In North Monterey County, new subdivisions are proceeding at a rapid pace. This area is convenient to Silicon Valley commuters, but the resources to accommodate new growth are scarce. Groundwater is significantly overdrafted, and continued development puts everyone‚s water supply at risk. Elkhorn Slough, a National Estuarine Research Reserve, is threatened by continued growth, and productive agriculture may be pushed out by future residential development. LandWatch is working closely with neighborhood and other organizations to address the critical planning problems of North County.
LandWatch Comments On The Aromas Water District’s proposal To Annex 1,720 Acres Into Service Area (112K PDF file)
Blurb: LandWatch sent a letter to the Aromas Water District and LAFCO on November 22, 2011 regarding AWD’s Sphere of Influence (SOI) amendment to add approximately 1,720 acres within the District’s SOI boundary within Monterey County. The proposed annexation includes two existing subdivisions to the Aromas Water District and provision of domestic water service to approximately 72 existing homes; the annexation areas are within the proposed SOI amendment area. The proposal also includes the creation of assessment district to finance improvements for proposed annexation areas and the construction of water system improvements to serve the proposed annexation areas, which includes extension of water lines and construction of accessory water system improvements. LandWatch raised questions about the legality of the proposed delivery of water out of the overdrafted groundwater Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin to Via del Sol. We stated that neither PVWMA nor Monterey County has the authority to grant approval for the out-of-basin transfer of Pajaro Valley Groundwater into the Moro Cojo/Salinas Valley Watershed. The PVWMA authorizing statue prohibits out of basin transfers, and there is no justification under California law or CEQA that allows PVWMA to ignore the overlying rights of Pajaro Valley landowners.
LandWatch and the
Salinas Valley Ag Trust submit letters on Final EIR for the
Coastal Water Project
LandWatch Monterey County recently submitted a letter to the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC) on the final environmental impact report (FEIR) for
the Coastal Water Project. LandWatch is very concerned about the potential growth-inducing
impacts of the project and the potential impacts on North County’s water
supply. (02.05.10)
Landwatch Supports County Settlement With HYH Corp. on Butterfly Village Project
Most recently, Monterey County and the HYH Corporation have
agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by HYH against the County,
in which HYH claimed that the County had treated it unfairly
with respect to its proposed "Butterfly Village" development
project. This settlement is likely to conclude a 20-year
dispute over development in this area of the unincorporated
county just north of the city of Salinas. (04.14.08)
Rancho San Juan Timeline
LandWatch's Response to Carlsen Estates Subdivision
LandWatch Monterey County urged the Planning Commission to deny the proposed 39 unit Carlsen Estates subdivision on over 96 acres south of Berta Canyon Road in Prunedale. LandWatch opposed the project for the following reasons: significant impacts on water supply, biological resources, traffic, and existing code enforcement violations. To read our letter to the Planning Commission click here. (08.05.07)
City of Salinas and Monterey County Reach Understanding on Rancho San Juan Despite Voter Response
Rancho San Juan Opposition chairwoman, Julie Engell, wrote a detailed letter
regarding the huge impacts Monterey County residents face by the
ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding which occurred yesterday.
All residents in the County will bear the burden. Even with 76% of the
voters opposed to this massive and disastrous project the agreement was
signed. (08.30.06)
The Board of Supervisors doesn't pay attention to 75% of the voters in
Montery County!
LandWatch and the Rancho San Juan Opposition Coalition are referending the
Revised Ranch San Juan project. We need to collect 9,000 signuatures to put
the project back on the ballot in June of 2006. You can help by signing the
petitions that are now being circulated throughout the County at various
shopping centers and other locations. (11.28.05)
Rancho San Juan Moratorium and Revised Specific Plan
On November 7th, less than 14 hours before the people vote on Measure C, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 with Dave Potter dissenting to approve the controversial Rancho San Juan Butterfly Village project. Both Cal Trans and the City of Salinas told the Board that their environmental documents were flawed. The Board said that they must approve this specific plan or be liable for a substantial money judgment. (11.06.05)
The revised Specific Plan for Rancho San Juan is still inconsistent with the 1982 General Plan (120KB PDF file)
This October 17 letter to the County Planning Commission lays out the inconsistencies and inadequacies of the projects environmental review. (10.30.05)
Rancho San Juan Demonstration
The Board of Supervisors is going to act on Tuesday, and they may act to deprive the voters of their right to vote on Rancho San Juan in November. We need to tell the board that the citizens of Monterey County want to vote! (08.11.05)
Sunridge Views Coastal Appeal Is Critically Important
The decision made by the Coastal Commission on the proposed Sunridge Views subdivision in North Monterey County may well determine the fate of future development throughout the whole North County area. (02.12.05)
Rancho San Juan is Rancho San Wrong
Key issues are water supply and water quality, traffic, public services, and public finance. Get the facts by clicking the links below. Join the citizen's effort to stop Rancho San Juan by contacting David Smith at . (11.26.04)
LandWatch Lawsuit Aims To Stop Rancho San Juan
The lawsuit filed by LandWatch and the Rancho San Juan Opposition Coalition alleges a number of violations of both state and local law. The Petition filed by LandWatch will be placed on the LandWatch website as soon as it is available. (01.18.05)
Court Petition Against Rancho San Juan Project (184K PDF File)
