Category: News

Half Moon Bay Review September 10, 2008 La Hondans remain skeptical about Clos de la Tech Winery Project now in hands of county planning By Greg Thomas [ [email protected] ] Controversy surrounding construction of a large “scenic” winery in the hills of La Honda continues to swirl among Coastsiders concerned about the potentially harmful impact...

Los Gatos Weekly-Times September 9, 2008 Judge requires EIR for controversial Los Gatos creekside development by Judy Peterson Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Leslie Nichols has ordered the town of Los Gatos to conduct an environmental impact review of the proposed Ross Creek subdivision. The subdivision would be located off of Blossom Hill Road...

The Mercury News August 26, 2008 Big winery category drawing fire Ridge-top vintner seeks ‘Scenic’ designation, more acreage, but others object by Lisa Krieger T.J. Rodgers is an outsize personality with an outsize dream to produce the best pinot noir in the world — at an outsize winery. But first he needs to convince authorities...

Yesterday I went to a Planning Commission hearing to oppose a project for 26,000 square foot covered horse arena and barn on a 14 acre property that also has 6,000 square feet of residential development on it. This seemed to me to be a terrible precedent for massive development that would be used to push...

A blow is struck by judicial activism on behalf of a misguided minority of landowners in a recent California Supreme Court decision overriding the majority of voters in a Santa Clara County Open Space Authority election (decision here). Worse still, this decision will make future funding of open space purchases by any California government agency...

I came across this the other day: an online tool for finding email addresses for sending letters to the editor, based on physical location. When a land use issue affects a particular place, this can help to figure out which newspaper may be interested in it. I tried it out for Mountain View, where I...

We’ve just sent in our commitment to be part of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition, an entity that recognizes the importance of private rangeland for the environment and helps bring ranchers and environmentalists together. Very happy to join! -Brian

(CGF sent out the following news release yesterday. -Brian) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 26, 2008 PRESS CONTACTS:Brian Schmidt, Legislative Advocatephone (650) 968-7243, Environmentalists call for fewer new monster mansions on hillsides following the Santa Cruz Mountains fire Committee for Green Foothills called today for the Santa Clara County to reconsider environmental reforms that would reduce...

(KQED had a radio program this morning about the Santa Cruz Mountains fires. We emailed in the following short comment – it didn’t get into the show, but I thought we should share it. -Brian) I work for Committee for Green Foothills, an organization that along with others sponsored the Measure A environmental initiative in...

There’s a vacancy on the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Commission, which would be a great place for a good environmentalist to get involved with local government. The announcement’s here: http://www.sccgov.org/SCC/docs/SCC%20Public%20Portal/keyboard%20agenda/BOS%20Agenda/2008/May%2020,%202008/KeyboardTransmittal-0011957.PDF Shortened version of URL here: http://tiny.cc/KQQOEWhile it says the vacant term ends next month, I think that’s either a mistake or that a...