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P.B. Co. hosts tour of forest, development sites

PHOTO/PAUL MILLER

The CARMEL PINE CONE Your Source For Local News, Arts, and Opinion Since 1915 February 20-26, 2004 PINE CONE STAFF REPORT  THEY TROMPED through mud, followed narrow, forested trails, braved old quarry sites, searched for endangered plants, gazed at stunning ocean vistas, were serenaded by frogs and spent hours in tour buses &emdash; all to get up to speed on the environmental impacts of the Pebble Beach Company's plans for a new golf course, equestrian center, 33 homes and approximately 160 hotel rooms in Del Monte Forest. About 70 people took the 24-stop, all-day tour Wednesday, led by senior county planner Thom McCue. "Visiting all the sites was very beneficial," said Jeff Cuskey, chair of the land use committee of the Del Monte Forest Property Owners association. "I think the areas of concern will be moving the equestrian center and the loss of trees for the new golf course." "We've gotten a positive response from about 80 to 90 percent of the people," said Alan Williams, who is spearheading the development project for the P.B. Co. "When the voters passed Measure A [in November 2000], they said they want fewer homes and more open space, and that's what we're giving them."

Even a longtime opponent of the company's plans, Ted Hunter, was full of praise for the way the county handled the tour.

"I think McCue did a fantastic job explaining everything," Hunter said. "He's a very unusual county employee."

The president of the Del Monte Forest Foundation, Paul Woudenberg, was also enthusiastic. "We'll be getting 492 acres of new open space in the deal &emdash; but the thing that makes me really excited is this will be the end of development in the forest."

Consideration of the plan now moves to the Del Monte Forest Land Use Advisory Committee, which will have its first hearing March 11 at 9 a.m. at the P.B. Community Services District meeting room.

The county is also soliciting comments on the EIR at mccuet@co.monterey.ca.us.