The Board of Supervisors will consider the MST / Whispering Oaks projects on June 14th

This project is moving quickly through the planning process despite the Planning Commission’s unanimous denial. The proposal by Monterey Salinas Transit and the County Redevelopment Agency includes cutting down 4,400 oak trees in the former Fort Ord. LandWatch opposes this project because other blighted sites are available nearby in Fort Ord, and the city of Marina wants MST to locate at their airport which is slated for industrial and commercial uses. The MST proposal includes a 36,000 square foot administrative building, a 96,450 square foot bus maintenance building, and 15 acres of paved parking. MST’s proposal is partnered with the Monterey County Redevelopment Agency’s proposal for an office park. The Redevelopment Agency’s plans are not clear, however they say it will be a business park. LandWatch opposes the business park because there are currently millions of square feet of commercial, retail, and industrial space in the County that are already approved, but not yet unconstructed! The Planning Commission unanimously denied the projects because of the severe tree removal and the availability of alternative sites! Their decision is on appeal to the Supervisors, and the hearing is set for June 14th. LandWatch, along with other community groups in the Fort Ord area, is working hard to get the MST facility moved to another site.

• LandWatch letter on the draft environmental impact report for the MST / Whispering Oaks projects (94K PDF file)
  
  
• LandWatch letter on the final environmental impact report for the MST / Whispering Oaks projects (90K PDF file)
  
  
• LandWatch letter to the city of Marina encouraging them to negotiate with MST to locate at the Marina Airport (44K PDF file)

[Return to Fort Ord Issues and Actions]

posted 05.31.11