Monterey Peninsula Issues & Actions:

Monterey Peninsula General Issues

The Monterey Peninsula has many important issues facing the area. LandWatch has been involved with these issues for more than a decade.

LandWatch Position: Varies by Topic

Project Status: Varies by Topic

City of Del Rey Oaks – Housing Element

• Plan Ignores Impacts and Water
  The Council voted 4-1 to adopt the new Housing Element—just in time for the state’s December 31st deadline—but the plan lacked essential information. This plan approval prompted a lawsuit by LandWatch on CEQA and lack of water sustainability. (01.04.20)

• Del Rey Oaks Approves Plan and Gets Sued
  Trying to meet a December 31st deadline the Del Rey Oaks City Council approved its updated housing plan on December 17th—its first update in 27 years. LandWatch promptly filed a lawsuit focused on lack of water supply and impacts to the environment. (01.04.20)

• LAWSUIT: LandWatch Files Lawsuit Against Del Rey Oaks (237K PDF file)
  The Housing Element approved by the City Council of Del Rey Oaks fails to consider the environmental impacts and failed to keep its Housing Element current. (01.03.20)

• LandWatch Raises Concerns on Housing Plan
  While the initial invitation to LandWatch to sit at the table and discuss the Housing Element was a welcoming one, that changed.  The City’s lack of analysis for water on a specific parcel of former Fort Ord lands coupled with other concerns turned talks sour. (12.26.19)

• Del Rey Oaks Drafts Housing Plan
  The City of Del Rey Oaks plans to adopt its new Housing Element prior to the deadline of December 31st. Included in the mix is the requirement to build 86 units of varying levels of affordability. (12.10.19)

• Letter: LandWatch Relays CEQA and Housing Element Concerns (9.7M PDF file)
  After conversations with the City and City Attorney, LandWatch was unable to support either Housing Element being proposed by staff. The issues relate to compliance with CEQA, groundwater pumping, and the availability of land for housing—among other topics. (12.16.19)
• Council to Consider new Housing Element
  On December 17, the City of Del Rey Oaks has a public hearing to consider its new Housing Element, which focuses on becoming compliant with state laws. Specifically, the effort to meet the state’s allocated Regional Housing Needs Assessment numbers for the city. (12.10.19)

City of Monterey General Letters

• Letter: LandWatch Supports Downtown Overlay (1MB PDF file)
  LandWatch supports the proposed Downtown Specific Plan Density Overlay Cap, which allows up to 30 dwelling units per acre and increases allowable height to four stories. We also support increasing the density to 40 dwelling units per acre to allow for small, more affordable units. (12.02.19)

• Monterey Projects Could Add Housing
  The City of Monterey is struggling to meet its housing requirements and a few projects will give it a boost. Several hundred units will be previewed in December by the City Planner. (11.29.19)

• Letter: LandWatch Comments on Old Capitol Site Rezone (534K PDF file)
  LandWatch Monterey County supports the proposed amendment to rezone the Old Capitol Site from very low density residential to parks and open space, as well as the proposed negative declaration. The rezoning proposal is consistent with LandWatch’s smart growth principles because the project fulfills the proposed mitigation measures for the Pebble Beach Company’s Morse Place Townhomes affordable housing project, which required dedication of the Old Capital Site as a park—among other things. (10.21.19)

• Testimony: LW Supports Rezone at Council Meeting (473K PDF file)
  LandWatch Executive Director Mike DeLapa spoke before the Monterey City Council to support the Garden Road Rezone because  it helps the City meet its Regional Housing Needs for lower income families. (06.04.19)

• Testimony: LandWatch Comments on Project (474K PDF file)
  During its testimony to the Architectural Review Committee, LandWatch offered two key recommendations on the Fremont Street project. First, to reduce building costs and encourage affordability-by-design, the City should approve the project without further conditions. Second, to address neighborhood concerns about parking, the City should encourage the project applicant to work with Monterey-Salinas Transit and the Transportation Agency of Monterey County to encourage building residents to forgo cars and use public transportation or bicycles. (05.28.19)

• Letter: LandWatch Comments on Fremont Street Project (504K PDF file)
  LandWatch supports the 40 unit mixed use project and encouraged the City to work with transit agencies to help with parking problems. The Fremont Street project helps the City meet the affordable housing unit requirements established by the state. (04.05.19)

