By Peter Nichols
pnichols@tellingthetruth.com
WATSONVILLE -- As parties to the meetings arranged by Assemblyman Fred Keeley and the press conference held near the proposed high school site Sunday contemplate their next moves, the local Coastal Commission staff continue to work to complete their recommendations.
The local staff's work will have to be completed for the city to have its Local Coastal Program amendments heard at the commission's March meeting in Carmel.
Tami Grove, Coastal Commission Deputy Director was consulted by Keeley in connection with his attempts to bring the environmentalists and school site supporters to an agreement. Coastal Commission concerns were expressly made a part of the letter sent from Kelley to Mayor Oscar Rios.
Environmental organizations are lured by the promise of an enforceable agreement to remove lands west of Highway 1 from future city development plans. ``We're looking at a whole package of things as part of our recommendations to the Coastal Commission,'' Grove said. ``Including a memorandum of understanding that addresses similar issues to those the Keeley letter proposes. That memorandum would likely be linked into the Local Coastal Program amendment process.''
The Keeley proposal ``is very complex, and we still have a lot of work to do to finalize our recommendations.'' said Tami Grove, Coastal Commission Deputy Director, who is applying for authorization for a late mailing of those recommendations. With that authorization, her deadline for completion will be extended from February 24 to the end of February.
With less than 35 days until the start of the March 14 meeting, there is some concern that Keeley's enforceable, comprehensive agreement may be difficult to complete within the time remaining.
``Anything's possible,'' said Bill Parkin, attorney for the Sierra Club and Watsonville Wetlands Watch. But reports of comments made by the mayor indicate some reservations on the city's part, he added.
According to Parkin, motivation behind reaching an agreement with local environmental groups includes eliminating the potential for any future legal action that might delay the school's construction should the city's amendment application have a favorable outcome.
``If the environmentalists are on board,'' Parkin said. ``The threat of a law suit goes away.''
``There is no deal yet,'' said Parkin . ``And the Sierra Club doesn't want to give the impression that there is one,'' At this time, the Sierra Club opposes the project. It is their position the site ``is not a suitable place to put a high school,'' he said.
Parkin said, ``It's possible there's a win-win out there, but there is no deal now.''
See also:
¦Coastal Commission Draft Report ¦ ¦Coastal Commission Final Report ¦