Coalition Statement

Coalition Statement on Merced County Planning ProcessWe call for a moratorium on County General Plan amendments, variances, minor sub-divisions changes to existing projects, zoning changes, and annexations of unincorporated county land by municipal jurisdictions, MOU’s and developments with private interests and state agencies, until a new County general Plan is formulated by a fully authorized public process – and approved locally and by the appropriate state and federal agencies.The continual process of piecemealing development through amendments, willfully ignoring the cumulative impacts to infrastructure and resources, for the benefit of a small cabal of public and private special interests, is illegal and reprehensible conduct on the by elected and appointed officials of local land-use authorities.We also call for a permanent moratorium on indemnification of all local land-use jurisdictions by private and public-funded developers.Indemnification is the widespread, corrupt practice in which developers agree to pay for all legal costs arising from lawsuits that may be brought against their projects approved by the land-use authority — city or county. Without having to answer to the public for the financial consequences of decisions made on behalf of special interests, local land-use authorities can be counted on to continue unimpeded their real policy: unmitigated sprawl, agricultural land and natural resource destruction, constant increases in utility rates, layering of school and transportation bonds on top of property taxes, and the steady erosion of the county’s infrastructure.Adopted 2006San Joaquin Raptor/Wildlife Rescue CenterProtect Our WaterCentral Valley Safe Environment NetworkMerced River Valley AssociationPlanada AssociationLe Grand AssociationCommunities for Land, Air & WaterPlanada Community Development Co.Central Valley Food & Farmland CoalitionMerced Group of Sierra ClubCitizens Committee to Complete the RefugeVernalPools.OrgCalifornia Native Plant SocietyStevinson Citizen’s GroupSan Bruno Mountain WatchSan Joaquin Valley Chapter of Community Alliance with Family Farmers CVSEN Home