Editorial: Open space district's move to the coast Editorial: Open space district's move to the coast (March 31, 2004)

Compromise on eminent domain wins support for annexation plan, which deserves approval by Local Agency Formation Commission
When voters approved the original Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District in 1972, its boundaries encompassed only northern and western Santa Clara County, even though it was envisioned as a two-county district.

Development-prone San Mateo County supervisors rejected the new district. In 1976, district supporters succeeded through a petition drive in bypassing the still-doubtful supervisors and annexing a huge portion of the southern San Mateo County, from San Francisco Bay to the Skyline Ridge.

The annexation brought the district to its existing size, about 330 square miles, stretching from San Carlos in the north to Mt. Umunhum south of Los Gatos. During its 30-plus years, the district has acquired nearly 50,000 acres of permanently dedicated open-space lands. Lands once bordered by barbed-wire fences and no-trespassing signs are now laced with hundreds of miles of trails, shared by many thousands of hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and roadside picnickers.

Now the district is closing in on its greatest expansion, a 220-square-mile annexation from the Skyline Ridge to the Pacific Ocean, extending from just south of Devil's Slide to the Santa Cruz County line. The annexation has been discussed and debated for more than seven years. The district has agreed to forego its use of eminent domain in the annexation area after farmers and some residents expressed hostile opposition to that power. It will retain the right of eminent domain in its present boundaries, but only when development of a property is imminent.

The district also will levy no taxes in the new area, instead depending on grants and donations of land to acquire lands there -- with no transfer of tax funds from existing areas of the district.

While pockets of opposition still exist, the list of endorsees is formidable, including 14 cities within the district (including Palo Alto, Mountain View, East Palo Alto, Atherton and Portola Valley) and several cities outside the district (notably Half Moon Bay, Pacifica and San Jose).

It is backed by groups as diverse as the San Mateo County Farm Bureau, the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and the Silicon Valley Manufacturers' Group, along with a veritable Who's Who of environmental organizations and state and national legislators representing parts of the region.

The primary condition for the Farm Bureau's support is passing a state law restricting the district's ability to use eminent d omain. Such a law has passed the state Senate and Assembly unanimously and is awaiting the governor's signature to become law.

Even the South Skyline Association, once harshly critical of the district, is supporting the annexation, along with Santa Clara and Santa Cruz county supervisors.

District officials have agreed to reimburse the cash-strapped La Honda/Pescadero School District for any tax funds lost through future land acquisitions, as well as help fund local fire districts.

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has a distinguished track record and deserves full support in its bid to extend its governance to the coast when the Local Agency Formation Commission of San Mateo County brings it to a vote, as expected next Wednesday, April 7.

Construction recycling Construction recycling (March 31, 2004)a good idea, even if late

A proposal to require recycling of many parts of demolished buildings -- from carpets and windows to heating systems and concrete -- is a good idea whose time should have come years ago, before the "demolition boom" of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Hindsight notwithstanding, the plan suggested by Palo Alto's Public Works Department is worth trying. If nothing else, the program, if successful, could extend the lifetime of the city's dump by a few years beyond the 2011 all-filled-up date. The plan is headed for the City Council, after consideration Tuesday night by the Policy & Services Committee.

Projects covered would be assessed a $200 fee to cover costs, with contractors required to bring materials to a city recycling center.

Even though only about 500 building projects a year will be affected -- projects exceeding $75,000 -- the effect could be significant. Construction debris accounts for about 25 percent of the volume of dumped materials, about 20,000 tons a year.

If even half that volume could be diverted to recycling it would be an impressive savings, and good for the recycled materials, too.

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