Monterey County

• The project applicant is the Pebble Beach Company. The project would build 90-100 residential units and protect 635 acres of forest land. The Golf Course project would upgrade current irrigation systems and remove 533 trees.
• The County of Monterey is the lead agency.
• The project is governed by the 2010 Monterey County General Plan.

• The Planning Commission, at its May 30, 2012 meeting, recommended that all affordable housing units be built onsite, instead of accepting in lieu fees for the units, unless an alternative site is found on the peninsula.
• The Final Environmental Impact Report Errata was released in May 2012. (3.5M PDF)
• The Final Environmental Impact Report was available April 2012. (25.3M PDF)
• The Draft Environmental Impact Report was available for comment from November 2011 through January 2012. (32.7M PDF)
• The Notice of Preparation was circulated for 30 days in April/May 2011. (3.8M PDF)

• Lack of Affordable Housing
  The Pebble Beach Company wants to pay in-lieu fees for the mandated affordable housing rather than build the units themselves. The County admits the fees may never actually build anything and affordable housing on the Peninsula is in great demand.

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 the Draft Environmental Impact Report (229K PDF)
  LandWatch reviewed the EIR and outlined concerns on: air quality, biology, traffic, water supply, climate change, and the alternatives analysis. (02.02.12)
• Letter: Analysis and Opposition to Pebble Beach Initiative (127K PDF)
  LandWatch noted that given that sufficient signatures have been gathered by the Pebble Beach Company to qualify its initiative proposal for the ballot, the Board of Supervisors now has two choices—either directly to adopt the Pebble Beach Company’s proposed ordinance, or to let the people vote on it. (07.24.00)

• Pacific Grove Council Slams Project (pages 5 & 30)
  The Pacific Grove City Council outlined in a letter to the County its concern for the Pebble Beach Inclusionary Housing Project.  While concerns exist about the project and its location, several organizations including LandWatch support its construction. (07.08.16)
• LandWatch Works with Supervisors to Sequester Funds for Affordable Home Construction
  LandWatch worked to modify the language of the conditions of approval to only allow the in lieu fees be spent on actual construction of new affordable housing units on the Peninsula, instead of being spent on County administration. Though new affordable units won’t be built on the Pebble Beach site, funds are now set aside for their creation on the Peninsula and those funds can’t be squandered on items unrelated to affordable housing construction. This represents a win for affordable housing. (07.12.12)
• Board of Supervisors Modify Approval Language to Build Affordable Houses
  The Board of Supervisors, at its June 19th meeting, planned to approve in lieu fees be paid by the developer instead of requiring units be built on site. This action was taken despite the Planning Commission’s recommendation and even though the County admits the fees may never actually build anything and affordable housing on the Peninsula is in great demand. (06.13.12)
• Planning Commission Recommends Affordable Houses Be Built On-Site
  The Planning Commission, at its May 30th meeting, recommended that all affordable housing units be built on-site, instead of accepting in lieu fees for the units, unless an alternative site is found on the Peninsula. The housing, per the proposal by Commissioner Martha Diehl and the County’s ordinance, would need to be for moderate, low, and very-low income levels. (05.30.12)