Mountain View Shoreline Wildlife Management Plan – March 14
We have been advocating with the City of Mountain on the Shoreline Wildlife Management Plan (SWPM) for several years, and are happy to share that the city is currently moving forward with the updated plan. Because of the active involvement of the public and comments provided by SCVAS’s advocacy team, the SWMP expanded from Shoreline to includes the Shorebird Way Egret Rookery as well as the nearby retention basin within its area of focus. The Plan also expanded to add Monarch butterfly to the four avian umbrella species - the California Ridgway’s Rail (Rallus obsoletus obsoletus), Black Skimmer (Rhynchops niger), White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus), San Francisco Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas sinuosa). The existing Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) Presvation Plan is integrated with the SWMP.
We thank everyone who has helped highlight the importance of the SWMP and to see you at the March 14 City Council meeting to support the adoption of the plan as well as the recommendations by the Parks and Recreation Commission for: 1) a yearly presentation and 2) an urgency for the protection of the Shoreline Lake island, which is used by nesting birds and is currently being threatened by wave erosion.
Updates on light pollution and billboards (Gilroy, Cupertino)
Our advocacy, and working with community members in Cupertino and in Gilroy, helped the planning commissions of these cities reject billboards that would bring light pollution and clutter to highways 280 and 101 (respectfully) with visual blight.
In Cupertino, the applicant appealed and received approval for the Storage Billboard from City Council. A local resident appealed this decision, and so the humongous orange illuminated sign will come back to Council for reconsideration. If you live in Cupertino, or drive along Highway 280, please contact the Cupertino City Council and let them know how much you object to this visual assault on the night sky and our scenic roadways.
Outfront Media’s proposed electronic billboard on Automall Parkway is shown in this concept rendering to the right.
In Gilroy, we helped coordinate opposition to a change to the City zoning code to allow freeway-facing electronic billboards and construct one such billboard. The City’s Environmental Review process concluded that a 75-foot high, 30-by-22.5-foot LED billboard, where the graphics change every eight seconds, will have no significant effect on the environment. The Gilroy Planning Commission denied the project. The applicant has appealed, so the next step is the City Council. If you live or shop in Gilroy please contact council members to express your opposition to this project.
As always, contact advocate@scvas.org for more information.