LandWatch Responds to Supervisors on the MST / Whispering Oaks Appeal. The final hearing is July 12th

On June 14th the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 their “intent to approve” the project and closed the public hearing despite: the Planning Commission’s unanimous denial; strong opposition from the community; and an 80-page letter from LandWatch outlining myriad concerns with the project. To read the letter, click here (660KPDF file)

The Board will consider adopting the findings for approval of the project at their July 12th hearing. 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 project because there are alternative sites available to MST, the environmental impacts would be severe, and because Monterey County currently has millions of square feet of commercial, retail, and industrial space already approved but not yet constructed. The Planning Commission unanimously denied the project specifically due to the severe tree removal and the availability of alternative sites. 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)

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posted 07.07.11