Council postpones decision on 20-acre Westside project - Santa ...

Vocal supporters outnumbered critics of a proposed Westside development nearly two to one Tuesday night at a City Council meeting that lasted until 12:30 p.m. before council members adjourned without deciding ...

[eightheen year resident]

it is preposterous that the reporter (nor the editor) know the difference between AM and PM
Me thinks that they are possible thinking that the 'M' stands (mistakenly) for midnight

sheesh

Good thing the council postponed a decision earlier this morning - this project deserves a lot more scrutiny before it is approved or not

[Vince]

Or the fact you can't spell "Eightheen" correctly but we won't bother with that.....I want to thank all the supporters who came out for this project. I would like to see this project move forward. It is the type of community Santa Cruz desires. Where people can live and work at home and with the price of gas where it is now, a project like this is in line with what the community needs....It is in line with "progressive thinking" and we need more housing period. If those people don't want it built here they are in effect saying go populate another area well why not populate an empty area within the city lines. This project isn't expanding our city lines it is making good land use decisions, I say move this project forward

[Xanthippe]

We need more water before more housing is built.

Santa Cruz also needs more good paying jobs.

How about attracting more industry to town through tax breaks or other incentives? That part of town is perfect for light industry.

[thirsty]

Good idea once the bugs are worked out... but not enough water, just look at the San Lorenzo River right now...

[Bizzy]

I am amazed the "Santa Cruz Snivelers" were not out in droves to condemn this project. They must have been protesting another gas station.
Finally, something will be built on that patch of nothingness now known as a monument to hobos and dog crap. Will this actually be built? Probably not...Santa Cruz likes to think it is still a sleepy little beach town in 1960. I am amazed that anyone still tries to build anything in this town...

[wildman]

Would sure be nice if developments were evaluated on an objective basis. If the development conforms to the general plan the governing body should approve the project. The idea of every idiot in the neighborhood standing up and saying there will be traffic concerns and there is not enough water and it will spoil my view....blah, blah, blah. The governing bodies take these things into account, and also have a better understanding.

[Kick em out]

Keep it industrial and force our city leaders to pursue manufacturing to replace the jobs lost from Wrigley's, Liptons and Tech inst. We need bigger tax base and more jobs then this will offer. I know it may be a tough task for city leaders to actually encourage big business but it is possible for them use 1oz of their brain.

[countersTrike]

Postponement expected, then downsizing, then some other world crisis happens - etc. I must be part psychic- predicted this delay immediatley. Very California-ish. It would take about 1 year to get from groundbreaking to grand opening even if it went smoothly (as in start today). Very laughable to see beurocratic red tape in action. Just plant a few trees, so the homeless can move closer to Safeway with their cardboard signs. Imagine! All the way to the reservoir- how inhumane!! Gee, I guess they have water out there.

[jeffreynewell]

Xanthippe wrote:

We need more water before more housing is built.
Santa Cruz also needs more good paying jobs.
How about attracting more industry to town through tax breaks or other incentives? That part of town is perfect for light industry.

Economists in areas that need development insist that tax incentives are not always the way to go, unless you are prepared to make it so the new business never pays taxes. That kind of decision then places tax burdens on poorer people. This is the type of stratagy that we are seeing presented by the current administration. We can use non-bid contracts as an example KBR was presented incentives to operate in a war zone no taxes very little oversite and they ripped the tax payer off for millions if not billions of dollars.

In the US companies have operated in depricated areas until the incentives ran out then closed shops and moved. Tax incentives might sound like a good idea but tend to be counter productive. But what do I know, I am just an old troll

[H Spruit]

WATER IS THE NUMBER 1 PROBLEM.
if Redtree can make enough water for the long term support of their project then we can deal with the next problems, like traffic, and taxes.

[Mandy]

I was shocked when it started getting late and all of the people opposing the project started leaving before the public comments started. It's as if their outrage at such a project has a bed time.

[liverant]

wow! i just wanted to say all of you are right the water problems and not to mention all the trafict and the buisness around.i've lived in s.c. for 18 years i growup here.i have always seen that empy space never really thought of a community there and yes i also agree that we need more housing, i have a question! will this project be for low income? or be sold like the condos in san lorenzo because if so the project will just bring unwanted people to the community and it will greate more over flow population in the county, so i just want to know who will this project really benefit the community or there going to build this to get more money for the state?

