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Issue SH-29: ProtectIon of Monterey Pine Forest Habitat

SH-29.1 Protect Monterey pine habitat; consider all Monterey pine trees to be of equal significance: Amend the policies and standards governing Monterey pine, including the Forest Management Planning process, to clarify the importance of identifying, evaluating, and protecting pine forest habitat. Specific changes include: delete the definition of "significant" Monterey pine (currently those over 12 inches in diameter) in Del Monte Forest LUP policy 32, corresponding OSAC standards, and corresponding County Code sections. Also delete from these provisions the following phrase: "trees may be thinned to promote growth of neighboring trees" found in referenced OSAC Plan Forest Maintenance Standard for Shepherds Knoll (Parcel No. 4) Require maximum protection of identified pine forest habitat areas, including areas suitable for pine forest regeneration.

SH-29.2 Designate remaining large tracts of native Monterey pine forest as Open Space: Evaluate remaining vacant sites for potential preservation of Monterey pine forest habitat. At a minimum, redesignate and rezone the following areas:

A. Area B portion that is not cleared or roadway to Open Space Forest (RC)

B. Area C to Open Space Forest (RC)

C. Areas F-l, F-2, and F-3 to Open Space Forest (RC)

D. Area G to Open Space Forest (RC)

E. Area H to Open Space Forest (RC)

F. Areas I-l and I-2 to Open Space Forest (RC)

G. Area J to Open Space Forest (RC)

H. That portion of Area K west of Stevenson Drive to Open Space Forest (RC)

I. Area L to Open Space Forest (RC)

J. That portion of Area M that is not former quarry to Open Space Forest (RC)

K. Area N to Open Space Forest (RC)

L. Those portions of Areas PQR that are undeveloped to Open Space Forest (RC)

SH-29.3 Protect Monterey Pine Forest Habitat and Mitigate Unavoidable Impacts. Protect remaining Monterey pine forest by prohibiting non-resource dependent development in ESHA (unless otherwise allowed pursuant to a comprehensive habitat management plan incorporated into the LCP), mitigating impacts to ESHA, and providing for maximum restoration and management. See Recommendation SH 28-4 for details on amended policy framework necessary to protect ESHA.

SH-29.4 Prepare comprehensive Monterey pine forest management plan: Add an action to prepare a comprehensive Monterey Pine Forest Management Plan and Conservation Strategy to guide and regulate buildout and forest management so that the long-term conservation of the Del Monte Forest pine forest ecosystem, and each of its component subtypes, can be ensured and enhanced. The Plan should be coordinated with the recommended Asilomar dunes conservation and management plan (see Recommendation SH-3 1.2) and should include:

A. Standards for developing remaining vacant parcels;

B. Standards for additions to, improvements to, and replacements of development in the forest;

C. Identification of disturbed areas, by subtype, suitable for either restoration or development;

D. Identification of key areas for Monterey pine forest preservation and management, by subtype;

E. Consideration of a transfer of development credit program if review of remaining vacant parcels indicates that overall habitat protection would be better achieved if they were not developed;

F. Consideration of acquisition and other preservation methods;

G. On-going management and maintenance of the forest and the appropriate parties to undertake management and maintenance;

H. Items for future research and how to integrate the results of future studies into the management strategies; and

I. Methods of information dissemination.

SH-29-5 Retain interim protection of Monterey pine forest: Add a provision that does not allow removal of the Resource Constraint overlay on a parcel until the Monterey Pine Forest Management Plan and Conservation Strategy (pursuant to Recommendation SH-29.4) is complete and the underlying designation is (or is amended to be) consistent with the Strategy.

SH-29.6 Prepare guidance for evaluating Monterey pine forest: As part of carrying out the recommendation in Issue SH-1: ESHA Identification, SH-6 concerning mitigation ratios, and SH-15: Public Agency Coordination, add an action to prepare a Guidance document for Monterey Pine forest.

SH-29-7 Manage forests to address pine pitch canker: Add to required contents of Forest Management Plans: Examination of all trees potentially infected with pitch canker in order to identify and map all healthy (i.e., non-symptomatic) and/or disease-tolerant trees. Include recommendations to address any trees infected with pine pitch canker, including proper disposal if they are removed, based on latest scientific information and recommendations of Pitch Canker Task Force.

SH-29.8 Support comprehensive Monterey pine management: Add an action to support and participate in, to the extent that resources allow, initiatives to coordinate management of Monterey pine forest and continue research aimed at understanding and protecting Monterey pine forest.

See a MAP of these Areas, Residential Lots and Commercial Development