, tasting rooms, event centers, new wells, etc. It's time to make our voices be heard, which is the only way to get the county to remove this new language before the new plan goes through. To read the document, go to preserveruralsonomacounty.org and click in "coastal ag plan," where they've highlighted the new language in red.

The Sonoma County Permit Resource Management Divison is accepting public comments until Sep. 30th, and there is one more public matting with them September 14, 4-6pm. At the Timber Cove Fire Station.

Please spread the word!

Speak out against having our coast being steam-rolled { politically&physically } by the wine corporations for their greed and our despoliation . Show up on Sept 14 , and e-mail { till Sept .30 } .

Here is a letter written by a friend that you can use & where to send it...Just copy and paste and insert your own ideas and thoughts and sent it to PRMD-LCP-Update@sonoma-county.org :

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I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed changes in the Sonoma County General Plan Coastal Agriculture element.

I am concerned that allowing industrial uses such as marketing, promotion, events and industrial development on current Agricultural Zoned lands would destroy the beauty and appeal that the Sonoma coast holds for so many people.

This type of development will only enrich a select few at the expense of thousands that rely on the wild and scenic nature of our beautiful coast for health and relaxation.

The “agricultural tourism” model that industrial wineries and tasting rooms present is a bane for many of Sonoma county's residents. Destroying our open space, contaminating and wasting our water supply, and promoting intoxicated driving.

It would be more appealing if there was a way to restrict this sort of agriculture to true family farmers and restrict large corporate interests from dominating the process.

It would also be wonderful if the money and lobbying efforts of the wealthy wine industry didn’t hold more sway than the citizens of this county, who do the work and pay the taxes that keep everything running.

Thank you for your consideration,

Thanks for this important information. Although "agricultural tourism" is going to be part of our future along with all the other elements mentioned by the poster, this is our opportunity to share how to move forward responsibly, and also how we feel about it.

[You can see the AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT PRELIMINARY DRAFT here. ~ Barry :waccosun:]