Open Space Plan

Supported the Planning Coalition's Open Space Plan assessment and urged timely compliance with the state update deadline.

Echoed support and urged landscape-level planning for an integrated network of open space and wildlife habitat.

Urged the Board to include all statutorily required plan parts and use conservation tools like easements, warning the county lacks lawful authority to approve nonconforming permits.

Asked the Board to direct Planning to create an orderly implementation timeline to compete for state open-space funding.

Warned that failing to adopt a valid Open Space Plan puts blame for wildfire, flood, and economic harms squarely on the Board, and urged fixing it over two years.

Spoke about the value of ranchers in the Sierra foothills and asked the Board to add the Open Space and Housing Element updates to the 2026-2029 Strategic Plan.

An upcountry resident supporting the Planning Coalition asked the board to meet all Open Space Plan statutory requirements, complete the overdue state-mandated update, and adopt landscape-level planning.

A Vallecito resident urged landscape-level planning to build an integrated open space network and meet the Room to Roam Act by 2028.

A District 1 resident said the county hasn't fully embraced conservation easements, open space zoning, or clustering guidelines, and warned the county may lack authority to approve permits inconsistent with a non-compliant plan.

A Murphys resident implored the board to direct planning staff to create an implementation timeline for the Open Space Plan to compete for state funding.

A Valley Springs resident warned the board not to water down the plan for unanimity, saying blame for wildfire, flood, or economic harm from a substandard plan would fall on the board.

The attorney, speaking for himself, urged supervisors to fix the Open Space Plan to support local ranchers and asked that conservation element and housing element updates be added to the 2026-2029 strategic plan.