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Business Community Rallies Around Loosening Coastal Zoning Restrictions

7/14/16

On Tuesday, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will make a big decision concerning land use around Humboldt Bay, a decision some see as a fork in the road for the region’s economic future. And at a recent meeting some major players in the local business community made their preference known.

At issue are the hundreds of acres surrounding the harbor zoned exclusively for coastal-dependent industrial (CDI) uses. The vast majority of this land — about 95 percent — currently lies vacant, and county staff says the resulting lack of revenue has allowed infrastructure to deteriorate.

Public voices support for opening up coastal lands for business

7/6/16

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors heard testimony from business owners, government officials and local residents on its proposal to open up coastal industrial areas around Humboldt Bay to new businesses. Most speakers were in favor of the change.

“It’s a clear choice between continuing stagnation and blight or moving forward with jobs and environmental cleanup around Humboldt Bay,” Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation Commissioner Mike Wilson said after the meeting.

Arcata wastewater facility update underway

City examines issues with aged facility

6/26/16

As the Arcata Wastewater Treatment Facility continues to age and resulting compliance issues arise, the city is preparing for a 10- to 20-year remodeling project. The effort will take its next step Monday when Arcata’s Environmental Services Department, which manages the facility, meets with the state’s Regional Water Quality Control Board to discuss the project’s future as city officials work to have a completed plan in place by their December deadline.

The Train Dream Lives! Caltrans Gives $276k in Public Funds to Trinity County Agency for Yet Another East-West Rail Study

6/24/16

The California Department of Transportation, better known as Caltrans, today announced that it has awarded a $276,000 grant to the Trinity County Transportation Commission, which will spend that moolah studying the feasibility of constructing a brand new railroad from Humboldt Bay across the Trinity Alps to the Central Valley.

Snowy plovers and massive condos — opposing forces we'll meet on our coastal road trip

6/22/16

Imagine this:

A stunning, untouched beach, marked by crashing blue surf and a broad shoulder of dunes that are home to native plants and wildlife.

Now imagine this:

A massive condo-and-hotel monstrosity carved into the wall of sand, permanently scarring the landscape and, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, destroying the habitat of birds protected under the Endangered Species Act.