Supporters submitted 18,000 signatures to overturn the decision on the MST / Whispering Oaks Project

Thanks to the many organizations including LandWatch, the Fort Ord Recreational Users, and Sustainable Marina and Seaside, over 18,000 signatures were gathered in hopes to overturn the Monterey County Board of Supervisors' July 12th decision to approve the MST/Whispering Oaks project. In order to get on the June 2012 ballot, 10,100 valid signatures are needed. With over 18,000 collected, the referendum will surely qualify for the ballot. This amazing effort underscores the public’s outcry against this poorly conceived and environmentally detrimental project.

The need for the referendum became clear on June 14th when, despite a LandWatch letter (600K PDF fileraising numerous legal issues for the project the Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 its "intent to approve" the project. The final decision to approve the project was made on July 12th despite myriad legitimate objections by local organizations, the city of Marina, and the public, protesting the development.

On August 5, 2011 LandWatch filed a lawsuit challenging the approval of the project by the County Board of Supervisors.

You can read the Petition for Writ of Mandate here (188K PDF file).

At this point, LandWatch attorneys at M.R. Wolfe & Associates thought an appeal to the Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA) was warranted in order to exhaust all administrative remedies for the lawsuit. LandWatch Executive Director, Amy White hand-delivered the letter (1.33M PDF file) to the Fort Ord Reuse Authority along with the $5,000 appeal fee on July 20th.

We will continue to update our members on this important issue and keep you informed. Thanks for your continued support!

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posted 08.12.11