• Garden Road Rezone
  A determination that the Garden Road project will have no significant environmental impacts is being prepared for the project. Four hundred and five units will replace dozens of commercial offices if allowed. LandWatch supports this project. (03.15.19)
• Letter: LandWatch Testimony (121K PDF file)
  LandWatch testified before the City of Monterey’s Council to reiterate its concerns about developing the 126 acres on the former Fort Ord. From faulty assumptions to unanswered questions, development far from the city center doesn’t promote sustainability and severely impacts resources—like the overdrafted Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. LandWatch submitted historical maps of the basin (2.7M PDF file). (03.05.19)
• Monterey Eyes Fort Ord Development
  LandWatch urges the City of Monterey to question whether or not housing is a good fit on the former Fort Ord lands. Please join us in Council Chamber, 580 Pacific Street, Monterey on Tuesday, March 5 at 4:00 pm in testifying against the issuance of a request for proposals (item #11 on the agenda Review Outline and Direct Staff to Release a Request for Proposals to Solicit a Developer for the City’s Former Fort Ord Property).  (03.04.19)

• Op-Ed: LandWatch Pens Opinion Piece on City’s Proposal
  The op-ed, written by LandWatch Executive Director Michael DeLapa, reminds the City Council about the clear lesson of Monterey Downs and Whispering Oaks: the public opposes paving open space when it isn’t necessary. It also urges the City Council to focus on more sensible growth strategies, including rezoning Garden Road and Ryan Ranch for mixed use, lowering barriers to building accessory dwelling units, and upzoning along transit corridors, including Fremont Street. (03.03.19)

• Letter: LandWatch Comments on 126 acres (653K PDF file)
  Stating concerns about the development of 126 acres on the former Fort Ord, LandWatch outlines issues.  These included water availability, lack of infrastructure, affordability, and potential risks to name a few. (01.21.19)

• Letter: LandWatch Comments on Monterey Ownership (263K PDF file)
  LandWatch commented on the future of a 126-acre parcel owned by the City of Monterey. The site has a business park/light industrial zone and an open space/recreational zone. Previous legal and expert comments (see technical letter from Monterey Downs above) on the Monterey Downs project were included to support this letter.  (01.21.19)

• LandWatch Supports Garden Road Zoning Amendment (498K PDF file)
  LandWatch supports the proposed zoning amendment to allow mixed uses (residential and commercial) and multifamily residential uses in certain properties located along Garden Road. The zoning amendment is consistent with LandWatch’s smart growth principles because it allows for infill residential use consistent with efficient and compact urban development and because it encourages higher density, multifamily residential development that typically increases affordability. We urge the City’s timely approval of the project. (10.09.18)
• Mixed Use and Affordability Before Monterey Council
  LandWatch joins the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership in recommending to the City of Monterey that the City allocate limited water to mixed use housing and commercial projects, NOT to commercial projects solely. The City has some Water Allocations available and the current policy is to support mixed-use developments that have affordable housing components. Some business leaders are proposing that the Water Allocations be awarded to projects that only have commercial components. The Council has a balanced policy that meets both economic development and housing goals. (02.06.18)
• Thank you, Monterey City Council!
  Tuesday, the Monterey City Council voted 5-0 to continue its policy of allocating limited water supplies to mixed use housing and commercial projects, not to commercial projects solely. This means the Council has a balanced policy that meets both economic development and housing goals. LandWatch submitted comments in favor of allocations to mixed use and affordable housing projects. We applaud the City Council for this thoughtful decision. (02.06.18)

City of Seaside - South of Tioga

• LandWatch Testimony to Sand City Council (148K PDF file)
  LandWatch Executive Director Michael DeLapa outlines concerns related to CEQA, urges economic justification for the hotel rooms, and supports an affordability component in the 400 unit housing proposal. (06.06.18)
• Letter – LandWatch Letter to City Council (535K PDF file)
  After review of the South of Tioga project, LandWatch included two requests for the City Council: (1) approve the condominium and multi-family rental housing component within conditions for at least 20% permanently affordable units, which should be built before other project components; and (2) reject the two hotels and restaurant. (06.01.18)
• Letter – LandWatch Comment Letter on Final EIR (520K PDF file)
  LandWatch submitted substantive comments on the South of Tioga project because the Final EIR does not adequately address the project’s consistency with the Sand City General Plan’s Housing Element. (05.21.18)
• Public Hearing on South of Tioga Project
  A public hearing is offered, but a future vote on the project’s Environmental Impact Report and approvals will be scheduled for June 5. Existing concerns raised by the public include traffic and parking, habitat, views and the scope/scale of the project. (05.14.18)
• Letter – LandWatch Comment Letter on Draft EIR (550K PDF file)
  LandWatch submitted substantive comments on the South of Tioga project including, but not limited to, comments on: the project description, air quality, drainage, greenhouse gas emissions, land use, transportation, cumulative impacts, and alternatives. (04.09.18)

City of Pacific Grove - Affordable Housing

• City Grants Water Rights to Affordable Projects
  The Pacific Grove City Council voted to grant 11.5 acre feet of water to low income units. That’s enough for 115 units. The vote also allowed for a 30% discount on water prices since this effort aligns with the City’s affordable housing goals. (05.16.19)

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