SANTA CRUZ - The county Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead this morning to plans for a housing project on Atkinson Lane, along the city of Watsonville's northern edge.

The approval to rezone for 200 homes on part of the 65-acre site comes as the county faces a June 30 deadline to meet state-mandated housing quotas. Ten of the 30 acres required by the state are slated to come from Atkinson Lane.

The housing plan there is a joint effort between the county and the city of Watsonville. The city is hoping to annex land where the project is currently sited.

Several neighbors have been joined by the farming community in opposing the proposal. The loss of agricultural land and added pressure on roads and schools have been among the top concerns.

This afternoon the Board of Supervisors is expected to decide whether to approve four acres of high-density housing on the Poor Clares property in Seacliff, also part of the county's effort to get to 30 acres.