"We all participated in good faith and we hope that our Board of Supervisors will fully implement this community-sponsored general plan," said Cathie Pierce, president of the Mariposa County Farm Bureau. "We are very encouraged by the direction that our supervisors are going. Farm Bureau will stay involved as the plan comes to life, to make sure it achieves its goals to protect family farms and ranches."

Mariposa County ranch lands are characterized by rolling, oak-studded hillsides that are important in the preservation of water quality in the creeks and steams that lead to the Central Valley. At the same time, these lands generate nearly $100 million for the local economy.
The county's ranchers and environmental representatives were very concerned that growth would damage wildlife habitat, increase traffic and spoil scenic vistas. There was also considerable alarm that too much development would fragment the county's rangeland resources.

Environmental advocates, including Mariposans for the Environment and Responsible Government (MERG), and leaders of the Farm Bureau shared many common goals in this effort and the members of the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors took note of that as it finalized the plan to preserve the county's rural economy by protecting rangeland from development.
"This final plan is a significant improvement over previous drafts," according to Bart Brown of MERG. "A lot of hard work went into this plan by the public, the Planning Commission, the Board and County staff. Everyone who participated deserves our citizens' gratitude for their comments and support and presence at the countless meetings that were required to produce this important document."

Regional and statewide leaders are also welcoming the plan. Sierra Nevada Alliance, an organization that tracks environmental issues throughout the 24-county region, hopes Mariposa's success will inspire other Sierra counties to plan appropriately for growth. "The Sierra's population is expected to triple by 2040," said Autumn Bernstein, Land Use Coordinator for Sierra Nevada Alliance. "With careful planning, we can accommodate growth while preserving those qualities which make the Sierra such a wonderful place to live and visit. I hope other Sierra counties will follow Mariposa's lead."

Mariposa County's new general plan is scheduled for adoption on Monday, December 18. The plan replaces an outdated 1981 general plan. The new plan will govern all decisions about where and how to locate new housing, stores, roads and commercial properties.

Autumn Bernstein Land Use Coordinator
Sierra Nevada Alliance
PO Box 7989
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158

530-542-4546(p)

530-542-4570(f)

Sierra Nevada Alliance

autumn@sierranevadaalliance.org

Protecting and restoring the natural resources of the Sierra Nevada since 1993.