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Santa Cruz County Land Use & Development Articles



The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
A “Jewel in the Community:” Ramsay Park Project Moves Forward

In a little more than a year, Ramsay Park in Watsonville will boast a new dog park, a new multi-use synthetic sports field, a new state-of-the-art nature center and new lights for its pathways, parking lots and athletic fields.

Hilltromper Santa Cruz logo LOCAL NEWS
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County Protects Habitat for Rare and Endangered Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County acquired 14 acres of core habitat critical to the recovery of the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander.

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Downtown Santa Cruz Hotel Approved by City Council

A six-story hotel is proposed at 324 Front St. in Downtown Santa Cruz. (BCV Architecture + Interiors)
SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday approved a six-story hotel at 324 Front St. in Downtown Santa Cruz. 
The hotel …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Proposed Fishing Bans Spark Debate in Santa Cruz County

A fishing ban is set to be considered in two areas off the Santa Cruz County coast, including Pleasure Point. (Kara Meyberg Guzman — Santa Cruz Local file, flight courtesy of LightHawk)
SANTA CRUZ >> As kelp forests in some …

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Pain and Progress in Pajaro

Tarmo Hannula and Todd Guild contributed to this story

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Watsonville to Deactivate Crosswind Runway

The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday voted to close the crosswind runway at the airport, a move city officials say will open up more of the city for development of housing and commercial space.

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Dispensary Near School Approved by Planning Commission

A new cannabis dispensary is set to take over the site of the former Emily’s Bakery after the Santa Cruz Planning Commission approved the project on March 7. The vote was 5-2 in favor with commissioners Michael Polhamus and John …

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Measure M’s Messaging Might Have Led to It’s Defeat

It all came down to messaging. Santa Cruz’s Measure M, also known as the Housing For People Initiative, suffered a resounding defeat at the polls last week. Now, even those behind the campaign say the lack of a streamlined message …

Press Banner logo LOCAL NEWS
Sempervirens Fund Permanently Protects 120 Acres in Santa Cruz Mountains’ Upper Zayante Watershed

With the donation of a conservation easement from private landowners to Sempervirens Fund, California’s first land trust, 120 acres in the Upper Zayante watershed will be protected in perpetuity.

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Cruz Drafts ‘50-Year Vision’ for West Cliff

The City of Santa Cruz unveiled its draft 50-Year Community Vision For West Cliff late last month, the culmination of a year’s worth of community feedback about the future of the iconic stretch of coastline. 

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Cruz District Says No to Pot Store

Santa Cruz City Schools voted to “declare its opposition” to the opening of a cannabis dispensary near Santa Cruz High School at a meeting on Feb. 28 in part of Emily’s Bakery.

Image caption: The 1965 law known as the Williamson Act has been responsible for keeping about half of California's farmland out of the hands of developers.
The Williamson Act: How the Law That Protects California’s Farmland Works

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.

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Front Street hotel proposal advances in Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz Planning Commission on Thursday night advanced a plan to build a hotel at Front and Laurel Streets with 232 rooms and ground-floor shops, a restaurant, a bar and a cafe.  (BCV Architecture + Interiors)
SANTA CRUZ >> …

Image caption: Does California’s signature environmental law protect the state’s scenic beauty, or cause more problems than it solves?
CEQA: The Surprising Story of CA’s Key Environmental Law

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.

KSQD logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Cruz Rail and Trail: Questions and Conundrums

It is said that there are more opinions than people in Santa Cruz county, and the Rail and Trail project has not only spanned decades, it swarms with opinions, ideas, and contradictions. As the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission takes …

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