Public Invited to Discuss Future of Felton

Town Plan Topic of Public Forum Tues Night, 7pm, Felton Community Hall

Supervisor Bruce McPherson is convening the second of three planned public discussions in the San Lorenzo Valley focused on the existing Town Plans adopted for the three largest communities Boulder Creek, Felton and Ben Lomond.

A meeting has already been held in Boulder Creek where close to 100 citizens turned out and expressed interest in a wide range of achievable - and fanciful projects.  McPherson had County Economic Development Director Barbara Mason, and County Planning Department Director Kathy Previsich available to address citizens and   facilitate small group discussions aimed at identifying potential projects and priorities.

Tuesday night at the Felton Community Hall McPherson will be back to hear from the public about new and unmet priorities for Felton.  The meeting begins at 7pm.

Felton's Town Plan was last adopted in 1987.  Some of the projects included have been completed, notably the Felton Covered Bridge Park and the farmer's market.  But many other projects like a library, improved downtown parking and sidewalks and pedestrian and cycling connections have not been achieved.

McPherson Proposes To Dust Off Town Plans

News Release from the office of Supervisor Bruce McPherson:

A generation ago, Felton residents gathered to talk about their favorite places and experiences in town and contributed their ideas and visions for the future of Felton.  That community participation process, coordinated with an analysis of pedestrian and traffic patterns, was developed into a town plan with a wish list of projects and goals.

A few years later, similar processes were repeated in the neighboring communities of Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond.

Many of the ideas proposed in the town plans have come to fruition; many have not.  Fifth District Supervisor Bruce McPherson is asking residents to dust off their town plans, or read them for the first time, and meet to talk about what projects should be next.

McPherson has proposed three town meetings:  the first in Boulder Creek in February, the second in Ben Lomond in March, and the third in Felton in April.  The Boulder Creek meeting will be on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. at Boulder Creek Elementary School in the Multipurpose Room.

Supervisor McPherson, County Economic Development Director Barbara Mason, and County Planning Department Director Kathy Previsich will facilitate the discussions. 

Participants will be able to meet in small groups to put forward ideas about next possible projects.

Felton's Town Plan, adopted in 1987, was the first plan adopted in the San Lorenzo Valley.  Many of the projects included in the Felton plan have been completed, including a new park (Covered Bridge Park) and a farmer's market.  But angled parking, wider sidewalks, and pedestrian connections have not been achieved.

The Ben Lomond Town Plan, adopted in 1990, envisioned a river walk, traffic improvements, and streetscape projects, many of which have been completed.  However, pedestrian links to the town center have not been completed.

Boulder Creek's Town Plan, adopted in 1992, emphasized the desire to retain the unique character of the town while allowing expanded commercial services in the town core, providing more activities, and improving recreational facilities.  Boulder Creek's plan also called for angled parking in part of the downtown area along Central Avenue.             

For those without computer access, a limited number of copies of each of the town plans have been provided by Supervisor McPherson.  Copies of the Boulder Creek Town Plan are available at the Boulder Creek Library and Boulder Creek Hardware.  Copies of the Felton Town Plan are available at Liberty Bank.  Copies of the Ben Lomond Town Plan are available at Coffee Nine.  The town plans are also available online by visiting Supervisor McPherson's webpage:  http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Government/BoardofSupervisors/District5.aspx.

Supervisor McPherson Makes First Appointments

Newly sworn in Supervisor for the 5th District Bruce McPherson today announced his first appointments to County Commissions nominating Felton's Rene Shepherd for another four year term on the Planning Commission and tapping Rick Jones, also of Felton, to be her alternate.

McPherson also announced the appointment of Robin Musitelli of Brookdale and Geni Johnson of Scotts Valley to his District staff.

Here is the full press release from McPherson's office:

Newly-elected Fifth District Supervisor Bruce McPherson announced two staff members and nominated his first commissioners Tuesday.

          McPherson has also selected two staff members, Robin Musitelli and Virginia “Gine” Johnson.

          Musitelli is a 30-plus year resident of the San Lorenzo Valley, currently living in Brookdale.  As a journalist, she reported for the Valley Press, the San Jose Mercury and Santa Cruz Sentinel, covering education, politics and environmental issues.  At the Sentinel she worked as a reporter when McPherson was editor.  “I loved working with Bruce then, and look forward to working with him again,” she said.

          For the past 12 years, Musitelli has been an analyst for Second District Supervisor Ellen Pirie.  Musitelli is on the Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz County Horsemen’s Association.

          Johnson is the former Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Santa Cruz-based nonprofit Ecology Action.  Under her leadership, Ecology Action evolved from a small recycling operation into one of the state's leading voices on reducing global warming, eventually becoming a co-owner of the transformed former Sentinel building in downtown Santa Cruz.

          Johnson has more than 35 years of business experience, including extensive governance experience, having served on six local nonprofit boards.  She currently serves on the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County Advisory Council and the County Commission on the Environment.  Johnson and her husband have lived in Scotts Valley for 28 years.

          “I am honored to support Supervisor McPherson and look forward to providing the best possible service to the Fifth District,” Johnson said.

          Renee Shepherd was nominated for a four-year term as the Fifth District representative on the County Planning Commission.  Shepherd, a Felton resident, has served as Fifth District Planning Commissioner since 1989, first appointed by then Supervisor Fred Keeley, followed by Supervisors Jeff Almquist and Mark Stone.

          Shepherd is widely regarded as a pioneering innovator in introducing international specialty vegetables and herbs for home gardeners and gourmet restaurants.  After receiving her Ph.D. from the University of California in Santa Cruz and teaching in the Environmental Studies Department there, she founded Shepherd's Garden Seeds in 1985.  Renee left Shepherd's Seeds in 1996 and then founded Renee’s Garden, offering seeds through garden centers and nurseries and online.

          In addition to her passions for gardening and cooking, Shepherd has many community, environmental and equestrian interests.

          McPherson nominated Rick Jones as his alternate Planning Commissioner.  Jones, also a resident of Felton, served as a water quality investigation and compliance employee of the County Department of Environmental Health and has experience as a

real estate broker.   A past resident of Capitola, Jones served on the City of Capitola Planning Commission for eight years and was a previous alternate on the County Planning Commission.