The Keeley Deal, from the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian, Mon. & Tues, Feb. 7 & 8, 2000

Assemblyman Fred Keeley's "Checkpoints on the Road Map" to an agreement to build a high school and save the ramaining lands west of Highway 1 -- for as long as possible

By Peter Nichols
pnichols@tellingthetruth.com

WATSONVILLE -- Calling it a road map leading to ``a broad base of community support, including the environmental community," for the proposed high school on Harkins Slough Rd., Assemblyman Fred Keeley outlined a four part agenda in a letter addressed to Mayor Oscar Rios.

The letter was made available to the public at the news conference held Sunday afternoon at the Harkins Slough Rd site. The following steps are to be completed by the parties to the agreement before March 14, the first day of the Coastal Commission's meeting in Carmel when the city's Local Coastal Program amendments will likely be discussed.

1. City officials are to abandon plans to annex and develop the Tai property and other properties west of Highway 1 as described in the city's General Plan. The Green Farm property near Riverside Dr. is to be excluded from the agreement.
2. The city, the county and the state Coastal Commission are to negotiate an enforceable agreement concerning no development of lands west of Highway 1 that are not already within the city limits.
3. Two Coastal Commission concerns are to be resolved. The slope grading above the wetlands at the eastern boundary of the site is excessively steep and intrusive on environmentally sensitive habitat areas (ESHA). And the property immediately adjacent to the site is at risk of development.
4. Support of the proposed new high school by Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, and the Sierra Club is contingent on completion of the first three items.

   See also:
   

   The Keeley Press Conference

   The Keeley Group

   Keeley Diplomacy

   Keeley Group Update

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