Point-by-point rebuttal of The Tribune’s editorial.

Measure J will be one of our main topics discussed during the KSBY Town Hall Meeting. We’ll also focus on the San Luis Obispo mayoral race. We invite you to be our guest and participate in the hour program. The taping takes place on November 1, and if you would like to take part, simply log onto our Web site’s home page at www.ksby.com and click on the “Decision 2006” link. The Town Hall Meeting will air Sunday, November 5, after NFL football.

The Nipomo Community Services District Board of Directors voted unanimously to oppose Measure J at its October 25, 2006 meeting. The Board was concerned that Measure J could delay the construction of the Willow Road interchange and also with the precedent of large developments attempting to by-pass the standard land use approval process.

The SLOCOG staff has called Measure J’s numbers insufficient to pay for changes to road systems that will be needed to handle the added traffic. Furthermore, Measure J creates a land-use category specific to the Dalidio Ranch that will be added to rural-residential, commercial and the county’s other 13 zones. This has not happened before in San Luis Obispo County.

Development under the Initiative, which will not receive an Environmental Impact Report, would be significantly more intensive than under the prior version of the project proposed to the City of San Luis Obispo. Among other things, the Initiative includes a private sewage plant, which has never been subject to an EIR. It does NOT include adequate financing for the road and infrastructure improvements that a 560,000 square foot shopping mall, and other commercial development would require. The measures contained in the Initiative’s Conditions of Approval to reduce environmental impacts are significantly weaker than the mitigation measures provided in the FEIR. In fact, the Initiative’s authors have deleted many of those measures and seriously weakened others. This lack of normal regulatory and environmental review makes the Dalido Ranch Project much more environmentally damaging than any other commercial project ever proposed in San Luis Obispo County.

The issue is not whether Ernie Dalidio is a nice guy. The bottom line is what we want for our county in this generation, and what we will bequeath to the next generation, and the one after that.

If communities such as Paso Robles, Atascadero, Pismo Beach, etc., are allowed to go against the decision of the San Luis voters, then where are we going in this county?

Ernie asserts that he should be allowed to bypass all development review (no public hearings, ever), be exempt from state environmental law (unlike any other developer), not have to pay to fix the problems he causes (like traffic gridlock on the 101), and build a crowded mall in a dangerous airplane flight zone (where one jet has already crashed!).

The Air Pollution Control District joins an expanding chorus of local agencies that have raised questions about the effects of Measure J. Concerns about traffic, the lack of a Prado Road overpass in Measure J, and the financing of such an overpass should one be built later have all aroused concern.

The funding for the Prado Road Interchange will come from people who live in the county and their taxes. Pure and simple.

Recall that old proverb, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts”? Inside this very attractive Trojan horse lurk two threats to local control in every town in SLO County. If you value the ability to make informed decisions about developments in your neighborhood and the power of your voice in effecting them, it’s in your interest to look over this gift-horse before accepting it.

Measure J sets aside money, but it is anyone’s guess how a Prado Road overpass’ costs would ultimately be divvied.

Originally published in the New Times in March 2002, Daniel Blackburn’s telling article, “Field of Dreams,” will serve as a reminder of projects past and enforce why every citizen in SLO County should vote no on Measure J.

Debates and forums for October. Please contact the campaign with any questions at 594-8888 or info@nomeasurej.org

Mayor Tony Ferrara: “Cal Trans analysis does not support this project… The Developer pays a small fraction of the costs for the Prado Road overpass. YOU (ALL OF US) PAY THE REST!… Traffic impacts from Measure J will take money away from local county-wide projects along the Hwy 101 corridor… I URGE YOU TO VOTE “NO” ON MEASURE J.”

Please stop by the campaign office to pick up your sign today.
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday: Noon-8 pm; Friday: 9am – 5 pm

The No on Measure J campaign will host three events throughout San Luis Obispo County. Please click above for more details!

In response to the question “What’s Different about Dalidio?” I would think the obvious answer is the amount of traffic generated by his plan.

The lush verdant rows of healthy crops on the Dalidio property have always provided a unique and delightful entrance to San Luis Obispo.

Call me old-fashioned, but I still believe that no one should be above the law and that we should trust local residents to determine the future of their own communities.