Links
Link to Planning documents, Draft EIR, etc. for Oster/Las Pilitas Quarry Conditional Use Permit We recommend referring to this San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building website for accurate project information. While the project applicant does have a Q and A page on their website, quite a bit of the information is at odds with the official information contained within the county records. The county's website also includes EIR proposals, scoping comment letters, agency NOP’s, applicant provided studies, and more.
There were more than 200 scoping letter comments from concerned residents and neighbors. Scroll to scoping comments to review their content.
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MEDIA
Of Deep Pits and Deeper Pockets (SLO Tribune opinion piece by Joe Tartica - Sunday Feb. 8, 2015
Proposed Quarry near Santa Margarita Rejected by David Sneed (SLO Tribune) Feb. 5, 2015 re: Planning Commission decision
Rock Fight Round 1 (Jono Kinkade's (SLONewTimes) article covering the Dec. 11, 2014 Planning Commissionl Hearing
Quarry Quarrel (December 11, 2014 Planning Commission Hearing) by Jono Kinkade
How to Manufacture Asphalt on Rural Lands by Colin Rigley
Moving Mountains by Kathy Johnston
Proposed Quarry Upsets Santa Margaritans by Kathy Johnston
Quarry Quandary by Colin Rigby
Hillside Hijinks and More by S.H. Redder
Proposed Quarry Elicits Protest in Santa Margarita by Bob Cuddy
Hodin on Benchmark Resources by New Times Editorial cartoonist Russell Hodin
Quarry Bids Go Out Again by Colin Rigley
Supporters Blast Delay on Quarry in San Luis Obispo County by Bob Cuddy
Debate Heats Up Over Santa Margarita Rock Quarry by Nancy Chen - KSBY
Proposed Quarry Stirs Up More Controversy by Bob Cuddy
Consultant Search Slows Quarry by Bob Cuddy
New EIR Bids Considered by Bob Cuddy
Tenacious Neighbors Delay Quarry in Santa Margarita by Bob Cuddy
New firm selected to conduct EIR by Bob Cuddy
Board of Supes approves contract with URS to start EIR by Bob Cuddy
July 4th, 2011 Letters to the Editor @ Tribune
Fatal gravel truck crash in Santa Barbara August 24, 2010
Cyclist killed in collision with double belly dump
Quarry blast sends 82lb rock into a residence 1/4 mile away
Riverside Planning Commission denies Liberty Quarry application 8/31/11
Judge rules Roblar Quarry EIR is inadequate
Understated Project Description prompts rejection of EIR
Quarry blasting Glacier Northwest promised residents that it's proposal to blast for hard rock at its Snoqualmie, Washington gravel pit would be practically without noise, dust and damage to any underlying aquifers. Problems they've had suggest otherwise.
This Ojai Valley News article references an e-mail from Dick Pool of Associated Traffic Engineers (ATE) to Caltrans seeking support for a rock quarry. ATE is the traffic analysis subcontracor for URS Corportation, the firm preparing the EIR for the Oster/Las Pilitas Quarry.
A Rock and a Hard Place by Matt Fountain (New Times)
Letters to the Editor re: A Rock and a Hard Place article. These were published. We received a number of others from folks who informed us their letters were not published.
INFORMATION/Resources
What is a Conditional Use Permit?
What is an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)?
WHAT IS AN EIR and Why DO WE NEED A REPORT ON IT? YouTube video
Tips for making effective EIR comment
Truth Update for Liberty Quarry proposal in Temecula, Ca. fact checks many similar talking points being used by Oster/Las Pilitas Quarry applicants.
SLO County Planning and Building Fee Schedule
Strip/Surface Mining defined
Public Participation in CEQA
Resource Links from CalAware website CalAware supports and defends open government, an inquiring press, and a citizenry free to exchange facts and opinions.
Wikipedia on Salinas River
Salinas River - the "Upside Down River"
Ca. 58-SLO County east images
Upper Salinas River Watershed Action Plan
Salinas River Trail
Dreaming the Salinas
Caltrans District 5 Bicycle Guide
Salinas River Bridge - Structure number 49 0237
Photo of historic 1914 Salinas River bridge
SLO County How to use LUE and LUO System "The reason that you are unlikely to see a concrete batch plant next to your house is because of the regulations contained in the Land Use Ordinance (LUO)". (pg. 3 of this 1/1/2006 SLO Dept. of Planning and Building publication)
SLO County Permit Types and Commonly Used Definitions
LUO Table 2-2 Permit Requirements by Land Use Category
Making requests for public information explained
Exemptions from California Public Records Act explained
Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
Community Choice Aggregation
San Luis Obispo Community Foundation
Environmental Defense Fund
Local Energy Aggregation Network (LEAN)
Stop the Trucks Coalition of Ojai. Photos and documentation about the fight to limit gravel truck traffic on Hwy. 33.
SANTA MARGARITA
CSA 23 - Water to Santa Margarita. There are 11 County Service Areas in San Luis Obispo County.
Santa Margarita Area Advisory Council (SMAAC)
Advisory Council Handbook pdf outlining the role of an Advisory Council. This Handbook also contains the Resolution by Board of Supervisors defining role and requirements of an advisory council.
Community Advisory Council Training Manual pdf
San Luis Obispo County Community Advisory Council Handbook
Visit Santa Margarita
Santa Margarita Beautiful
Santa Margarita Historical Society
Santa Margarita Community Forestry
Santa Margarita CDF Station 40 - Parkhill Rd.
Santa Margarita Fire Protection District
Cal-Fire website
Santa Margarita Volunteer Fire Department
Fire Safe Council - San Luis Obispo County includes Santa Margarita chipping events, clearing guidelines, and other information
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY Land use policy, decision making, and advisory committees (for unincorporated areas of SLO county)
Department of Planning and Building
Air Pollution Control District (APCD)
Board of Supervisors
Planning Commission
Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC)
Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC)
SLO Council of Governments (SLOCOG)
Local Agency Formation Committee (LAFCO)
Community Advisory Councils
STATE OF CALIFORNIA Authority over resources/infrastructure
Regional Water Quality Control Board
Department of Water Resources
Department of Transportation
Office of Planning and Research
California Environmental Protection Agency
Air Resources Board
Department of Conservation
Office of Historic Preservation
Department of Fish and Game
Coastal Commission
Public Utilities Commission