Natomas land plan is under attack

Sacramento Bee ^ | September 21, 2002 | Mary Lynne Vellinga

[farmfriend]

In a rare burst of cooperation, Sacramento city and county officials last month unveiled a joint proposal to allow development of 10,000 acres in unincorporated North Natomas while preserving a mile-wide swath of open space along the Sacramento River.

But the map they drew came under immediate assault from landowners, including influential developer Angelo Tsakopoulos, who objected to having their properties designated as permanent open space.

[farmfriend]

"There is absolutely no quid, let alone pro or quo, payback, or any other connection between Angelo's support of Proposition 51 and what I support in the (joint) vision," he said.

I should have posted that article about the pig shaped UFO I saw yesterday.

[farmfriend]

This whole thing reminds me of a book I've been reading. It talks about the relatinship between open space drives and developement.

[Black Agnes]

*chuckle*. Pig shaped UFO indeed. I think we should make a list of the enviros on this and designate THEIR property as open space. I mean really, shouldn't they show us how easy and painless it is to have your property condemned?

[Black Agnes]

Well, the 'open space' initiative in NJ is 'eat up' with corrupt developers and landowners making their neighbors land 'open space' so their land becomes more valuable. Even better is that they're using MY TAX DOLLARS to do it!. AUGH!!!!!! I'm shrugging bigtime and getting the heck out of this corrupt leftist little state ASAP! If I'm not earning big bucks they won't get any income tax from me! Shrug baby, shrug!

[farmfriend]

In the court judgement, the developers have to fund the purchase and management of the open space but the enviro groups contribute nothing.

[farmfriend]

I'm shrugging bigtime and getting the heck out of this corrupt leftist little state

Won't help, it's everywhere.

[Lx]

Wonderful. A couple of years ago they wanted to raise everyone's property tax to pay for flood protection in north Natomas. The only problem was they were taxing people like me who live 30 miles from there. The PTB couldn't understand why the little people were so upset about paying for flood protection for people stupid enough to build in a flood plane. Of course the developers didn't pay diddley.

As for Angelo Tsakopoulos, his company is developing or trying to develop property along Sunrise boulevard. The problem besides the lack of water, schools and road capacity is that there's a rendering plant near where they want to build. They're suing to force them to move. (They've moved twice already in the last 30 years or so). Luckily, the rendering plant won the latest round.

This is as bad as the losers that moved near Mather field and then complained when they had alerts with scores of B-52s taking off. They were so happy when the base closed but not too happy when their neighborhoods declined.

[Black Agnes]

Corruption, yes. Not all states are this leftist tho. NJ gets a B+ or A- (can't remember) on HCI's scale of 'gun safe' states. I'm moving to a state that either gets a D or a D- :). I'm gonna go to law school so I can get involved in the process on the 'right' side. I already have several science degrees. I'm thinking Paragon could use volunteers.

[greydog]

a piece of land Tsakopoulos owns near Fisherman's Lake, which is considered some of the prime habitat for the threatened Swainson's hawk and giant garter snake

I thought hawks ate snakes.

[hedgetrimmer]

Good morning farmfriend. The battle is never ending, isn't it?

[Verginius Rufus]

I don't care about the garter snakes, but they should protect the wigwam of Natomas. Wait, that was Nokomis. Whatever. Don't they realize that Swainson's hawks kill and eat cute little bunny rabbits? They need to raise some of them from chicks to be strict vegans.

[madfly]

ping

[let freedom sing]

the relatinship between open space drives and developement.

bait and switch

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[marsh2]

Look at my county. It has federal and state endangered species listings. It is getting water quality "TMDLs." Likely in a year most small family farms and ranches here will be rendered economically non-viable because of regulation (and increased electrical costs.)

Because of their geographic configuration, folding them into big farms and ranches will not eleviate the problem through efficiencies.

Many of the new retirees who have moved here are screaming NIMBY. They want these lands regulated into perpertual open space. (Only they are not prepared for the fire danger and weediness of unmanaged land.) The Nature Conservancy is already hovering like a vulture to pick off struggling farms with conservation easements.

What would you do? Shall we allow regulation to take our neighbors land and livelihood to protect some critter for liberals in the cities? That is exactly what we allowed to happen with the spotted owl, marbled murrelet salamander, flycatcher and the timber industry. Shall we watch our remaining fragile economy and social fabric dry up and blow away.

Shall we pay just compensation to our neighbors for taking use of their land? Who pays them?

Shall we open up farmlands for development and make sure our farm families salvage their investments? Is this really going to help the endangered critters? Is this really going to achieve the open vistas the NIMBYS and liberals want to force from their neighbors?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[farmfriend]

The Grange needs volunteers as well.

[sauropod]

""The City Council can come in and draw a wonderful line and when a landowner wants to change it, they will," said James Pachl, a lawyer for Friends of the Swainson's Hawk, an environmental group that has previously sued the city over North Natomas issues."

Is Mr. Pachl willing to pay fair market value for the landowners' properties?

It sickens me that pukes like Mr. Pachl are willing to declare themselves to be on a higher moral plane, and therefore, they should not have to pay for the property they wish to take out of development.

"For the Environment" is just like "For the Children." 'Pod

[sauropod]

Well, hell! Don't come to the People's Republic of Maryland. It rates an A+ on HCI's scale.

Barf! 'Pod

[sauropod]

You and I are making the same points here.

Tell the NIMBY retirees to pay for the land they want to take. 'Pod