LandWatch Supports Coastal Commission Staff on Ocean View Plaza

Agenda ItemTh13b
Permit No. 3-06-065
LandWatch Monterey County
Opposition to Project

February 28, 2008

Patrick Kruer, Chair,
and Members of the California Coastal Commission
725 Front Street, Suite 300
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4508
FAX (831) 427-4877

Dear Chair Kruer and Commissioners:

LandWatch Monterey County is a community-based nonprofit organization, with members from throughout Monterey County. LandWatch is dedicated to preserving our community's economic vitality, high agricultural productivity, and the health of our environment by encouraging greater public participation in planning. We help promote and inspire sound land use policies through grassroots community action. We have more than 1,000 household memberships, and an eleven-member board of directors.

For all the reasons stated in the staff report, LandWatch supports the staff recommendation for denial of the Ocean View Plaza on Cannery Row. In particular, we are concerned about the state-wide precedent that would be set by allowing a private desalination plant along our coast. The cumulative impact of this project along with the other small desalination plants already approved in the Marine Sanctuary could also jeopardize a long-term solution to meeting water supply needs on the Monterey Peninsula.

We urge the commission to deny the project.

Sincerely,

Chris Fitz, Executive Director
LandWatch Monterey County

posted 02.28.08