Maintaining our Quality of Life, while Planning for the Future

By Dennis Cunnane

Keeping the Historical Perspective, while Planning for the Future, is the Key to Preserving Moraga's Unique Quality of Life

General Plan: The primary planning for the future that our Town performs is the General Plan review, which occurs each ten years, and which we are presently working on. In my opinion most of the goals and policies of the present plan continue to be appropriate, and I support their retention. However, as has occurred in the past, it is appropriate to reduce development densities in undeveloped areas in light of the present traffic capacity of the main arterials leading to Highway 24. To date the consensus is that density should be reduced, and I agree. In the Bollinger Canyon area density will be very low because of the rural character of the surrounding area, and the fact that the area is outside the County Urban Limit Line. The density of Indian Valley is presently planned to be reduced by at least 50 percent for much the same reason.

The State requires all cities to provide the opportunity for development of affordable housing units. Moraga was given a low number of 90 units. I have supported the idea of controlling our own destiny by employing the specific plan process, which will begin after the General Plan update is concluded, and will include areas in the vicinity of the shopping centers. The specific plan will provide the public with an opportunity to give input into the planning process.

Also, I have proposed stronger traffic mitigation requirements for new development, and these provisions are presently being considered as part of the General Plan update.