From the Monterey County Herald
Serving Monterey County and the Salinas Valley

March 9, 2006

L E T T E R S

Editor:

During the renovation of the Forest Lake reservoir, the nearby residential area was inundated with clouds of dust, the constant noise of trucks and equipment and all-day traffic delays on our narrow roads.

The infrastructure of Pebble Beach will certainly not support the necessary trucking to build another golf course, plus more hotel accommodations. I would ask the coastal commissioners to consider the residents when making decisions regarding these projects.

Measure A was voted on by people throughout Monterey County who were not aware of the impact this rezoning would have on our only large stands of Monterey pine forest and the wildlife that is protected here.

The Coastal Commission protected this area with a designation of environmentally sensitive habitat, and I trust it will continue to understand the importance of conserving this forest for future generations rather than bend to the developers who will most certainly destroy this special place.

Shirley Winter Wylly
Pebble Beach

Editor:

Public snowballed

The public was deceived when they were snowballed with Measure A. Pebble Beach Co. told us that they wanted to protect the threatened Monterey pine forest.

Sharon Blaziek
Pacific Grove

Editor:

The Pebble Beach Co.'s plan to develop another 18-hole golf course, 160 visitor suites and 33 residential lots in the Del Monte Forest is important due to its impact on the forest, the largest intact coastal forest of Monterey pines in the world. It is designated an environmentally sensitive habitat area. It is one of the most beautiful aspects of our environment on the Peninsula and is home to many animals and plants, some of which are threatened species. I live less than a mile from the proposed golf course and there are 17 other courses within 15 miles.

The Pebble Beach Co. received conservation easements in 1982 with clear understanding that Spanish Bay would be the "last" Pebble Beach Co. golf course. The present proposal runs roughshod over this agreement and could set a dangerous statewide precedent if developers are allowed to destroy this sensitive area and rewrite conservation easements that are supposed to protect land in perpetuity.

Virdette L. Brumm
Pebble Beach

Editor:

I and many of my friends and neighbors have hiked in the Del Monte Forest for years, and we love this place. On one hand, the proposed development would destroy significant portions of the largest open-space resource for the people of the Monterey region. On the other hand, it would provide another golf course and more luxury housing on the Peninsula. Last time I checked, we had plenty of both.

The proposal seeks to alter conservation and scenic easements entered into during the Spanish Bay development in 1986, which has far-reaching implications for land management throughout the state and the country, as it would turn the concept of conservation easements on its head.

Kevin Weng
Pacific Grove

Editor:

In 1982, the Pebble Beach Co. gave a legally binding promise as part and condition of a larger agreement that gave it certain special rights that it would build no more golf courses and preserve the remainder of the land. Allowing the company to break such a promise would set a dangerous precedent for everyone else with such a contract who changed their minds.

What's the value of any agreement if it can be easily broken? I feel very disturbed and sad that this even could become an issue.

Sigrid McLaughlin
Santa Cruz

Editor:

Friday's article about the Pebble Beach Co. winning an injunction against a replica golf course mentions such words as "integrity," "goodwill" and "reputation." I would ask the company to honor its integrity, goodwill and reputation by keeping the promise that if they were allowed to build Spanish Bay, they wouldn't try to build another golf course.

Cathy Anaya
Marina