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High school trustees said they oppose a ballot initiative that would limit growth in Grass Valley, and will consider a resolution on the matter at their next board meeting.
Nevada Joint Union High School board President Mark Heauser asked staff to draft the resolution after former board member and current Grass Valley City Councilman Dan Miller presented the board with a presentation against the proposal at the board meeting Wednesday night.
The Managed Growth Initiative, which will appear as Measure Z on the ballot, would require projects in Grass Valley proposing a more intensive use of a property than what is set in the land-use map be put to a public vote.
The initiative is supported by the Rural Quality Coalition and the Grass Valley-based Citizens Concerned About Traffic.
Supporters of the ballot measure were welcome to come to the meeting, Superintendent Ralf Swenson said. None attended.
Miller was joined by land-use planners Andy Cassano and former Grass Valley City Councilman Steve Enos — an unusual team — in presenting a report opposing the initiative.
“The purpose of planning law is to meet the community’s needs,” Cassano told the board. “This would take away some of the flexibility for (Grass Valley) to grow.”
The measure would effectively freeze land-use planning for 30 years, Enos said.
“This isn’t about smart growth,” Enos said. “It’s about no growth.”
If the public approves Measure Z, it would effectively mean voters would have to keep abreast of land-use terms and directives in the city’s inches-thick 2020 General Plan, Miller said. He brought to the meeting the document that guides long-range development for the city.
Should the public adopt the measure, it could mean fewer dollars in impact fees that builders pay to the school district for residential and commercial development within the district’s borders.
In a district with declining enrollment, that could mean fewer dollars for services and teachers in the district, Miller said.
Board members are expected to consider a resolution at the Sept. 17 meeting, to be held at Bear River High School.
To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi, e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call 477-4239.
Nevada Joint Union High School board President Mark Heauser asked staff to draft the resolution after former board member and current Grass Valley City Councilman Dan Miller presented the board with a presentation against the proposal at the board meeting Wednesday night.
The Managed Growth Initiative, which will appear as Measure Z on the ballot, would require projects in Grass Valley proposing a more intensive use of a property than what is set in the land-use map be put to a public vote.
The initiative is supported by the Rural Quality Coalition and the Grass Valley-based Citizens Concerned About Traffic.
Supporters of the ballot measure were welcome to come to the meeting, Superintendent Ralf Swenson said. None attended.
Miller was joined by land-use planners Andy Cassano and former Grass Valley City Councilman Steve Enos — an unusual team — in presenting a report opposing the initiative.
“The purpose of planning law is to meet the community’s needs,” Cassano told the board. “This would take away some of the flexibility for (Grass Valley) to grow.”
The measure would effectively freeze land-use planning for 30 years, Enos said.
“This isn’t about smart growth,” Enos said. “It’s about no growth.”
If the public approves Measure Z, it would effectively mean voters would have to keep abreast of land-use terms and directives in the city’s inches-thick 2020 General Plan, Miller said. He brought to the meeting the document that guides long-range development for the city.
Should the public adopt the measure, it could mean fewer dollars in impact fees that builders pay to the school district for residential and commercial development within the district’s borders.
In a district with declining enrollment, that could mean fewer dollars for services and teachers in the district, Miller said.
Board members are expected to consider a resolution at the Sept. 17 meeting, to be held at Bear River High School.
To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi, e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call 477-4239.
