El estado del condado de Monterey 1998
Letter to Candidates for Response to the State of Monterey County Report

May 15, 1998

Dear [Candidate],

LandWatch Monterey County would appreciate your response to State of Monterey County 1998 , the first annual comprehensive assessment of land use, the environment, and infrastructure in Monterey County.

State of Monterey County 1998 provides an integrated overview of population trends, land use patterns, traffic conditions, and various features broadly affecting the environmental health and economic vitality of Monterey County. It is the first such report ever prepared for Monterey County.

As a candidate for elected office, you will have an opportunity to chart Monterey County's future and decide the rate and pattern of land use development. LandWatch believes Monterey County residents would benefit from knowing more about your assessment of State of Monterey County 1998. Specifically, we would like your written response to the following questions:

Do you agree with LandWatch's assessment of planning issues in Monterey County? If not, why?

Do you agree with LandWatch's recommendations for dealing with these issues? If not, what alternatives do you recommend?

What is your vision for growth in Monterey County? What growth rates in residential and commercial/industrial do you favor for the next 20 years? Where do you feel growth is best accommodated? What policies would you recommend that would provide affordable housing, limit conversion of productive agricultural land, and be consistent with environmental and infrastructure constraints?

Your responses will be posted on LandWatch's website and otherwise made available to the general public. If possible, please provide your responses via electronic mail or on computer disc. Please respond by May 22, 1998.

State of Monterey County 1998 reveals significant inconsistencies among population projections, infrastructure capacities, and the general plans of Monterey County and the cities. Even if no further projects were approved today, Monterey County would still add 7,520 residential units, 685 hotel units and about 1.5 million square feet of commercial, industrial and visitor oriented development. In total, Monterey County local governments have either approved or are considering the approval of 15,400 residential units, 1,445 hotel/motel units, facilities for 6,800 California State University at Monterey Bay (CSUMB) students, and 5 million square feet of commercial/industrial projects in the next five years. This growth will severely exacerbate Monterey County's already serious water supply, water quality and traffic problems. The current population already exceeds existing infrastructure, including road capacities, water supplies and schools, in many parts of the county.

In response to the problems identified in the report, LandWatch recommends that Monterey County and each city enact an immediate development moratorium until the cumulative impacts identified in the report are analyzed and mitigation measures approved. The moratorium should apply to any new subdivisions greater than 25 units not already legally vested and General Plan amendments. LandWatch urges Monterey County to update their General Plan, which was adopted in 1983, so that it is consistent and includes sound planning goals. These and other recommendations offered by LandWatch are generally aimed at slowing down the random, uncoordinated development of Monterey County in order to assess further the appropriate and specific measures that will prevent the deterioration of the quality of life for residents.

LandWatch Monterey County is a nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to promoting better land use planning. State of Monterey County 1998 is available free through LandWatch's web site at http://www.mclw.org. Printed copies of the executive report are available free upon request. The full report will be available to the general public on May 20,1998 for $5.

We appreciate your consideration of State of Monterey County 1998 and look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Michael D. DeLapa
President