Room Enough: METHODOLOGY: SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
CALCULATING DWELLING UNITS IN THE SPHERES OF INFLUENCE

In keeping with LandWatch principles, we next looked at the adopted Spheres of Influence surrounding the Salinas Valley cities. It was determined that development outside Peninsula city limits or Marina's Urban Growth Boundary was not needed to meet the housing needs on the Peninsula, based on the development potential at the Former Fort Ord. The preservation of agricultural land has a very high priority as does the provision of needed housing for County residents. Several adopted Spheres of Influence were therefore reduced in size to address LandWatch concerns. Those Spheres of Influence reduced in this process included those of the cities of Carmel, Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Salinas and Soledad.

DETERMINING IDEAL DENSITY IN SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
While LandWatch could recommend higher residential density, the study opted to look at medium density as defined by the existing Salinas General Plan: 11.75 dwelling units per acre. That figure was further reduced in the interest of providing space for neighborhood features such as parks, trails, schools, and some commercial interests.

The City of Monterey, generally given high marks for overall livability, was surveyed for its percentage of residential units to overall City area. We found that 70% of the City has a residential use. Applying the 70% to the 11.75 figure, the result was 8.22 units per acre. This percentage was applied to all land in the Spheres of Influence needed to provide additional housing.

Using the maps of Spheres of Influence from LAFCO, we identified the parcels within their boundaries, identified their status as Prime Agricultural or non-Prime Agricultural lands and used the acreages provided in the data from Monterey County. Using the 70% of Medium Density Residential figure, we calculated the number of dwelling units that could be built upon these parcels. In most cities, we found that only a portion of the adopted sphere was required to provide the needed housing; in those cities where land inside and outside the sphere was required, we classified the acreage accordingly.

We also identified the amount of Prime Agricultural land that would be required to provide needed housing. The determination of Prime Agricultural status was derived from the California State Department of Conservation maps. In the original Spheres, parcels are sometimes split; this study adhered to property lines, even when a portion of the property was outside the Sphere boundary.