A case study of NIMBY development.
"Pajaro Dunes,?, built by Hare, Brewer and Kelley in 1964. "
It turns out that this same Kelley, namely, Ryland Kelley, was attempting to build additional housing, sports, and entertainment facilities on property he had paid $$$ for in Aptos, between the Pajaro Dunes facility and Santa Cruz.
The undeveloped land, quite a big piece (maybe 100 acres, maybe even more), stretched between Highway 1 to the north and the ocean to the south.
The development, called Wingspread, was to consist of three performing arts centers, condominiums, a hotel, and a sports facility. And with a park area directly overlooking the ocean below (the land is up on a bluff, like most coastal California land). Access from Highway 1 would be convenient, with a new exit ramp to be built by the developer.
A weed-choked field would be transformed into a coastal park oasis, with increased tax revenue to the county.
Millions of dollars were spent on the development plans, the environmental impact reports, the Coastal Commission requirements, the payoffs and bribes to the lefties who control the Board of Supervisors. All was, finally, in place for the development to begin.
Many local Aptosians (which I was at the time, circa 1988) were thrilled that some much-needed stage space would be coming, a playing field for the kids, and that the weed-choked field used as a shooting zone (needles, but also the other kind, occasionally) would be transformed into a coastal gem.
Ah, but the activists rose up and blocked the development. Anti-development activists got a special election ballot issue to block Wingspread.
Ry Kelley spent even more millions fighting the efforts by Greenpeace, Save Our Shores, Lesbians Against Capitalism, etc.
I volunteered my time to help make signs, to call voters, to participate in the "democratic process." It was all a waste of time, as most things involving "democracy" are. The activists tore down signs promoting a "Yes on Wingspread" vote, the local lefties screamed that the coastline was being turned into a Korporate Playground, the various fringe groups (lesbos, queers, cripples, tree huggers, freaks) all aligned against Wingspread.
So Wingspread was defeated. No playing fields, no park, no stages for music and theater events, no condos.
Just a weed-choked field, dangerous to walk in without firearms in one's fanny pack, dangerous because of the bums and winos who camp in the bushes and shoot up. No access for the public, no tax revenues.
And yet people around here scream and squawk about how there are not enough "facilities for the children and facilities for theater."
And they squawk that the existing hotels and motels are run-down, that they are not good enough for their out of town visitors. (And they're right, as many of the coastal motels were built in the 1940 and 50s, in the style of the day.)
Fact is, the people got what they deserved.
But democracy is a sick system: the many million of dollars Ry Kelley and his partners put into acquiring the land and doing all of the planning and zoning hoop-jumping, all done to the letter of the law and in full compliance...it was all for nought.
I recall hearing that Ry Kelley deeded the land over, at a substantial loss, to some cause or fund, or something. Probably ensuring that the land will remain a weed-choked shooting gallery for decades to come, as no "public trust" will ever be so bold as to try to clean up the land.
Since he was an old guy back in 1988, I expect he's retired or dead by now. I guess the topless bald lesbian tree huggers really showed him who's the boss in our democratic system.
And some people still write silly newspaper articles about how crowded things have become, how there aren't enough places for people to live and play, and how about MORE government is obviously needed.
--Tim May |
