Miramar MCAS - opposition to encroachment

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

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The following is taken from the website
http://www.protectmcasmiramar.org
In San Diego County, California.

***

Prevent an International Airport on Miramar and Massive Grading of
Santee Hillsides!


Sign the Petition and Vote YES to Reinstate Hillside Protections! Email SanteeCitizens@cox.net


NOTICE OF INTENT TO CIRCULATE A PETITION

Notice is hereby given by the persons whose names appear hereon of their
intention to circulate the petition within the City of Santee for the
purpose of putting before the voters a policy to protect existing and
future operations of Marine Corps Air Station (?MCAS?) Miramar from
residential encroachment and to prevent inappropriate development of
sensitive hillsides surrounding MCAS Miramar and elsewhere in the City
and its adjoining Planning Area. A statement of the reasons of the
proposed action as contemplated in the petition is as follows:

WHAT IT DOES: The MCAS Miramar/Santee Hillside Protection Initiative
protects operations of MCAS Miramar from residential encroachment
thereby discouraging its closure and replacement with a noisy
international airport, prevents the over-development of nearby Santee
hillsides, and prevents resultant traffic gridlock. It does so by
amending the Santee General Plan to restrict development on lands
adjacent to MCAS Miramar and on other steeply sloped lands within the
City and its official Planning Area.

WHY WE NEED IT: The mission of MCAS Miramar is vital to our national
security and economic vitality and its existence is threatened by
encroaching urban sprawl on undeveloped areas such as Fanita Ranch which
is under a primary path for jets and helicopters approaching Miramar.
Urban sprawl can significantly restrict the military's access to and use
of military lands and limit its ability to engage in training. Reducing
the utility of MCAS Miramar can leave the base vulnerable to closure and
replacement with an international airport that threatens quality of
life. Santee?s General Plan warns ?a new regional airport could create
significant land use compatibility issues for the City.? A new regional
airport would greatly increase adverse noise and traffic impacts for
area residents. At the same time, urban sprawl in areas surrounding MCAS
Miramar, including Fanita Ranch and East Elliot, would cause traffic
gridlock to worsen even further.

Valuable local resources are also threatened. Santee?s scenic golden
hills absorb rainfall, protecting homeowners from floods and landslides
as they add clean water to local creeks and San Diego River parks. While
their dramatic views define Santee?s geographic sense of place, steep
fire-prone slopes and ancient landslides make these hillsides ill suited
for high-density building. Recent actions by the City Council, however,
including amendments to the General Plan in 2003, have weakened the
City?s protections for steeply sloped lands. Accordingly, this
Initiative will amend the General Plan to reinstate and strengthen the
City?s commitment to preserving sensitive hillsides, ridgelines, and
scenic viewsheds.

Therefore, to support the national security mission of MCAS Miramar, to
promote public safety and the general well being of the community, we
hereby propose to amend Santee?s General Plan.

WHO?S BEHIND IT? This Initiative is sponsored by Preserve Wild Santee
(PWS), the same organization that sponsored the successful referendum
that overwhelmingly defeated a 2,988-unit project on Fanita Ranch in 1999.

Tom Abshire 
Perry T. Shipman 
Van K. Collinsworth


-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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