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A June 22 Sentinel editorial quoted one resident commenting on the embrace of new development: “Local people don’t have the right to design their town.”
I don’t think so. There are many examples of community-led design, if not city-wide, then at least regional planning, of which SoLa is one.
The public can submit their comments on the Downtown Expansion Plan until July 10. How many people will take the time to carefully read the document? Will the public’s input result in substantive change, or will our opinions be limited to essentially superficial, cosmetic choices?
The Warriors argue that they do not need a 12-story building housing 1,600-1,800 housing units to pay for an arena. The housing plan ultimately approved by the city called for only 572 housing units in south Laurel (see Appendix G).
I have urged mayors to join the National Mayors Urban Design Institute and city planners to become familiar with an organization called Strong Towns. There are ways to “grow” a city that are not so “top-down.”
— Judy Granstra, Santa Cruz
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