Bill Robinson Honored With Environmental Award (Santa Maria Sun)

Thursday October 10, 2002

For Immediate Release

Bill Robinson, founding president of Save the Mesa, has received the Bill Denneen Environmental Award, which included an engraved plaque and a cash award of $500.

Robinson led the incorporated nonprofit organization from its inception in September 1999 until September 2002, overseeing the organization's growth from about 10 members to 150. During those years, the group held some three dozen educational meetings, open to the public, which included such speakers as county planning staff, a county supervisor, representatives from the Nipomo Community Services District, water experts, directors from the San Luis Obispo County Organization of Governments, newspaper editors and reporters, and other speakers that helped hundreds of local residents understand the land-use planning issues that face the community.

Plus, Save the Mesa initiated legal action that caused the county to slow down the number of building permits it issued, as well as conducting an environmental impact report on the cumulative impacts of growth on the Nipomo Mesa. Current litigation aims to cause environmental impact reports to be done for such growth-inducing projects as a water pipeline the NCSD wants to run two miles outside its boundaries across agricultural lands, and a proposal by a private developer who wishes to change zoning to allow one-acre properties and a school in an area zoned for five-acre parcels. According to state law, an environmental impact report must be done when projects will have a "significant impact" on the surrounding areas. According to the law, the California Environmental Quality Act, its statues are enforced, as necessary, by the public through legal action or the threat thereof.

Other recipients of the Bill Denneen Environmental Award include: Herb Kandel of Nipomo Native Gardens and the Land Conservancy, Pat Veesart of ECOSLO, former County Supervisor Bud Laurent, Hopedance Publisher Bob Banner, Morro Bay wetlands advocate Marla Morrissey, and Tarren Collins of the Sierra Club.

Denneen presented the award to Robinson at the October Save the Mesa meeting, saying that the award was given "for your leadership in forming our most effective grassroots environmental organization, Save the Mesa. For your endless hours and dedication to make the South County a better place to live. For slowing down the 'losangelification' of our rural South County." Δ