1. 
   Greg permalink

   October 10, 2012

   At the community meeting last week, the Advisory Committee was given the task of making recommendations for where they would like to see further development in Copper. Logistically, each committee member was given a map of the area and asked to designate (color-code) places on the map based on the kind of future development (if any) they would theoretically like to see there (i.e., residential, business, school, etc). I gathered it’s kind of a brainstorming exercise for the Community Plan revision (that itself is also in the early brainstorming stage). For example, the committee hasn’t even really discussed the mission statement yet (assuming a mission statement revision would even be needed). As for the color-coordinated map exercise, I think this is a smart way for the County Planning Department to help engage the Committee to perform its advisory task, and I gathered the majority of the Committee members were receptive to the idea. The one member who was originally resistant to the idea was at least asking ‘colorful’ questions that should help clarify the process for the group, so that was positive (in retrospect at least).

   The general consensus seemed to be that the current growth plan for Copperopolis (in the current Community Plan) is probably not realistic for our current infrastructure (ie., population-wise), so the new plan should correct those perceived imbalances by scaling back proposed development areas (i.e., shrinking the area of proposed development by tightening certain boundaries that haven’t already been pre-approved by the County for development).

   All of this is just tentative though, and advisory at that… For example, even if the boundary is tightened down the road, a property owner can still apply for a variance/exception if he wants to develop outside a boundary.

   Fortunately County staff has a lot of experience when it comes to infrastructural needs and logistics, and there were several staff members present at the meeting. The meeting went late and they stayed until the end so they are indeed making themselves available to provide input to the Committee and the community; the process is very transparent, which is positive.

   I gathered from the current color-coordination on the maps so far that no proposed changes are being recommended for Diamond XX. Indeed, a Planning Department representative even highlighted the County appreciates there are residents “enamored” with the idea of producing resources on smaller residential acreage lots. And to help confirm that sentiment, here’s a nice article in the Copper Gazette yesterday about one homeowner’s ability to successfully grow and harvest grapes on small acreage in Copperopolis: http://coppergazette.blogspot.com/2012/10/grape-harvesting-on-small-scale.html

   At the end of the day, this process provides a nice lesson in civics – a community plan is improved when the people of that community desire to be good stewards of their lands and homes and businesses. If we can do that, then no matter where those lines are drawn our colors will shine right off the map.

Comments are closed.