The 2002 Comprehensive Plan for NE Santa Cruz County envisions the evolution of a village at the crossroads (http://www.sonoitacrossroads.org/compplan/ours/). The Plan summarizes the consensus view of our community that development at or near the crossroads should be consistent with the Village concept, and thus:
- Incorporate open space in all development, tying it together in corridors that help maintain scenic vistas and healthy wildlife movement, and offer recreational opportunities and trails.
- Allow for mixed use with appropriate compatibility standards.
- Allow for mixed densities, with appropriate compatibility standards to provide more affordable housing.
- Maintain open space around and within the Sonoita Crossroads area. The prosperity and attractiveness of the Crossroads Village concept depends upon continuing the appeal of surrounding open spaces. The connection of the Village with grasslands and mountains should be immediately visible to visitors and residents alike.
In essence, the community supports the view of a 'development density gradient', in which higher density "mixed use" near the crossroads and SR82 and SR 83, blends continuously through "low density" housing (approximately 1 house/acre on average), to sparse development (1 house per 4.3 acres or lower) and open spaces. The 2002 Plan notes that creative efforts coupled with well understood and accepted policy principles are needed to implement the 'village vision.' In particular, to provide both for mixed use/mixed density development concentrated toward the crossroads and for preserving a connection to the grasslands, the 2002 Plan encouraged:
- acquisition of conservation easements and/or transfer of development rights to protect open space. Such transfers would encourage economically attractive, higher density development at or near the crossroads, in return for preserving open space elsewhere.
- Integration of open space into the Crossroads Village where it can serve many functions including buffering between different intensities of use, and outdoor recreation.
The SCCF Board wishes to seek the following from the community:
- Reaffirmation of the goals and guiding principles for development at the crossroads expressed in the 2002 Plan and summarized above;
- Approval of a more specific policy statement that clearly expresses the position of SCCF.
© 1999 - Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum