COASTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Public hearing on zoning changes that can impact your ability to rebuild
Dear Coastal Property Owners Association of Santa Cruz County Member:
The Santa Cruz County Planning Department is proposing another zoning change that will adversely impact our ability to rebuild existing homes that are destroyed by fire or other natural disasters. These continuing zoning changes are creating a substantial increase in the number of non-conforming properties in all unincorporated areas of the county. While zoning changes may serve to better the quality of new housing stock, they can also penalize many existing properties that become non-conforming when those changes are implemented.
The problem is that non-conforming properties are not “grandfather” protected if over 50-75% of the improvements are destroyed by fire or other natural disaster. This could result in not being able to rebuild your existing size home or building if:
1) The second story does not meet the proposed increased second story setbacks
2) The home is located on a bluff top
3) Previous zoning changes resulted in the property becoming non-conforming
4) Future zoning changes result in the property becoming non-conforming
Now is the time to urge the Planning Department to establish a “grandfather” ordinance that will allow for rebuilding of all existing improvements that have or will become non-conforming by the many years of zoning modifications. We all want to improve the quality of our neighborhoods, but it is an unfair hardship to prevent our community from rebuilding previously legally permitted housing or improvements which are lost to a fire or other natural disaster.
The public hearing is scheduled by the County of Santa Cruz Planning Commission for Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 1:30 PM at:
Board of Supervisors Chamber
County Government Center
701 Ocean Street, Room 525
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
If you are unable to attend the public meeting you may submit written comments to:
Planning Commission / Pleasure Point Combining Zone District
Government Center
701 Ocean Street, 4th Floor
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
or e-mail to:
Planning Commission / Pleasure Point Combining Zone District
plnagendamail@co.santa-cruz.ca.us
The proposed zoning changes (staff reports) for both single and multi-family homes in the Pleasure Point area will be available by December 3, 2009 under agenda item 10 at:
http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/planning/plnmeetings/ASP/Display/ASPX/DisplayAgenda.aspx?MeetingDate=12/9/2009&MeetingType=1
You may also be interested in visiting the Pleasure Point Community Planning Progress Webpage is located at:
http://www.sccoplanning.com/html/policy/pleasurept.htm
Sincerely,
Keith Adams
President
Coastal Property Owners Association of Santa Cruz County
831-479-4200
Please visit our web site at http://www.coastalpropertyowners.org/ for other news about coastal issues.
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