[Response to liverant]

That's my question too. Will these housing and business units be restricted to city of Santa Cruz residents? How much are these units? Can people with jobs here afford them? Will the restaurants and retail space be limited to Santa Cruz owned small businesses? If not you will see more people from across the hill buying into these units because they are cheap, modern, and near the beach. If not you will see out of town owned businesses using this as an opportunity to expand into a new market.
There should be restrictions as to who can engage in these units.

[Project Supporter]

Come on Council... quit wimping out and make a decision. The people spoke. There wasn't enough opposition, so you want to have another hearing to give them another chance. Maybe you are the ones blocking growth and development. Approve something useful for the City for once. Quit wasting time and bring in some revenue.

[WS SC]

Mandy wrote:

I was shocked when it started getting late and all of the people opposing the project started leaving before the public comments started. It's as if their outrage at such a project has a bed time.

I agree with Mandy completely. Funny how people can be so opposed to a project but then not want to sit through an hour or so of explanation to learn more about it.... typical.

Separate note - In my opinion, someone last night said it perfect - let the next generations have opportunities to live/thrive in SC and this project will allow that. Hope Council approves next week.

[No Dog and I vote]

Response to liverant wrote:

That's my question too. Will these housing and business units be restricted to city of Santa Cruz residents? How much are these units? Can people with jobs here afford them? Will the restaurants and retail space be limited to Santa Cruz owned small businesses? If not you will see more people from across the hill buying into these units because they are cheap, modern, and near the beach. If not you will see out of town owned businesses using this as an opportunity to expand into a new market.
There should be restrictions as to who can engage in these units.

Wow, talk about exclusive. Do you really hear what you are saying??? The whole purpose of new development is to attract new business! Whether it is from around the Santa Cruz area or elsewhere, what difference does it make? I am sure the price for the space will be what the market can bare and consistent with other comparable industrial/commercial space in the area. Since when does the City have any role in dictating the rent/lease rates of property that is not affordable housing?

But maybe you one of those people that moves somewhere and then immediately wants the door shut to anyone else being allowed to move in? Maybe we should have a policy that only allows new people to move to Santa Cruz when a resident passes away to ensure that we have static growth. But then again, I suppose that you are fine with newcomers, as long as they are homeless and bring no real benefit with them to Santa Cruz.

Wake up to reality. If you don’t like people, go move to the Alaskan wilderness.

[Reader]

"There should be restrictions as to who can engage in these units." And YOU should be the person to screen the applicant's, right?
What a typical Santa Cruz attitude. In the country I fought for, anybody who has the money can "engage these units". Santa Cruz is now a dirt-poor city because the NIMBYs have won, by driving out manufacturing businesses, and by keeping the sinister "big box" stores out, thus negating $ millions $ in tax monies. We make our own bed, people. Proposition 13. Remember?

[Clarkie]

It's amazing how bad reporting can slant the truth. The reporter obviously was not there or she would have reported that due to the size of the standing room only and overflow (mostly opposers) and the length of the presentation, the Mayor urged people in the audience to go home and send in their comments by e-mail which would then get read during the meeting.

So, if it's a numbers game, then please count all the e-mails sent in and perhaps all the letters of opposition sent in prior to the meeting. Not everybody can stand from 7pm until almost 1am. Or if the Sentinel still wants to slant it's reporting, go ahead and continue to report that there is no opposition to this project. Better yet, actually attend before reporting.

Even after last night, there are still unanswered questions. New information was introduced for the first time at the presentation. Though the Mayor said public comments are closed, I would urge anyone who still has questions to insist they be heard. Tony Madrigal tried to get the meeting continued until after vacations in September so the public has fair time to evaluate and comment, but it was not passed.

Be honest out there, and stop twisting the truth.

[Gwen]

Clarkie wrote:

Better yet, actually attend before reporting.

The reporter was there. I saw her interviewing people.

[Swift Street]

"Tony Madrigal tried to get the meeting continued until after vacations in September so the public has fair time to evaluate and comment"

The Public????

Does he not mean the students???

Yes, lets wait for them to decide the future of our town once again!