When the land use and permitting codes of the county’s cannabis ordinance were hotly debated last spring, many folks in the San Lorenzo Valley expressed real doubt about the county’s ability to enforce those codes in the more remote, hide-away places tucked away from view in the mountains surrounding the valley.
The County Board of Supervisors struggled last week finding the right balance between protecting the environment and protecting neighbors from the smell of marijuana grows, yet not giving incentives to illegal growers and the black market with overly restrictive regulations and red tape.
While approving fee increases paid by developers into an affordable housing fund, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors postponed decisions on whether or not to require developers to actually build affordable units as part of new housing projects.
A project to construct sidewalks, curb ramps, driveways and retaining walls on Highway 9 between Graham Hill Road and the San Lorenzo Valley schools...