Application for Consideration of Appointment to the Coastal Advisory Committee (CAC)
Thank you for your interest in being appointed to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's Coastal Advisory Committee. The CAC's job will be to review, discuss, and recommend revisions to specified District policies related to the San Mateo County coastal area under consideration for annexation by the District, and will include the responsibility of gathering input from a wide range of community and special interest groups on the Coastside. The District policies to be reviewed include those concerning eminent domain, land acquisition, and agricultural land use.
Please answer the following questions, which will help the existing members of the CAC to select representatives for the three "at large" seats available. The intent of appointing such individuals is to ensure that there is adequate representation for Coastside interests which are otherwise un-represented, or under-represented, on the CAC. "At large" members must live within the area under consideration for annexation. Please limit your answers to the space provided. Please write legibly. This form must be returned to the District office, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022-1404 (fax: 650-691-0485) by 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 12, 1999.
1) Briefly describe your reasons for wanting to participate on the CAC.
After observing events on the Coastside and in the Bay Area, I have become increasingly concerned about the brisk march of development and the apparent failure to intelligently control growth by focusing its direction and maintaining a balance with undeveloped land. Particularly, I am worried about the replacement of wildlife habitats, farmland and open fields with suburban housing. This problem began decades ago, still exists today, and will certainly become worse without intervention. The San Mateo Coastside is lucky to still have quite a bit of open space, but it is at a unique and fragile point in time where the choices it makes now will dramatically affect its future (for good or bad). I would like to have a say in the direction it takes.
2) Please describe your personal or professional interest in and knowledge of Coastside land use and land conservation issues, and what expertise or experience you will bring to the CAC.
I am a lawyer by occupation and, while I do not specialize in land use or conservation issues, I can offer the ability to critically evaluate matters, to see issues from all sides, and to speak up for what I think is right. As the former eastern Washington campaign representative for presidential candidate Paul Tsongas, I also have the experience in dealing with the public in political matters. Because of my increasing concern with respect to coastside conservation issues, I have made an effort to educate myself as to the issues unique in our area.
3) What is the Coastside interest which you feel is un-represented or under-represented on the CAC, and what are your qualifications to represent those interests?
The CAC currently lacks input from the "twenty-something" generation which will be forced to live with (and perhaps pay for) the land-use policies created by the CAC/MROSD long after the current board members are gone. The CAC and MROSD are working to preserve things for the future, so it seems appropriate to have such a representative with input on eminent domain policy and other far-reaching issues. I am also a surfer and a hiker, so I would be qualified to speak on the behalf of the other low-impact recreational users of the Coastside's natural resources.
4) Do you own property in the coastal area under consideration for annexation? If so, please briefly describe its location, size, and use. (It is important for the CAC to be aware of any potential conflicts of interest that may arise that might be relevant to its deliberations.)
Yes, my husband and I own (and live in) a two story home on the corner of San Carlos Avenue and Columbus in El Granada.
5) What clubs, organizations, or interest groups do you belong to or are you affiliated with?
6) Please provide a brief description of your desired outcome of the work of the CAC.
I would like my work on the CAC to result in the implementation of land use policies which fairly protect the Coastside's beautiful natural resources. I would like to have had a part in encouraging intelligent growth rather the the apparently random and hurried gobbling up of space. In short, I would like to have helped the Coastside preserve land for the future in as fair a way as possible.
Molly F. Jacobson