Here is the actual petition filed in the Superior Court, asking the Court to reverse the Board of Supervisors’ approval of the Rancho San Juan project. (01.18.05)
Rancho San Juan Referendum Set To Qualify
The Rancho San Juan Opponents Collected 16,000+ Signatures! This should mean that the voters will get to decide. (01.18.05)
The Rancho San Juan Referendum
It will be hard to qualify a referendum for the ballot, but it can be done! Find out how you can help. (12.19.04)
Reasons To Vote Against Rancho San Juan
Here is the letter that LandWatch submitted to the Board of Supervisors on December 14th, urging the Board to deny the proposed Rancho San Juan development. Unfortunately, the Board voted 3-2 (with Supervisors Calcagno and Potter voting “no") to approve the project. The LandWatch letter outlines some of the most important legal objections to the Board’s action. (12.15.04)
LandWatch Letter to the Planning Commission
This letter from LandWatch outlines some of the basic reasons that the County should turn down the Rancho San Juan Specific Plan and the Butterfly Village Subdivision. (12.12.04)
Julie Engell Outlines The Issues
Julie Engell is the Chairperson of the Rancho San Juan Opposition Coalition, which is working with LandWatch to stop the ill-advised Rancho San Juan development proposal. (11.26.04)
LandWatch Comments on the Draft EIR
In this comprehensive comment letter, LandWatch has outlined all of the major environmental issues related to the proposed Rancho San Juan Specific Plan. (11.26.04)
Rancho San Juan Petition
If you'd like to help fight Rancho San Juan, one thing you can do is to print out copies of the "Just Say No" petition, get your friends and family to sign, and return the signed copies as indicated on the petition form. (11.26.04)
Economic Impacts on Salinas
This flyer (in English and Spanish) outlines the extremely negative economic impacts that Rancho San Juan would have on the City of Salinas. (11.26.04)
The Fiscal Impacts of Rancho San Juan
This brief flyer outlines (in English and Spanish) the negative fiscal impacts that would be caused by the proposed Rancho San Juan project. (11.26.04)
Big Impacts on Salinas Roads and Intersections
Read (in English and Spanish) a list of all the local roads that would be impacted by the proposed Rancho San Juan Specific Plan. (11.26.04)
Rancho San Juan Means Major Traffic Impacts
Are you already worried about traffic slowdowns in North County and on Highway 101? Rancho San Juan would make things much worse! You can get the facts here (in English and Spanish). (11.26.04)
Water Quality and Water Supply Are Big Issues
The proposed Rancho San Juan Specific Plan would have major adverse impacts on water quality and future water supply. The development would make groundwater overdraft worse. A short summary is available here (in English and Spanish). (11.26.04)
LandWatch Appeal on Sunridge Views Is Successful
LandWatch and Friends, Artists, and Neighbors of Elkhorn Slough (FANS) appealed the proposed Sunridge Views subdivision to the California Coastal Commission. In what LandWatch hopes will be a precedent setting decision, the Commission said that new subdivision lots cannot be approved in those areas within the Coastal Zone experiencing groundwater overdraft. (12.13.04)
Coastal Commission Can Protect North County (148k PDF file)
This is a copy of the LandWatch appeal to the Coastal Commission of the Board of Supervisors' approval of the Sunridge Views subdivision. The Coastal Commission can stand up for good land use decision making, even when the Board of Supervisors fails to do so, and LandWatch hopes they'll do just that, since the Sunridge Views subdivision violates a number of Coastal and General Plan policies. (08.29.04)
Sunridge Views Subdivision Violates The General Plan (202K PDF file)
The Sunridge Views subdivision, proposed in the North Monterey County coastal area, violates a number of key General Plan policies. (08.29.04)
County Getting Ahead of Itself on "Butterfly Village"
Developments proposed in the Rancho San Juan Area are supposed to take place according to a "Specific Plan" that has not yet been adopted. Despite the fact that there's no Specific Plan, Monterey County is already moving towards approval of a major development project, the so "called "Butterfly Village," which consists mainly of luxury homes and a golf course. This LandWatch letter points out that the County is getting ahead of itself. (08.12.04)
Cathrein Estates Project Approved
The Cathrein Estates project will contribute to critical groundwater overdraft in North County. LandWatch outlines the arguments against it in this letter to the Board of Supervisors. (04.15.04)
LandWatch Comments on Sunridge Views Draft EIR
This LandWatch letter outlines why a proposed North Monterey County project ought to be denied. (02.03.04)
Is There a Desalination Plant in the Future For Moss Landing?
The California Public Utilities Commission has proposed a "Plan B" method to deal with Monterey Peninsula water problems. That "Plan B" includes a large desalination plant at Moss Landing. You can find out more at an upcoming forum in Prunedale. (01/29/03)
Help Maintain the North County Water Moratorium (01/08/02)
Concerned North County residents are asking the Board of Supervisors to maintain the current development moratorium in North Monterey County, where serious groundwater overdraft is occurring. If youíd like to help, please print out the petition, get as many signatures as you can, and then return it as indicated on the petition form. A public hearing will be held before the Board of Supervisors on January 22, 2002. Mark your calendar if you can attend.
LandWatch Supports North County Moratorium (9/5/00)
Groundwater overdraft is a continuing problem in North Monterey County, and the Board of Supervisors will soon consider a development moratorium, acknowledging the problem.
Beauty of North County Celebrated in Art Exhibit (9/5/00)
An art show dedicated to preserving the threatened beauty of North Monterey County will be held at the Salinas Courthouse through October 26, 2000. Come to a reception on September 12th, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. The reception will be held in the Second Floor Lobby of the West Wing of the Courthouse.
