Report No. 1 -- RELOCATION OF EQUESTRIAN CENTER TO SAWMILL BORROW SITES See aerial photographs of the proposed Equestrian Center sites (below) Also see full text of the Equestrian Center Development Project Applications Also see April 2005 "Special Bulletin" listing effects on neighborhoods and see the developer's drawing of these sites This proposed project requires the Monterey County and California Coastal Commission to amend certain conditions of a County Use Permit related to the original Spanish Bay Resort development and a Coastal Development Permit issued by the Coastal Commission for the Spanish Bay Resort development. It also requires the amendment of two existing conservation easements on the Sawmill Borrow Sites. These easements on the Upper and Lower Sawmill sites were established for the preservation of open space forest, re-vegetation and low intensity recreation. The intent of the Coastal Commission was crystal clear: "a conservation easement in perpetuity for preservation of natural and scenic resources over the Hucklebery Hill Open Space." Beginning in 1995, about 10 years after the signing of the County and Coastal Commission easements, both the previous and current owners of Pebble Beach Company began attempting to overturn these easements. Why? To develop an equestrian center--a commercial enterprise.  Make no mistake about this project. The proposed new equestrian center is a huge commercial project. It requires the construction of a clubhouse, overnight dormitory building, covered arena, stall barns, accessory structures/facilities, housing for six families, the removal of 3,200 trees, hauling in 14,500 cubic yards of dirt--the equivalent of 1,600 round trip truck loads--and grading enormous quanties of soil. This proposed equestrian center will have a significant adverse impact on the surrounding residential neighborhoods in the Forest and in Pacific Grove's Del Monte Park area. The permanent portion of the equestrian center will be 2,000 feet from the residential area, however the special events areas will be 200 feet from the residential area. There will be 50 days or more (9 to 12 events) of equestrian events each year. Each event will have hundreds of horses, heavy diesel powered trucks, a few hundred cars, possibly overnight occupancy, dust, orders, etc. In addition the lower site will be used as a parking lot for special events such as the AT&T golf tournament, Concourse D'elegance and others. This will entail parking hundreds of cars, diesel powered busses to transport the visitors, dust and exhaust fumes. This was not even reviewed in the County's Environmental Impact Report (EIR). These uses are not within the scope of the existing easements. The surrounding neighborhood expected quiet open space in perpetuity not extensive, intrusive commercial activity. The EIR acknowledges that the use of the Sawmill Site easements represent a "Significant Impact" and proposed to mitigate them to "Less Than Significant" by just eliminating or modifying the easements. The Concerned Residents of Pebble Beach and Monterey County has urged the County Planning Commission, and will urge the Supervisors to reject the modification or elimination of the easements and reject the proposed equestrian center on this site. If the existing historic equestrian center must be moved, why hasn't the developer and the County provided alternate locations?

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SAWMILL GULCH BORROW SITE OF PROPOSED NEW EQUESTRIAN CENTER Photos credit © Ken Adelman California Coastal Records Project 2005 Huckleberry Hill S.F.B. Morse Drive up to Hwy 68   Views of Del Monte Forest area proposed for construction of a new commercial Equestrian Center   UPPER BORROW: Grading and tree removal have already damaged this area adjacent to the Huckleberry Hill Open Space which was assured to be preserved in perpetuity. Del Monte Park in Pacific Grove LOWER BORROW: Tons of decomposed granite were removed to construct the golf links for the Inn at Spanish Bay. County and Coastal Commission use permits required restoration and reforestation which has not been done. The remaining young trees would be removed for a parking area. Make no mistake about this project. The proposed new equestrian center is a huge commercial project. It requires the construction of a clubhouse, overnight dormitory building, covered arena, stall barns, accessory structures/facilities, housing for six families, the removal of 3,200 trees, hauling in 14,500 cubic yards of dirt--the equivalent of 1,600 round trip truck loads--and grading enormous quanties of soil.

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