What is LandWatch?
An Impressive Organization
Publisher's note -- here is the mission statement of a local organization in California. Do you have such an organization in your region? Would you consider starting one?
LandWatch Mission and Goals
LandWatch Monterey County is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public benefit corporation whose mission is to serve as Monterey County's land use watchdog. LandWatch believes good planning uses land efficiently, strengthens existing neighborhoods through reinvestment and redevelopment, and directs new commercial and residential development to areas within city boundaries, and into existing unincorporated urban areas, while preserving farmland, open space, natural resource areas, and sensitive habitats.
LandWatch is committed to fundamental land use reform, and will cooperate with other organizations, as well as take independent action, to build public support for and achieve better land use policies at the local, regional and state level. LandWatch will monitor local government agencies responsible for land use planning, and will provide an early warning system on key issues, so the public will have input at the beginning stages of the planning process. LandWatch will support and encourage public participation, and will keep the public informed of the status of land use policy in Monterey County.
Specifically, LandWatch will work for land use policies that:
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1. Encourage the efficient use of land and the conservation of valuable natural resources through the designation of urban growth boundaries.
2. Improve the economic vitality of our local communities by directing new growth within urban growth boundaries and away from open space and productive farmlands.
3. Ensure social and economic opportunities through the integration of affordable housing within mixed-income neighborhoods.
4. Require that adequate public facilities and services-including police, fire, schools, parks, transportation facilities, and reliable water supplies-be in place prior to, or concurrently with, new development.
5. Improve the regulatory system by making it more effective, efficient and accountable, providing increased certainty for developers, landowners and the public, and eliminating unnecessary regulations and delay.
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The LandWatch web site is at www.landwatch.org. LandWatch has lots of interesting information for you.
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