Jane Parker on the General Plan

Jane Parker is a leader who brings a proactive focus to planning and a collaborative, pragmatic approach to problem solving. Her service on county-wide boards and as a senior executive at nonprofit organizations gives her the expertise and perspective we need to make smart budget decisions and make Monterey County strong today, tomorrow, and well into the future.

After nearly eight years and $8 million, much contention, expensive lawsuits, referenda and a special election, Monterey County has a compromise General Plan draft called GPU5. The policy language of the current plan was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors on November 6th, 2007.

The Challenges: Decisions about where to grow and where not to grow will always be controversial, but it is essential that we move forward with a viable plan. GPU5 achieves important policy priorities which are fundamental building blocks of sound land use planning, and which have the added benefit of being fiscally responsible. These include:

• Preserving the distinction between urban and rural areas:
• Developing affordable housing and an appropriate balance of jobs and housing in our communities:
• Preserving the physical resources of the county;
• Requiring that infrastructure needs be addressed prior to project implementation; and
• Including the farmland protection policies from the current, 1982 General Plan.

My Approach: I support moving forward with GPU5 and fostering the spirit of compromise it represents. When elected, I will make it a priority to move the approval process through Environmental Review. I pledge to be a good listener and a pragmatic problem solver while holding firm to essential planning principles.