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This week brings a lull in local controversy as
the City Council hopefully approves a plastic bag ban and hears the second
reading of the Crocker project rezone. Just 3 years ago when the then
Climate Protection Committee (now Sustainability) proposed the bag ban, a
member of the chemical industry association actually called me at home to
advise me not to propose this local legislation. We did anyway but it
has languished in this political climate.
Yountville Hill: Then if you
are having trouble visualizing the project, here you go (graphics by Sarah
Lewis, Envision Geo, LLC) -- it has only 2.5 acres of grapes. Here is
the neighbors' website. The core
question seems to be: Is it too big & visible or not? And for
more interesting visuals, here is a map of Zinfandel if all developers' dreams
come true. Maps & graphics for Tourism are found on the Tourism page.
Related: The WDO, Winery
Definition Ordinance, which was passed by the County in 2010 is now being
cited as the core problem as people here grapple with wine tourism "on
steroids". See Geoff Ellsworth's well stated Commentary in yesterday's Register on
that. Then check these letters of opposition at the time -
note the names.
Re: The General Plan:
It will be on a September agenda, probably the 16th, for the Planning
Commission and public hearings are required. Please plan to be there
or write in as it may be our last chance to support the original vision of
our community as defined in the 2010 General Plan Update, so named because
the Planning Commission approved it then. It has been grossly changed
by the City Council since then.
Extra reading: Interesting
because the world visits us and is smaller now: The United Nations 2014 Human Development Report
and the 2014 Federal Reserve Report on US Households.
And our world is drier: See the Drought Impact Map (scroll down) for the
official count of how many impacts on Napa County. Preparing for this
here and now should be the highest priority and yet we hear nothing -- note
the impact on the whole of Calif. compared to other states.
Sandy
P.S. Ask friends and family to sign up here -- as
the election season progresses, it will help inform! Thanks!
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