• The project applicant is King Ventures.
• The project includes the construction of a hotel, resort and parking lot.
• Sand City is the lead agency.
• The project is guided by the 2002 Sand City General Plan.

• A decision on the Final Environmental Impact Report scheduled for November 2013 was delayed until December 2013.
• The Draft Environmental Impact Report was released in November 2012. (27.3M PDF)

• Impacts to Endangered Species are Not Fully Identified
  US Fish and Wildlife Service has not been consulted regarding impacts to endangered species. (FEIR, p.50). The extent of mitigation needed to address impacts could affect the final project design. Additionally, the analysis of cumulative impacts on endangered species is inadequate. Finally, the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District has indicated potential harmful impacts to the Eolian Dune Preserve from public access. Mitigation measures proposed in the FEIR may not ensure that the impacts will be mitigated.
• Coastal Erosion Impacts Left Unaddressed
  The California Coastal Commission states, “In short, the DEIR has not adequately addressed potential higher risk coastal erosion scenarios, particularly when taking into account reasonable estimates for its economic life, and it cannot be assured that the project has been adequately sited and designed to address hazards. Accordingly, the DIER must identify the project’s expected economic lifetime and evaluate higher risk coastal erosion scenarios, including a minimum of 75 years, and take into account recent estimates of future sea level rise.” We support this finding.

LandWatch engages in the public process in a variety of ways. For this project, here is a list of our engagement strategies.

• Letter: Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Report (108K PDF)
  LandWatch submitted comments on: the project description, parking, visual impacts, transportation, ground water, biology, air quality, climate change and more. (01.07.13)
• Letter: Comments on the Final Environmental Impact Report (119K PDF)
  LandWatch submitted comments focused on the project description, impacts to endangered species and the transportation infrastructure, as well as: viewshed, coastal erosion, and greenhouse gas impacts. (11.15.13)

• Snowy Plover Habitat Shrinking
  Two developments along the Sand City shoreline are impacting critical habitat for the federally endangered snowy plover. Conservation organizations are claiming there isn’t enough protection of this important habitat. The nests and habitat are getting trampled by beach-goers… what would happen to the bird with additional beach goers in the mix? (05.11.15)
• Coastal Commission Takes Control “The Collections” Permit
  “The Collections at Monterey Bay” was appealed to the Coastal Commission. Apparently the Commission staff believe there are some problems with the project, including putting the underground parking in the 100 year flood inundation zone and misalignment with the Local Coastal Program. The Commission is taking control of the permit for the project. Another hearing will be scheduled in the next few months. (12.11.14)