Dear Editor,
From: Julie Tacker
Los Osos
Thank you Jack McCurdy for the SLO Coast Journal article "Solar Bill Could Hasten End to Diablo Canyon." I, for one, wasn't paying attention when the bill was signed into law. Having had some experience with solar projects that lacked a CEQA process as a co-appellant on both Los Osos and Morro Bay High schools carport solar panel projects, was initially concerned when reading the article.
As certain as I was that the Categorical Exemption process used by San Luis Coastal Unified School District was flawed for eight schools and nearly 200 trees slated for removal, I was unable to challenge it successfully. Fortunately, the four schools in the Coastal Zone needed permits from the California Coastal Commission, it was with this process and the ability to challenge the projects based on their negative impacts to coastal resources that, we were able to refine these projects and areproud to have improved the projects substantially.
In the case of Los Osos schools, the appeals were instrumental in creating conditions of 2:1 tree replacement of the 22 trees that will be removed at the middle school and Monarch Grove Elementary and halted the removal and severe trimming of trees at Baywood Elementary. At Morro Bay High School the Coastal Commission added conditions that restrict the contractor from removing/cutting any of the magnificent Monterey Cypress that screen the school from Scenic Coast Highway 1 and replacing them should any die.
Senate Bill 226 may hasten the ability to build carport type solar projects over parking lots in the future, but the fine print still restricts"a project that may result in damage to scenic resourcesincluding, but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rockoutcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway designated as an official state scenic highway."
The highly scenic setting of Morro Bay and Los Osos is one of the reasons these appeals were filed with the Coastal Commission.
It was never a question of supporting solar, who doesn't? It was always a question of how it could be accomplished with fewer impacts to the environment. My preference was to have thestructures installed on the acres of rooftops available, which should still be considered.
Concerns continue surrounding the pending project at San Luis Obispo High. There, removal of 70-some trees from the San Luis Drive parking lot and hillside between the school and the administration buildings upslope. This project, well outside the Coastal Zone, will move ahead without the benefit of a permitting process overseen by any governing body because the school district is acting as its own lead agency. I predict the public will cry "foul" far too late, when the lovely trees are gone and the glass and metal structures are built.
Solar technology has already outpaced the need for carports, yet the school district will not hear of turning back now. To date, nearly $75,000 has been spent in pursuit of these projects. Projects that once were touted in the press and by consultants as saving the District $8-$10 million over 20 years, but according to public records were never going to accomplish more than approximately $3 million in savings. Are they worth it? What is the value of the 130 trees (project wide) effected over 20 years?
I say hurray to the ‘Hastened End to Diablo Canyon,' but not at ‘all cost' to the rest of the environment.
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From: Jan Surbey
Morro Bay
One thing those persons concerned about the proposed Morro Coast Audubon Society (MCAS) project at East Sweet Springs can agree on is that, should the eucalyptus trees be removed, the "view" will change. Whether or not the "view" will be diminished without the tall trees or enhanced with the addition of native trees and shrubs planned to replace the eucalyptus, is a hotly contested debate. (See Sweet Springs Eucalyptus Removal Raises Questions, Slo Coast Journal, November 2011)
Now is the time to put aside the egocentric human opinions about the "view" and consider the "view" of one of the endangered species the project is designed to help: the Morro Shoulderband Snail. The goals of the project, the Recovery Action Plan, and one of the original reasons the property was deeded to MCAS include improving habitat quantity and quality for the federally endangered Morro Shoulderband Snail throughout the preserve and restoration of native dune scrub. The MCAS Board and the funding organizations have not taken this goal lightly, hence the call for the removal of the invasive eucalyptus trees.
It is time for us, as humans, to put the needs of endangered species above our personal preferences and work together to restore this property.
For more information, visit Morro Coast Audubon.
From: Kathleen Welles
Morro Bay
In response to Roger Ewings letter to the Bay News and The SLO Coast Journal: Cronyisim Thrives in Morro Bay.
With all due respect Mr. Ewing, I would say that perhaps back in the 1960's when you were in Hollywood doing several guest shots on TV shows, sitcoms and movies, as well as playing the role of a part-time deputy marshal and handy man on Gunsmoke (I loved Gunsmoke by the way) . . . you should have been up here on the central coast working hard towards purchasing your own piece of the American dream. Then you would not have to constantly complain about what people do with their property that they have worked HARD for while you were living the Hollywood dream . . . NOT. As Doc told Festas once "There's wonderful land values outside of Dodge. Now why don't you go out there someplace, look around, and buy yourself a lot?"
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