Caspar Community's mission is to "preserve and enhance the quality of all life in Caspar" and to this end seeks to restore the village nature of the town that was lost when the mill closed in 1955 and the highway bypass was completed. The creation of State Parks-owned open space preserves the "open heart" of the village while sharing views and recreational opportunities with visitors. Congestion on Highway One and increasing energy awareness call for more local services and increased self-sufficiency in Caspar for residents and visitors alike.

We believe the present plan requires adjustment. The community has developed, with the help of the University of California, a plan that serves us better. Parcels split by road building should be split accordingly. Development opportunities lost when our principal "sacred space", the Headlands, was purchased should be moved to preserve density, as these commercial and residential sites are critical to Caspar; we have carefully determined where they may be reallocated in order to preserve viewshed while serving people. Remaining large open spaces and "sacred space" should be designated by a more plan-intensive zoning.

Throughout our planning process, we have worked hard to serve the future needs of the Caspar community while preserving the value of lands held by individuals. Our plan also protects precious resources, such as water and view corridors; we are working toward a community water system (already partially in place) to improve water quality on existing substandard parcels in the village that suffer in drought years.

With favorable rezoning, we expect to intensify the planning process with regard to hydrology, silviculture, and agriculture to enhance the productivity of our land. Our plans also include research into, among other things, the best practices for run-off control and vehicular and pedestrian circulation within the village. We hope to engage the interest and professional aide of county planning experts in this work.

We propose a mix of conventional residential developments and forward-looking land use strategies such as live-work, accessory structures, and open space preservation across parcels in order to recreate and preserve village qualities while increasing opportunities for affordable and senior housing.

There is no question that the help and interest of Mendocino County's planners is as essential to our success as the continuing support of the greater Caspar community.