LandWatch State of Monterey County Report 1998
1.2 Executive Summary: Recommendations

To address these disturbing trends, LandWatch's recommendations are generally aimed at slowing down the random, uncoordinated development throughout Monterey County in order to further assess the appropriate and specific measures that will prevent the deterioration of our quality of life. LandWatch recommends the following actions:

• Monterey County and the cities should enact immediate moratoria on any new subdivisions (greater than 25 units and not already legally vested) and General Plan amendments, until the cumulative impacts identified in this report are analyzed, mitigation measures approved, and General Plans adopted that are consistent with sound planning goals.
  
  
• Likewise, the Monterey County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) should not approve any further annexations until this assessment is complete and the problems identified in this report are addressed.
  
  
• Monterey County and the cities that have not updated their General Plans in the last five years (Carmel, Greenfield, Sand City, and Monterey) should update them.
  
  
• State law requires the County Planning and Building Inspection Department to provide an annual report to the legislative body on the status of the General Plan in its implementation [Government Code Section 65400(b)(1)]. It is a top priority for the County to respond to this legislative requirement immediately.

LandWatch believes these actions are a critical first step in assessing infrastructure constraints and funding requirements for sustainable growth as well as developing coordinated, comprehensive general plans to manage future growth.

Introduction