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CONCERNED
RESIDENTS OF
PEBBLE BEACH
and Monterey County
a Non-Profit California Corporation
Dedicated to Preserving the
Natural Environment and Quality of Life in Del
Monte Forest and Peninsula
Communities
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September 24, 2002
Mr. Scott Hennessy
Director, Planning and Building Inspection
Monterey County
240 Church Street
Salinas, CA 93901
And
Thomas A. McCue
Senior Planner, Monterey County
2820 First Ave.
Marina, CA 93933
Subject: Input for Sept. 25th Scoping Meeting and
Consultants Preparing EIR on P.B. Co. Applications for
Development Projects in Del Monte Forest
Reference: Thomas A. McCue letter of Sept. 12,
2002 and our letter of April 12, 2002
Dear Scott and Thom,
Thank you for sending us the reference letter. Our
organization appreciates being invited to participate in
subject scoping meeting.
The enclosure covers our summary of significant issues
related to the 11 part application for major changes and
commercial development in the Del Monte Forest.
This material is provided in addition to the comments in
our April 12th letter on the County's Initial Study covering
the scope of work required for the subject EIR.
Sincerely,
/ss / ss/
Ted R. Hunter / Carl E. Nielsen
Enclosure
cc: Thomas A. McCue, Monterey County Senior Planner
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Sept. 24, 2002
CONCERNED RESIDENTS OF
PEBBLE BEACH
and Monterey County
Recommendations for Monterey County Scoping
Meeting for EIR
on Pebble Beach Co. Development Projects In Del
Monte Forest
Scope of Environmental Impact Report
This EIR will include proposed development
projects covered by the 10 part PB Co. Applications
submitted to the County on July 26, 2001 and the
separate July 31, 2001 Application Request Form
covering specific road changes and improvements at
the Highway 1 "Hill Gate" entrance to Del Monte
Forest.
Recommendations and Comments
To assure that the Del Monte Forest residential
community is properly considered and protected, it
is recommended that the EIR include mitigation
measures and changes in the proposed development
projects. It is expected that the EIR consulting
firm, Jones & Stokes, will consider the
following:
1. Phasing of construction work covered
by the 10 part application and Hwy 1 - "Hill Gate"
changes and road improvements. A schedule that will
control the timing of each of the various
construction projects needs to be established in
order to maintain a reasonable quality of life for
Forest residents.
Recommended Sequence of
Construction:
Hwy 1 - "Hill Gate" road improvements - Top
priority
New Equestrian Center - S.F.B. Morse Dr.
/Congress Rd. Area
The existing Scenic Easements on
the site of the proposed Center should
prohibit this commercial use of the property.
If the construction of the Center can be
modified and the easement areas can be
protected, the project should be scheduled
and completed before construction begins on
any other project.
Construction work on the remaining projects
should be scheduled separately to minimize the
truck traffic impact on the residential
community:
New Golf Course - Expansion of
Spanish Bay Inn - Expansion of The Lodge
Complex - New Golf Guest Suites (Spyglass
Hill) -New Golf Driving Range/Buildings
(Congress Rd. S. Bay area) - Employee Housing
(two locations) - New Residential Lots.
2. Existing Scenic Easements and
Wetlands.
The EIR should include an analysis and
complete report on existing easements and
wetlands in the project areas and
recommendations on how the proposed construction
projects require changes or alternate project
locations. (New Equestrian Center and New Golf
Course)
3. Traffic in and out of Del Monte Forest
during construction of the 11 projects and after
the PB Co. build out is completed.
The analysis as proposed by the County
"Topics for Analysis" document does not include
the need for phasing the construction of each
project and possible need for reduction in the
final expanded size of the Commercial Resort
Complex. Currently truck traffic in the Forest
has an adverse impact on the residential
community resulting from the current increase in
construction of individual owner's new home or
expansion projects. An analysis of the adverse
impact of the pending PB Co. construction
projects needs to include the current growing
truck traffic problems.
4. Environmentally Sensitive Habitat
including endangered plants, the Monterey
pines, and wetlands are covered in previous EIR and
other documents.
This new EIR should cover, in detail,
how the proposed new golf course, new driving
range, and new equestrian center can be
developed and still protect the sensitive
habitat.
5. Water for the new golf course and
driving range.
The EIR should provide a clear
explanation of the water issue with clearly
understood tables of data (historical, projected
with and without use of reclaimed water). Use of
potable water for these new golf projects would
not be in the interest of good public policy,
even if it is determined that PB Co. has a water
entitlement sufficient to irrigate these new
proposed facilities.
6. Balance of interests in Del Monte Forest
Residential/Resort Community.
The size of the residential community
and need for a peaceful area with a good quality
of life for the residents needs to be included
in the EIR. It should also address the impact,
(traffic, noise, congestion), the expanded
resort complex, with new commercial activity in
many areas of the Forest, will have on the
residential community. The increased traffic,
Corporate meetings and special events need to be
addressed.
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