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Monterey County Presentation to the California Coastal Commission
Field Trip to Del Monte Forest - May, 9, 2001

. The Board of Supervisors certified the Del Monte Forest Area Land Use Plan in 1987. In 1988 the Pebble Beach Company (PBC) submitted applications for 10 subdivisions and held community workshops that identified the need for a comprehensive build-out plan.

In 1990 the PBC submitted an amended application to include 15 subdivisions with a golf course in the Pescadero area that represented a vision for full build-out. After several iterations the final amended 1992 application ultimately proposed 235 acres for subdivisions (403 units) and a golf course, and 420 acres to remain in open space.

Between 1992 and 1996 an EIR was prepared and revised several times for the project identifying the Refined Alternative project (RA 2) as the least environmentally damaging alternative. This alternative moved the golf course from the Pescadero Area to the existing Equestrian Center and reduced the number of housing units to avoid impacts. Major issues involved removal of trees and sensitive habitat, land use conflicts, and local traffic impacts.

In the spring of 1999 the Monterey County Subdivision Committee recommended approval of the RA 2 Alternative to the Planning Commission in the midst of numerous public and agency comments. The California Coastal Commission comments focused on project consistency with the adopted Local Coastal Program and impacts to sensitive environmental resources, including tree removal and wetlands. In response to these concerns and the Bolsa Chica decision on wetlands, PBC, Monterey County, and state agencies embarked on additional studies prior to hearings before the Planning Commission. 

In the spring of 2000 the Pebble Beach Company was sold to a group of new investors whose new vision for future development intensifies the existing visitor serving uses at the Pebble Beach Lodge and the Spanish Bay Inn while retaining the previously proposed golf course. The vision significantly reduces the number of single family dwelling units previously proposed and significantly increases permanent open space. The Del Monte Forest Area Land Use Plan changes needed to accommodate the new plan were contained in the initiative Measure "A" sponsored by PBC and approved by the voters in November of 2000. (See Exhibit "A" for details of Measure "A")

On April 12, 2001 the Pebble Beach Company submitted preliminary applications for the Del Monte Forest Preservation and Development Plan, officially starting the process of applying to Monterey County for projects consistent with the amendments to the Del Monte Forest Area Land Use Plan contained in Measure A. The new plan proposes approximately 37 single family dwelling units, 60 employee housing units, 182 visitor serving units split between Spanish Bay and the Lodge at Pebble Beach, and 24 visitor serving units adjacent to the proposed golf course. The plan includes a new driving range near Spanish Bay and moving the equestrian center to the Saw Mill Borrow site as previously proposed. The specific details of the proposed in plan are shown in Exhibit "B".

Currently Monterey County and Coastal Commission staff are developing a strategy for submitting the approved Measure "A" to the Coastal Commission for their consideration consistent with the Coastal Act and processing the new applications. County and Commission staff have determined that information developed during the EIR process for the proposed applications will be needed to develop the criteria required by Coastal Commission for submission of Measure "A." Preparation of the EIR will need to occur prior to submission of Measure "A" to the Coastal Commission. See Exhibit "C" for a flowchart of the application and submission process.