Measures M, N, and O in El Dorado County - What do they mean for residents?

The campaign posters on Measures M, N and O that have plastered the west slope for a few months have now made their way to South Lake Tahoe. But, what are they all about?

Growth, to put it in one word.

On one side you have people who want to have control of growth in the county and not let it go to Sacramento. On the other side there is a grass roots movement to keep all growth out of the county unless Cal Trans says its okay.

Since voters on the South Shore are in El Dorado County they will be determining the future of growth throughout the county. If you're confused about what the measures actually mean, you're not alone.

The measures have divided the county with passionate advertising from both sides. The candidates for El Dorado County Supervisor for Area 5 are on opposite sides of the vote as well. Sue Novasel says "no on M, N and O" while Kenny Curtzwiler wouldn't say yes or no, he just said "follow the money."

If approved, Measure M would amend the county's general plan to:

- prohibit any new single-family housing subdivisions five or more parcels in size unless CalTrans certifies that Highway 50 has traffic levels of better than Level of Service F and is forecast to continue with such a traffic level in the future. Level of Service F is the worst level traffic can be on a rating from A - F. A summary of each level, including level F, is available on the California Department of Transportation website featured in the external links of this article.
- prohibit any land zoned for open-space, agriculture or natural resources from - - being zoned for any other purpose.
- prohibit residential areas zoned for low-density, mid-density and rural from being zoned for any higher residential density.

County voters will also be deciding two other initiatives seeking to amend the county's general plan - Measure N and Measure O.

Supporters argue that Measure M and Measure O are necessary to keep the county attractive to tourists and to residents and protect the environment and property values by preventing too many residential subdivisions and even worse traffic congestion. The Sierra Club, grass roots community activists and Supervisor Candidate Howard Penn, President of American River Recreation Association.

Opponents argue that the initiatives are anti-growth and anti-development and that they will harm the county's economy and keep the housing industry from thriving. A contingent of opponents are sympathetic to the goals and priorities of the initiatives' supporters, but think that the measures are too complex and that the proper arena for such decisions lies in public forums, public discussion and, ultimately, in the county supervisors' meeting rooms. These critics think voters should express their opinion on growth and development by electing representatives that share their values, rather than through citizen initiatives. Opponents include the EL Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, John Upton of South Lake Tahoe and former County Supervisor, Christa Campbell, owner of rainbow Orchards and labor unions.

The Sacramento Bee came out against all three measures, "On the ballot are two Board of Supervisors seats and three fairly complicated growth measures, M, N, and O. We are recommending an across-the-board “no” on all three measures. Growth planning is best done through the unglamorous but effective method of public discussion, hearings and work groups – not by asking voters to unravel dense land-use measures that could have long-lasting, and quite unintended, consequences. Measures M and O are more accurately anti-growth measures placed on the ballot by residents legitimately worried about large-scale housing subdivisions planned for their communities. Measure N was put on the ballot by Sacramento-based Region Builders PAC, as a type of counter to Measure M, but the proponents have abandoned it. Voters should, too."