My comments to the Half Moon Bay City Council on  December 2nd, 2014 (26:13).

I’m Rick Hernandez and I live at 360 Poplar Street

Alan and Naomi, thank you for your service to our community. I welcome the new council.

I have comments on the General Plan Update commissioned by the outgoing council. We are about to start public workshops and I’m concerned that the draft documents do not reflect the priorities of the community. If we don’t correct course, we will waste time and money and alienate both residents and visitors.

Here’s why: the City reports that 80% of our town supports or strongly supports the protection of open space. In the Community Survey from May 2014, it is our #1 priority. Tonight, I am presenting a petition signed by more than two thousand three hundred people who agree.

Unfortunately, the draft plans ignore the consensus of our community. They include new subdivisions, roads and commercial projects on or along the Coastal Trail at Redondo Beach, Poplar Beach, and Francis Beach. These plans would make traffic worse, contribute to sprawl, and destroy stunning views and wildlife habitat forever. While we all agree with Mayor Muller that the bluff tops are sacred, why remove protections that keep them safe? Existing zoning and Planned Unit Development strikes a good balance between coastal protection and property rights. They should not be changed lightly! The Sierra Club, the Committee for Green Foothills and Coastside Land Trust agree.

We ask to you to listen to the overwhelming feedback from our community and direct city staff to incorporate the following changes prior to public workshops:

1. Don’t change any existing land designations unless those changes provide clear protection for open space, revitalize our small town charm, and improve traffic.
2. Provide maps of actual conditions on the ground, including sensitive habitat and wetlands as required under city law and the LCP. Don’t waste time and money talking about changes where it’s ill-advised or illegal.
3. Clarify that with existing inventory and infill housing, we have more than 200% of what is required to meet our housing needs.

Instead of starting with the maximum build out and filling every spectacular view with development, let’s start the conversation with what we love about Half Moon Bay. Let’s make the targeted adjustments necessary to improve our community and protect our stunning natural resources for generations to come.