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Ecology Action
Listed under: Environment Transportation Water Sustainability
The Williamson Act, passed in 1965, now keeps more than 16 million acres of farmland out of the hands of developers. Here's how the law puts the brakes on the development of California agricultural properties.
The California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA, is both the state’s signature environmental legislation, and is also often named as the villain in the state’s housing shortage. But the story may not be that simple.
How California’s 10 state conservancies buy up open land and shield it from developers to preserve the natural environment for public use.
What is the California Coastal Commission? How one of the state’s most powerful agency protects public access to the state’s scenic coast from Mexico to Oregon.
California has used reclamation districts to turn millions of acres of unusable swamps into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush. Here’s how it happened.
Zoning laws determine what can be built and where. These laws have shaped California, but are they really just tools for social engineering? The history of zoning is closely tied to racial segregation, as well as the state's shortage of …
From Benito Link...
Wildfarmers is a nonprofit dedicated to connecting and strengthening wildlife, wilderness and human communities, through the enhancement of native habitat, aquifers, and forest lands; specifically pertaining to the ancient Blue Oak forests of California and the 2500 species they house.
From CalMatters...
From Los Angeles Times...
Being an election year, there was no shortage of news for BenitoLink to dig into in 2024. Stories included several campaign flyers distributed by two unknown organizations which, as BenitoLink’s Fact Check project revealed, contained numerous false and misleading statements.BenitoLink also increased its sports coverage, including high school sports, and highlighted achievements by club teams. Here’s a look at what made news in San Benito County in 2024.
Pinnacles National Park and Conservation Legacy are hiring Habitat Restoration Crew members for the 2025 field season. Read on to learn more.
In 2017, President Donald Trump created a program called Opportunity Zones to spur economic growth in low-income communities—two of these are located in San Benito County.
Homeless residents have built elaborate living arrangements along the San Benito River, and some of them include underground dwellings and walled communities, according to a recent census conducted by the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office.
At its last meeting of the year, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to postpone voting on amendments to the rules governing the county Planning Commission. The proposal modifies the commission’s duties and scope of authority, which has been the source of tensions between planners and supervisors in recent months.
According to a San Benito County planner, Measure A will not immediately stall the plan to build a visitor center, gas station, fruit stand and motel at the corner of Hwy 101 and Betabel Road. The Betabel Road Project was approved by the San Benito County Board of Supervisors in November 2022 and that approval cannot be retroactively revoked, said Johnathan Olivas, associate planner for the county.
At a Dec. 2 special meeting, the San Juan Bautista City Council voted to approve the final wording of a memorandum of understanding that will be submitted to the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. If accepted by the board, the MOU would give the city a greater voice in decisions regarding proposed developments in the area immediately outside the city limits.
On Dec. 3, the Hollister City Council approved the 2040 general plan update and certified its environmental impact report amid mixed reactions from community members. The council also adopted a climate action plan and an agricultural lands preservation program.
Conditions and weather permitting, CAL FIRE plans to conduct multiple broadcast burns through the San Benito-Monterey Unit during December 3, 2024 to December 13,2024.
In a Nov. 26 meeting, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors tabled a series of amendments to a number of zoning ordinances listed in the County Code. The amendments, which were introduced by county staff, aimed to change substantial parts of the county’s land use policies, including allowing commercial development on land zoned for agricultural use.
From SanBenitocom...
UC Santa Cruz recently acquired and established the Strathearn Ranch Natural Reserve, a 2,400-acre oak-studded grassland property in San Benito County that will be used for field research and outdoor education for the university’s students, staff and researchers.
After winning a state grant, San Benito County officials began the process of creating the Agricultural Element to include in the 2035 General Plan—the document that by law guides all county land use decisions.
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