Our Land
That one little word conjures up so many emotions for me. My parents raised me to believe that it was the only worthwhile investment. My mother also thought that its collection was the best way to save the environment. She worked for a Federal Government agency that was trying to clean up the messes that logging had made in Trinity County. She felt cheated when she found out that BLM leases some of their land to logging companies. Tax dollars were being used to cause the problem and to clean it up. She thought nonprofits such as Sanctuary Forest were much smarter than activists who insisted the Federal Government intervene to save the land. (My sister and I thought it was hilarious that she was married to a millworker.)
With the county gearing up for the adoption of a new General Plan, it seems as if our County’s dividing lines are becoming plain again. Change is soooo scary. That doesn’t mean that it is not necessary. I live around a bunch of really big ranches. I love driving or hiking by big rolling hills and large stands of forests. I have friends who recently went in together and bought one of these large ranches. I couldn’t believe it when they were successful in ending their partnership with each of them having their own land and still being friends. The ranch was made up of several small parcels. Some part of me was a little saddened to see the ranch broken up into 4 separate homestead sites. Two of the partners are now selling a total of four parcels that are across the road from where they are putting their houses. Wells will have to be drilled and the rolling hills will be broken up by houses and outbuildings.
I have been accused of being a hypocrite. I have my land, now no one else should be able to buy land around me. I spent 7 years living here and working here and searching for available land before I found it within my price range. I don’t mind people buying raw land and building on it. I just want the big ranches saved or at least not broken up into 10 acre parcels. It takes me 25 minutes to get my daughters to school because I like it that way. I want to be far away. I think one of the biggest banes of this country’s existence is suburbia. I think there should be rural land and urban land, not rolling hills of track homes. Cities should build up not out. Or at least up faster than out. Rural land should be for hardy, resourceful people. Those who are willing to wait and watch diligently for their opportunity.
In preparation for this post I listened to HumCPR’s meeting that happened on March 19th. The people who spoke were very well informed. It is worth listening to, HumCPR meeting at Healy Senior Center I am not sure I agree with how scary they seem to think everything is. They very seldom mention the fact that there are four different versions of the plan under consideration. This is my favorite map to look at. General Plan Map I love seeing how the different versions will effect different places. (Especially mine)
How do we make room for all the people who want to share our lifestyle while retaining the lifestyle?
In Retaliation 
April 2, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Twenty years ago, PG&E was being brought up my road. Many of the residents were against it because it was understood that when living out here got easier, the kinds of folks who would live out here would change.
I know change is inevitable and can be desirable but I’m worried that the coyotes and hawks and deer and cougars will be harmed by what I believe is the inevitable movement of people up into the hills. We need to think carefully before we thoughtfully allow the breakup of the big lands but, in the end, I think the breakups will happen–let’s just minimize the damage.
April 2, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I couldn’t agree more.
It is up to the county to provide a minimum number of acres allowable in rural areas. If we fall under that number does that all of the sudden make our parcel substandard? Or does it not effect parcels that have already been formed by the current laws? No matter what the county does someone will be unhappy.