Candidate for
Member, Town Council; Town of Moraga

There are serious traffic issues throughout the Bay Area and Moraga is not without it's share of worries. Mr. Connors, along with the current council, has worked diligently to build a working relationship with council members in Orinda and Lafayette. With a working partnership between the towns we can resolve many of the issues now plaguing us like the Mt. Diablo Corridor in Lafayette and the Brentwood on ramp in Orinda.

OPEN SPACE

Open Space, when skillfully merged with single family residential settings, lends the community a highly desirable and valuable asset. Moraga enjoys the advantages of much open space, mainly due to the diligence of some of its residents. Mr. Connors has been a leader in promoting open space, being one of the founders of the "Moraga Open Space" movement back in mid 1986. Our beautiful, unblemished hillsides and slopes will be preserved due to these efforts. Additionally Mr. Connors is striving to create a "Lamorinda Open Space Trust" in cooperation with our neighbors so that more lands may be removed from production thus preserving the precious lifestyle we have come to enjoy.

TOWN CENTER

A new town center is being considered by the council. Estimated to cost upwards of $10 million dollars for the whole thing, the voters certainly should be given the chance to decide if they are willing to pay for it. The Town center would provide for administration, planning, public works and police offices as well as providing community facilities such as meeting rooms and a gymnasium. While a town center offers some pleasant advantages there is a price. Proposed to be located across from the Commons it will intensify the congestion in the center of town, particularly at the Moraga Rd./St. Marys intersection. The most controversial aspect of the proposal is the suggested full size gymnasium which would obstensively serve as a multi-function room. The town should provide the voters with the opportunity of accepting or rejecting the proposal based upon it's merits and costs.

TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION

The Soda Swim Center is fast becoming an issue in Moraga. Many residents are upset over traffic, noise and outdoor lighting coming from the facility which impacts surrounding neighborhoods. To many, facilities such as this are more than our community needs or wants. More important it may just be a warning of things to come. The school district, like many other agencys are exempt from Moraga's zoning laws. We could awaken one day and find a PG&E plant in our back yards. Just as the State tries to dictate high density housing to us, so can various agencies transform our quiet little realm into another Bay Area nightmare. We fought off many attempts to convert Moraga into "just another city" only by great effort of the town's citizens. Gateway Boulevard, Buckhorn Reservoir and EBMUD water tanks are just some of the threats successfully diverted by concerned citizens. Only continued dilegence can forstall the inevitable crowding and congestion which occurs as communities mature. A strong council is needed to lead the way and ensure some measure of success in these endeavors.

GROWTH CONTROL

The issue of controlling growth in our community becomes increasingly important as traffic and congestion worsen. There is tremendous pressure under State and Federal mandates to force Moraga to implement programs of high density, "affordable" housing in order to allegedly ease the critical housing shortage in California. But even if Moraga were to implement nothing but High Density development on the remaining lands we would still not satisfy the mandates being proposed for our town. And in the process we will certainly impact the lifestyle of the existing residents. Moraga needs to fight these unreasonable rules in order to protect our tranquil lifestyle.

GENERAL PLAN REVISIONS

Moraga is presently concluding a review of it's General Plan as required by State law. What started out as a review and update has evolved into a possible transformation of major proportions. Proponents suggest high density housing in our central areas surrounding the shopping centers. The emphasis on detached, single family residences is being displaced by a rush to densify the town and forever change its character. Housing height limits are being weakened in an effort to promote urban sprawl, all for the sake of satisfying arbitrary State mandates telling us how to plan our town. Why should we stand by and be reduced to the lowest common denominator- just another community comprised of congested housing, massive traffic, crumbling infrastructure and urban blight. Strong council leadership is needed to thwart these attempts to convert Moraga into another "Bay area" city.