ARTICLE
On Tuesday, March 14th; beginning in the afternoon and running well into the evening: The Santa Cruz City Council and the community discussed and debated the significant findings for the Downtown Library and Affordable Housing Project. In the usual commonplace conversation about this project, there were supporters and the opposition speaking out to underscore the merits of their arguments for and against the project. The theme was very clear: the proponents wanted the project to move forward and offered articulate comments to support the staff recommendation. The opposition used every angle to delay or stop this project from the early stages, beginning when county voters approved Measure S back in June 2016. Through the very extensive public vetting of the project for the past six plus years and the outcome of the November 2022 Measure O vote which supported the project, Tuesday’s City Council meeting brought out the latest twist for the opposition — citing a City of Santa Cruz Heritage Tree Ordinance as the latest reason to oppose this project. Let me be clear, the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce has supported the Library bond (Measure S) and opposed the 2022 Measure O ballot measure that would: Force renovation of the existing Downtown library at 224 Church St. rather than construct a new library at Cathcart and Cedar streets. Create a permanent home for the Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market at its current location on city parking Lot 4. Designate eight city-owned lots for future affordable housing development, partly funded by parking revenue. The Chamber has actively engaged in the public process — attending city council meetings, planning commission meetings, community outreach and various workshops as the project has been reviewed and redesigned with public input. At each stage of the planning process, we have advocated for a mixed use Library project — adding affordable housing and adequate parking for new residents, downtown businesses and visitors is an essential and critical part of the project. The Chamber has written extensively in support of the project — you can review the past eNews articles here: https://web.santacruzchamber.org/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=1978 https://web.santacruzchamber.org/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=1974 https://web.santacruzchamber.org/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=1947 There is an old saying in politics, when you are losing an argument and the facts just don’t add up, you shift your focus by attacking your opponent. In this case, those being attacked are the City staff report, housing consultants, the architect, an arborist report and advocates for the Downtown Library Project. The discussion at Tuesday’s City Council meeting showed how the opponents of the project utilized other means to find ways to delay or kill the project. This time, the Measure O proponents teamed up with tree advocates and environmental groups to make their best pitch. The City’s Park and Recreation Department and the Commission reviewed the Arborist report last December and concluded that the trees in question were subject to disease, decay and most were described as unhealthy. The Commission approved a tree permit removal. However, an appeal was filed by the opponents of the project and the City Council discussion included both the city staff report and tree permit appeal. Here is the specific details: As you might guess, the hours-long public hearing on this item was a back and forth discussion with each side making reasonable arguments to back up their position. At the end of the meeting after all public comments were heard, the City council voted 5-1 in favor of the project. It boiled down to saving two liquid amber trees vs approving the library, housing and parking structure, as presented by the city staff.
On Tuesday, March 14th; beginning in the afternoon and running well into the evening: The Santa Cruz City Council and the community discussed and debated the significant findings for the Downtown Library and Affordable Housing Project. In the usual commonplace conversation about this project, there were supporters and the opposition speaking out to underscore the merits of their arguments for and against the project.
The theme was very clear: the proponents wanted the project to move forward and offered articulate comments to support the staff recommendation. The opposition used every angle to delay or stop this project from the early stages, beginning when county voters approved Measure S back in June 2016. Through the very extensive public vetting of the project for the past six plus years and the outcome of the November 2022 Measure O vote which supported the project, Tuesday’s City Council meeting brought out the latest twist for the opposition — citing a City of Santa Cruz Heritage Tree Ordinance as the latest reason to oppose this project.
Let me be clear, the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce has supported the Library bond (Measure S) and opposed the 2022 Measure O ballot measure that would:
The Chamber has actively engaged in the public process — attending city council meetings, planning commission meetings, community outreach and various workshops as the project has been reviewed and redesigned with public input. At each stage of the planning process, we have advocated for a mixed use Library project — adding affordable housing and adequate parking for new residents, downtown businesses and visitors is an essential and critical part of the project.
The Chamber has written extensively in support of the project — you can review the past eNews articles here:
https://web.santacruzchamber.org/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=1978
https://web.santacruzchamber.org/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=1974
https://web.santacruzchamber.org/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=1947
There is an old saying in politics, when you are losing an argument and the facts just don’t add up, you shift your focus by attacking your opponent. In this case, those being attacked are the City staff report, housing consultants, the architect, an arborist report and advocates for the Downtown Library Project. The discussion at Tuesday’s City Council meeting showed how the opponents of the project utilized other means to find ways to delay or kill the project. This time, the Measure O proponents teamed up with tree advocates and environmental groups to make their best pitch.
The City’s Park and Recreation Department and the Commission reviewed the Arborist report last December and concluded that the trees in question were subject to disease, decay and most were described as unhealthy. The Commission approved a tree permit removal. However, an appeal was filed by the opponents of the project and the City Council discussion included both the city staff report and tree permit appeal. Here is the specific details:
As you might guess, the hours-long public hearing on this item was a back and forth discussion with each side making reasonable arguments to back up their position. At the end of the meeting after all public comments were heard, the City council voted 5-1 in favor of the project. It boiled down to saving two liquid amber trees vs approving the library, housing and parking structure, as presented by the city staff.