Controlling Growth

By Muril Clift

Controlling growth to maintain our piece of paradise

Like most Cambrians, I chose to live here because of the uniqueness of our small village, nestled in the pines, beside the sea. Most of us have escaped from urban congestion, and do not want Cambria's beauty and lifestyle to deteriorate from overpopulation.

In the past, lack of water has been the means to regulate, or stop growth. Many Cambrians thought that by denying new water sources, they could prevent increased density. However, during the past 20 years we have grown to the point of straining our water resources, just to provide for those already here. To control future growth, we must place legislative and administrative limits on growth potential, and reduce the land available for growth.

Starting in 2006, we have put into motion the controls that will limit growth directly, rather than using a secondary issue like water as the growth limiting method. Cambrians approved Measure P-06 to limit the ability of the CCSD to provide water to customers outside the current service area. The Water Master Plan has designated 4,650 homes as the maximum. That would be an increase of about 700 homes, built over approximately 22 years, at a rate of no more than 1% per year. An aggressive program of lot consolidation and retirement is under way, and will ultimately reduce the number of buildable lots to match the maximum number of homes allowed. These measures mean that, although a small amount of growth will be allowed over several years, Cambria will always remain "Cambria - Pines by the Sea."

I support this effort to retain Cambria as a charming village in the pines, with ocean views. As a CCSD Director, I will do my best not to allow Cambria to become like many coastal communities, which have removed all vegetation toward densely stacked homes with windows facing the ocean.