Property Rights Alert!
Your input and guidance are requested!
The County is asking what you want to see addressed in the Calaveras County General Plan.
Planning staff is currently drafting the goals, policies and implementation programs for the General Plan.
Your input, ideas and guidance are requested.
Here are two suggested clauses to be added to the General Plan:
· This
General Plan, while following California Law, shall be interpreted in
light of the people’s rights to Life, Liberty and Property as specified
by the 5th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
· Designated
land uses in this General Plan and Zoning Ordinances shall be liberally
interpreted to allow property owners reasonable use of their property
as they may need and see fit, providing neighbors or the public are not
legally harmed.
This is important to protect property rights and advance economic prosperity.
Below are some suggestions to make the plan more freedom friendly.
Questions from the planning department and CCTA’s response:
Where in the County would you like to see growth occur? The
question implies that it’s okay for the community to decide how private
property will be developed. This is a socialistic approach which has
not worked very well throughout history. It would be better for growth
to occur in accordance with the wishes of the property owner, provided
no harm is done to the neighbors or public. Growth should be decided by
those responsible.
How much growth should occur? The
question implies that the collective should determine the population of
the county. This is not conducive to protecting a free society. It’s
not up to the community to control development on private property. The
amount of growth is best determined by the marketplace. Growth is
naturally determined by demand. Government’s role ought to be to provide
a practical permitting process that avoids excessive regulation
promoted by anti-growth factions and doesn’t aim at increasing revenues
for unrelated uses.
Do you have recommendations for managing habitat for wildlife species? The
question implies that the government should manage habitat for wildlife
species on private property. Managing habitat for wildlife species is
best done voluntarily by private groups and property owners.
What types of housing do you think the County needs? The question implies that it’s the county’s responsibility to provide housing. The types of housing people need should not be determined by the government, but by the market place, voluntarily.
What existing roads should be improved and how? The
question implies that the collective should have the power to make
decisions that Public Works should be making. Improvement of roads
should not be a collective decision. Public road questions should be
determined by Public Works, according to their budget, under the Board
of Supervisors.
Where should new roads be added? In
the case of county roads, this would be determined by county government
responding to property owners and marketplace. In the case of private
roads, this would be determined by the property owners.
Who should pay for upgrading existing and installing new infrastructure? The users and property owners should pay for upgrading existing and installing new infrastructure.
Do you have ideas related to water use? This
question implies public control over water which could be hurtful to
production and distribution of water. Planning of water use should be
governed by water providers and their customers.
How can agricultural and timber lands be protected and maintained? This
question implies public control over agricultural and timber lands.
Agricultural and timber lands are best managed under private ownership.
Does the County need more recreational facilities -- if so, where and what kind? This
question implies that it’s up to the government to provide recreational
facilities. Developers and private groups are better suited to provide
what the market calls for.
What sorts of jobs does the County need more of undefined industrial or manufacturing, retail sales, service-oriented, others? This
question implies that the government should determine the occupations
of the people. The marketplace does a better job in deciding what is
needed in the way of employment. The government should remove barriers
to business growth.
Input could also be given on the following General Plan elements:
· Land Use
· Circulation
· Conservation
· Open Space
· Noise
· Safety
Too
much government control is hurtful to human rights. In a free society,
planning use of private property is the responsibility of the property
owner. This makes sense, as it is the property owner who is responsible
for what occurs on their property.
Please submit your comments by August 18, 2013 to the following:
Amy Augustine, AICP
Augustine Planning Associates, Inc.
270 S. Barretta St., Suite C/P.O. Box 3117
Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 532-7376 (ph)/(209) 532-2652 (fax)
Please include your contact information.
Calaveras County Taxpayers Association
CalaverasTaxpayers.Org
