Supervisors approved Measure D's wording hoping to regain the control they lost when litigation against them prevailed, requiring a public vote on any changed land use. The County was clever to frame the Ballot wording of Measure D as though Yes on D creates something new — which, of course, it doesn’t.
YES on D is a continuation of the process that has preserved the San Geronimo property all these years. The San Geronimo Valley Plan intended to keep the land free of development; hence, the golf course use was adopted. Whether such a use is feasible today should be determined by a vote of affected residents and taxpayers.
YES
on D protects that determinative power because YES on D begins voter
control of the land’s use: it is a process for the land use decision.
A YES vote ensures other votes will follow.
This ballot’s single vote will not resolve the question unless voters voluntarily relinquish their democratic right to control the process this ballot provides. Unfortunately, people misled by slick videos may not see the scripted subtleties, and may do as those who crafted Ballot Measure D hoped: end the democratic process.
Voting
NO on D cedes control to the Supervisors, not Marin residents.
NO on D enables new development of San Geronimo because a NO vote ends the established preservation provisions of the San Geronimo Community Plan. Supervisors, not residents, take control of use and all decisions regarding San Geronimo. Those favoring development are NO on D voters, delivering San Geronimo back to the County process for which the Board of Supervisors got sued and lost.
One
clue to the future of the property: Supervisor Rodoni, whose out-sized pile
of fundraising cash recently made front page news, says he is worried
about “big money” interests controlling the property.
How ironic is that?