CGF says Big Wave’s proposed story poles are inadequate
An attorney representing the Committee for Green Foothills has put the county on notice that Big Wave’s plan for story poles is inadequate [pdf]. The developer plans to erect poles showing less than half the actual square footage of the project.
On February 17, Camille Leung, county Project Planner wrote, “per the applicant, poles will go up for the wellness center and storage building and the northern office building (closest to mobile home park). No poles will go up for the communication building.”
Big Wave is requesting a permit to build four office buildings, no just one. The CGF believes that the proposed story poles would not meet the developer’s and the county’s obligations under the California Environmental Quality Act.
CGF’s attorney notes that this would not accurately represent the impact of the project. They go on to note that the California Environmental Quality Act requires applicants to provide “an adequate, accurate analysis of a project’s aesthetic impacts…. a paramount consideration is the right of the public be informed in such a way that it can intelligently weigh the environmental consequences of any contemplated action and have an appropriate voice in the formulation of any decision.”
The placement of story poles has been delayed because the developer has not yet updated the project’s Environmental Impact Report.
Pumpkin Festival donates $63,000, but they’re not accepting grant applications for next year
CORRECTION: The committee plans to continue to make donations to nonprofits in the next year. However, the additional grant application process will not be conducted in 2010.
The Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee has donated $63,000 to Coastside nonprofit organizations from the proceeds of the Pumpkin Festival. This amount is down for the third year in a row.
However, for the first time in many years, the Committee will not accept applications for additional grants in 2010. According to Tim Beeman of Miramar Events, who manages the festival for the Committee, “Although the plan is to conduct the grant application process again next year, we won’t know for certain until this time next year.” Beeman says that sponsorships were off by 15% in 2009 and that the cost of producing the event goes up every year. He says that they hope to accept additional grant applications in 2011.
He noted that Coastside nonprofits take in $400,000 to $500,000 in net income from booths at the event. He knows this because they pay 10% of their net to the festival. Additionally, many groups make money from selling parking, which is not included in that number.
Follow the jump to see the details on this year’s donations.
...there's more after the jump.MCTV MIA on tsunami: “No one called us”
MCTV carried no coverage of Saturday’s tsunami advisory, despite the fact that it led to the closing of the harbor and all Coastside beaches by the Harbor District and the County Sheriff. This was noted by Darin Boville on Montara Fog yesterday.
I sent MCTV attorney and spokesman Mike Day a question about whether MCTV covered the tsunami and he issued the following statement.
In response to your inquiry, we have checked and MCTV received no email or phone call notification from anyone at San Mateo County regarding the tsunami warning Saturday morning. You are correct that Mr. Boville made no effort to contact MCTV before publishing his article criticizing MCTV. We have indicated in the past that MCTV can serve as a means to transmit public safety information to the community, and we have placed messages on the message channel and shown public service programming on specific topics at the request of the County and other governmental agencies. However, if we do not receive any communication from the governmental agencies, it is obviously not possible for MCTV to disseminate such information, particularly when it is time sensitive information. Mr. Boville’s uninformed and unfair criticism does not take into account the fact that MCTV has always made an effort to cooperate with the County and City to inform the community about public safety issues and other important public matters in addition to the regularly scheduled meetings we cablecast—when we have been asked to do so. [emphasis added]
The entire Coastside was buzzing about this event on Saturday. I was stopped by a couple of readers in downtown Half Moon Bay that morning asking about the tsunami. MCTV is the only Coastside media outlet that was not covering the tsunami. In addition to Coastsider, Montara Fog and the Review issued bulletins throughout the day. Coastsider alone received 2,400 visits on Saturday—about five times our typical Saturday traffic.
If, as Mr. Day says, “MCTV can serve as a means to transmit public safety information…”, they should to be prepared to do just that in an emergency and not wait for the authorities to give them a call.
NOTE: The reason for the communication breakdown between MCTV and the county has been updated in the comments.
Rural roads workshop, Saturday, Mar 6
Is your road difficult to navigate during winter rains? Are the pot holes and ruts taking a toll on your car? The San Mateo County Resource Conservation District (RCD) is offering a free workshop, a field tour (if weather permits), and information on funding assistance for rural road improvements.
The workshop will help rural road residents understand the basics of erosion and drainage, recognize the early signs of road failure, find funding and technical assistance for improvements, and get tips on creating a road association and working with neighbors to improve private roads
Saturday, March 6: noon to 2
2pm Presentations
4pm Site visit
Gazos Grill,
5720 Cabrillo Highway/Rte. 1
(just south of Pigeon Point Lighthouse)
RSVPs: Ellen Gartside 650.712.7765 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Image: Tsunami!
