Letter to Gazette - May 16, 2006

May 16, 2006

Fillmore Gazette

408 Orchard Street  

Fillmore , CA   93015

Dear Editor,

The Planning Commission and City Council hearings for the North Fillmore Specific Plan are still in progress. The Citizens for Responsible Growth urge you to contact the Commissioners or your City Council members and let them know your thoughts on this Plan that will cram high density growth into North Fillmore. The Plan includes up to 894 units on 101 acres.

We are requesting that the City re-circulate the EIR and hold workshops that include the residents of Fillmore in the planning process or reject the Plan. Our requests for input have been reasonable and thoughtful. Our group is not a “no-growth” organization. We want responsible growth in line with the Vision 2020 and 2000 General Plan goals that were created with community input.

The City has put a great deal of work into this Plan. However, with two small workshop exceptions, the planning has been done only between land owners, developers, the City and consultants. Unfortunately, the four years that the City has invested in this Plan gives them a familiarity and comfort level with a development that would otherwise be unthinkable for the impacts on this City and at such a geographically constrained area trapped by Sespe Creek and the mountains.

We also have a concern regarding communicating with our elected representatives. You may be shocked to know that on May 9^th, the City Council members were advised by the City Attorney not to respond to email correspondence by constituents. This is as valid a form of communication as phone calls, speech and letters. Withholding communication from constituents via email isolates council members rather than providing them with citizen input.

The City Council will hold the next hearings on May 23^rd at 6:30 pm. Show up or tune-in on TV. It will be interesting.

Gayle Washburn