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We Want to Hear from You!
We depend on our readers to keep us up-to-date on Valley issues and events. Let us know your thoughts about the issues facing our Valley by sending an email to
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Carmel Valley Community Youth Center
Anunual General Meeting
Tuesday, January 24, 6 p m
Carmel VAlley Community Youth Center
25 Ford Road,
Carmel Valley
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Explore the World of Wine with
FRIENDS OF CARMEL VALLEY LIBRARY
14TH WINE LOVER'S DELIGHT FUNDRAISER
The Friends of Carmel Valley Library are excited to announce our 2017 Wine Lover's Delight! This is the primary fundraiser in our calendar year, and allows us to support the Buckeye in a number of different ways.
Saturday, January 28 at
5:00 PM
RSVP Required
This event has always sold out in advance, so reserve your place early by purchasing tickets online at
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Senior Luncheon
1st Monday of February
11:30 am
Carmel Valley Community Center
This is a monthly event free to all seniors in Carmel Valley.
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Lessons Learned
On and Off the Field
February 4, 10:15 a m, Carmel Valley Library
Jim Tunney, NFL Referee and Educator.
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Historical Society Events
March 11 - Annual Meeting
4 - 6 pm
April 29 - 30th
Anniversary Celebration Reception 2 - 4 pm
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Come and Share the Wonders of
Point Lobos
Easy Access Adventures!
Visitors of all abilities are invited to experience the Easy Access Trails at Point Lobos. You are welcome to tour at your own pace, whether you walk fast or slow, are pushing a stroller or walker, using a cane or wheelchair.
We also have a presentation that we can show to your group or staff at your
location.
Saturday, Jan. 21
10am to 12pm
Whaler's Cove/Granite Point Trail (WC/GPT)
Wednesday, Feb. 1
10am to 12pm - WC/GPT
Saturday, Feb. 18
10am to 12pm - WC/GPT
Wednesday, Mar. 1
10am to 12pm - Bird Island
Saturday, Mar. 18
10am to 12pm - Bird Island
Wednesday, Apr. 5
10am to 12pm - Bird Island
Saturday, Apr. 15
10am to 12pm - Bird Island
Highlights at Bird Island - Nesting Brandt's & Pelagic Cormorants, Black-crowned Night Herons, Pelicans and Gulls - Harbor Seals (pups April & May) and Otters - Picnic Area
Highlights at Whaler's Cove Area (WC/GPT) - Granite Point & Carmelo Meadow
Easy Access Trails, Whaler's Cove & Museum - Harbor Seals (pups April & May),
Otters, Birds - Picnic Area
For more information, see www.pointlobos.org
- or contact Melissa Gobell, Docent Program Coordinator
or 831 625-1470
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Header photo by
Carmel Valley Photographer
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Two More Questionable Applications!
Please Send Comments to the County
Val Verde Drive Project Draft Environmental Report
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Developer Brian Clark has completed a draft Environment Impact Report for his project for 31 units on 7.92 acres of farmland on Val Verde Drive. The public has until January 23rd to comment.
We expect to submit CVA comments early next week, and will post them on our web site when they are complete. Here are some of the points we expect to include:
The project doesn't meet the affordable housing requirements of the Carmel Valley Master Plan and the County General Plan.
The project exceeds the number of units allowed in Carmel Valley under the legal settlement agreed to by CVA and the County.
The completed project would add over 300 daily trips to already over capacity Highway One.
Thirty one families would be added to a high risk flooding area. The installation of a 6 foot flood wall would add risk to downstream residents and businesses.
There is no guarantee that the residents of the 31 units would not exceed the water demand assumed by the EIR.
The project would adversely impact the rural nature of the Carmel Valley. It will turn its existing rural character as an agricultural production site into an urban site. Keeping the site in agricultural production would adhere to CV Master Plan Policy CV-1.1 which would maintain the agricultural character of the area.
These lands are currently used by local organic farms and serve and maintain the rural character of the Carmel Valley. Converting these plots of land into 31 units does not maintain the rural character of the Carmel Valley.
We encourage Valley residents' to make your voices heard on this proposal.
Send you comments to planner is Bob Shubert,
email:
SchubertBJ@co.monterey.ca.us
The project designation is Carmel Rio Road Subdivision (PLN140089).
Comments must be received by the county by January 23rd.
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CVLUAC Recommends Denial of Special Events at Hilltop Ranch
On Tuesday the Carmel Valley Land Use Advisory Committee (CVLUAC) heard the application from Cima Colina Winery to use its vineyard off of Carmel Valley Road for activities that are allowed at its tasting room in the Village. Members asked County Planning staff to explain how the previous application for special events at its vineyard which is off a private road in a residential area morphed into the current application to allow existing activities at the tasting room at an off-site location. Staff explained that this was a new application and was not related to the previous application. It wasn't until a
neighbor asked about the previous application that CVLUAC learned that it
was still pending. The CVLUAC had heard the previous application months
ago and asked for studies on noise and traffic before we made a
recommendation. The applicant's representatives indicated that Cima Colina was still pursuing the previous application.
Carl Holm, Director of the Resource Management Agency, made a determination that policies related to the wine corridors in the Salinas Valley provided guidance for the new application in Carmel Valley. The CVLUAC noted that not only was transferring those policies to the Carmel Valley not supportable, those policies limited wine tasting rooms to the vineyards (on-site) and do not apply to off-site wine tasting rooms.
Basically, the new application was being interpreted as though the
activities at the existing wine tasting room would not create new
impacts off-site. Staff was asked for data related to existing activities at
the Village wine tasting room to determine off-site impacts. No data
were provided. When asked how a traffic study could be done without
data, the applicant's representative indicated that there would not be enough traffic to raise the Level of Service (LOS) between Esquiline and the vineyard to unacceptable levels. LOS in the Village is already at F, but the applicant said most of the traffic would be on other segments which are below standards.
Testimony also indicated that there is no agreement on use of a very
narrow private road going to the vineyard and that Cima Colina had
previously received a code violation for use of the road for a wedding at the vineyard.
Based on issues related to the private road, lack of legitimate traffic
data and no noise data, a questionable interpretation of SV wine
corridor policies to Carmel Valley, and a lack of transparency, CVLUAC
recommended denial.
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Sincerely,
Pris Walton, President
Carmel Valley Association
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Safely Dispose of Your
Sharps and Meds!
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Curious About CVA?
Carmel Valley Association is one of the oldest, largest, and
most successful community organizations in Monterey County. We are entirely volunteer, with no paid employees. Our mission is to defend the beauty, resources and rural character of our beautiful valley. We do that by working with residents, businesses, and government.
CVA was instrumental in the adoption of the Carmel Valley Master Plan and recently settled a lawsuit with Monterey County regarding traffic measurement and capping future development on very favorable terms for our valley. Our volunteer experts represent Carmel Valley's interest, testifying before governmental bodies concerning development, water, traffic, road signs, and other quality of life issues.
We keep valley residents informed about important issues and events with our online Calendar, our weekly email Bulletin, which goes to over 650 residents, and our quarterly Newsletter, which is mailed to over 7,000 valley addresses
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To provide a venue for differing perspectives, we are starting to publish letters and guest commentaries in our E-Bulletin. Let us hear from you so that we can include your thinking in our deliberations.
Please limit your letters to no more than 250 words and commentaries to 600 words. We also encourage you to provide informational items, topical essays, and photos related to the Carmel Valley and the Carmel Valley Association's mission. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. Send your letters and comments to
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