Brews & Views, The Economy Summit, Thursday
Brews & Views continues its ongoing discussion of critical issues featuring some of the most interesting, informative and timely topics in its Brews & Views series. We are calling our next gathering ‘The Economy Summit – What does the future hold for us?’ taking place Thursday, March 4 from 6-8 pm at The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company.
When it comes to defining where our economy is headed, both locally and nationally, Brews and Views is featuring some of the best economic minds in the Bay Area: Sean Randolph, President & CEO of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute; Jon Haveman, Founding Partner of Beacon Economics; Cynthia A. Kroll, Senior Regional Economist and Executive Director for Staff Research at University of California, Berkley; Jed Kolko, Associate Director and Research Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California; and Prof. John Zysman from the University of California Berkeley and co-founder of the Berkeley Roundtable of the International Economy (BRIE).
This local economic ‘dream team’ brings together perspectives from business, government, and academia promising a provocative, enlightening, frustrating and lively exchange of ideas with all those in attendance. This Economic Summit will be moderated by Lenny Mendonca – senior partner at McKinsey & Company and founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
“With all the uncertainties and misinformation that’s floating about when it comes to the current economic climate, this Economic Summit could not come at a better time. This superb panel will dispel some myths, and provide fuel the reform fire when it comes to areas in serious need of economic rehabilitation” says Lenny Mendonca.
The Brews & Views Events have added a new element to its program and that is philanthropy . The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company will contribute 10% of your dinner on the first Thursday of every month to a local charity. Come for the event, stay for dinner and support the community.
...there's more after the jump.Special Olympic Basketball Tourney
Today groups from Special Olympics from the Bay Area including players from the Coastside went to the Jewish Community Center in Foster City California to play in a Basketball Tourney. Okay I took too many pictures but enjoy them…at the following link
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5363030&l=49b6551ea1&id=582045258
All the players did well the games were exciting Then afterward the participants enjoy and very nice lunch…
P.A. Chimienti
Hwy 92 reopened between 280 and 35
Highway 92 is open after a vehicle fire that closed Highway 92 between 35 and 280, according to Sheriff’s deputies on the scene.
Tsunami advisory issued for California coast
UPDATE at 10:56: Forecast initial wave height in Half Moon Bay is 3.3 ft, shortly before forecast arrival in San Francisco at 1:26pm today.
A tsunami advisory (low-level warning) has been issued for the coastal areas along California. The tsunami is expected reach San Francisco at 1:26pm, and the San Mateo coast shortly before that.
Significant widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Tsunami advisories mean that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is imminent or expected.
Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.
Mon, Mar 1
Sun, Feb 28
Sat, Feb 27
Fri, Feb 26
Thu, Feb 25
Wed, Feb 24
...Looking for something even earlier? Try Coastsider's monthly archives.
Pacifica examines widening part of Hwy 1 to six lanes, Mar 12 8:23pm, Carl May — Given the well-known effect of school traffic on traffic congestion from the midcoast through HMB, possible busing in Pacifica would seem worth studying. Vallemar School is a K-8 campus with a good record of achievement, and at least some parents ...
Pacifica examines widening part of Hwy 1 to six lanes, Mar 12 4:59pm, Amy Tezza — I think Barbara Kossy’s observation is spot on; this is my daily commute and on non school mornings it’s not a problem but it can take over fifteen minutes to get through Pacifica during rush hour on school days. Sometimes people ask me if the ...
Photo: HMB HS students ask CUSD board to keep counselors, Mar 12 6:21am, Katharine Weber — The pleas were poignant, but a day too late. We all received our lay off notices the next day. The decision had been made during the four previous board meetings. By the time the Board met at Cunha, it was already decided…..but the support was ...
Consultants' plan for Hwy 1 lacks awareness of our environment and community, Mar 11 4:43pm, Carl May — People interested in the California state trail known as the California Coastal Trail, especially what kind of a trail (or trails) it might be, can get into it by Googling “California Coastal Trail SB 908 Chesbro.” Chesbro, out of Arcata, is an ...
Consultants' plan for Hwy 1 lacks awareness of our environment and community, Mar 11 4:06pm, Carl May — “Many of your neighbors don’t care. They want a bike and foot path, as it provides access to some coastal and community features in our area.” For those who don’t get out except to go from their car to their front door, and to those so ...
Consultants' plan for Hwy 1 lacks awareness of our environment and community, Mar 11 2:24pm, Kevin Barron — An overpass will NEVER happen here. It reeks of growth, development, and an iota of suburbanization. Many here want to hold tight to no-growth-weed-ridden-squalor. Allow no infrastructure improvements, so any attempts at “progress” is denied for ...
Photo: HMB HS students ask CUSD board to keep counselors, Mar 11 12:02pm, Kathryn Slater Carter — I heard the final student comments. The comments were excellent, the students were impressive. Alternate budget cuts were suggested. One student made a particularly critical point: Students must feel safe in school, from bullies and other ...