preserving, protecting, and defending the rural character
and natural resources of Carmel Valley since 1949
Carmel Valley Association
Weekly Bulletin
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Monterey County Planning Commission Approves Revised Plan
for Rancho Cañada Village
How we got here:
In 2016, developer Alan Williams submitted and had approved by the Board of Supervisors a proposal for a 130-unit development on the former Rancho Cañada golf course. CVA challenged the decision in Superior Court based on faults in the Environment Impact Report, the failure of the County to properly follow the requirements of the Carmel Valley Revised General Plan, and the fact that the proposed 20% affordable housing did not meet county requirements. CVA’s suit was successful, and we entered into negotiations with the developer with what we felt were positive results. However, this spring the Court of Appeals overturned the decision of the lower court, and the developer was free to proceed with his original plan.
We were pleased that Mr. Williams agreed to bring a revised plan, which incorporated many of the elements CVA had negotiated, back to the Planning Commission, which approved it on June 9th. It will next go to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
The following is from our June 9th letter to the Planning Commission:
Rancho Canada is authorized to build RCV with 130 units including 25 affordable housing units. However, in Alternative 6B the applicant has proposed a project with 145 units by increasing the Affordable Housing to 40 units (28%). He also will provide a 5-acre parcel zoned for Affordable Housing, with utilities and roadway brought to the site, construct 4 multi-unit buildings with a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms, and rent the apartments to local employees at moderate (28 units) and workforce (12 units) income levels. The Project has improved considerably since first presented. CVA supports the Rancho Canada Project as presented on June 9, 2021 to the Planning Commission, CVA believing that this is in the best interests of the Carmel Valley and its residents for the following reasons:
- The Carmel Valley Association has been in discussions with the applicant since January 2021. As a result of those discussions, CVA believes that the Project Alternative 6B will be a good project.
- The 40 units of affordable housing are designed to meet the housing needs of employees that already work in the Carmel Valley.
- The Project Alternative 6b achieves 28% affordable housing. While the project does not target the lower income categories, it does provide needed rental housing for local workers at the moderate and work force levels of affordability.
- The Project layout and design will produce a well-integrated affordable housing project that could set a high standard for design, integration and energy efficiency.
- CVA has established a positive relationship with the applicant for Rancho Canada Village. We will continue to be involved as the project moves along to ensure that all the conditions are met.
- The mitigation, design and infrastructure for flood control will improve the hazards of flooding and bring relief to the residents and businesses in the immediate area along Rio Road.
- Construction of Affordable housing will start within a year of completion of the infrastructure, ensuring that it has the same early priority as the rest of the project. While the timeline is that it will be ready for occupancy in five years, CVA is hopeful that the applicant will complete this with in a shorter timeline because of the demand for affordable housing.
The Carmel Valley Association appreciates your consideration of these comments.
Sincerely,
Priscilla Walton, President, Carmel Valley Association
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Firewise Defensible Space Homeowners' Bootcamp
On the heels of the first-ever evacuation of Carmel Valley due to wildfire, the state is entering one of the driest seasons in recorded history, which threatens to be the worst fire season to date. With that in mind, Robles Firewise Group will be hosting a free live and in-person defensible space “bootcamp” to inform home owners what they can do to better protect their homes from wildfire.
Join us on June 12, at the Carmel Valley Village Fire House, 26 Via Contenta for a 90-minute session that will include information, demonstrations, and prize drawings. Due to COVID restrictions, attendees are asked to pre-register at www.roblesfirewise.com. We are offering three “platoon” times: 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., 12:30-2:00 p.m. and 2:30-4:00 p.m. Tickets are free with a suggested $15 donation to cover the costs of the event; no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
The event will highlight a new defensible zone — the Immediate Zone, otherwise known as the Ember-Resistant Zone — which is from 0-5 feet from a house or structure. Two companies that specialize in home hardening will present tips and strategies that homeowners can immediately utilize to harden their homes, and a burn trailer will demonstrate the vulnerability of common attic/soffit/foundation vents. Relevant agencies and organizations will be onsite including:
- Monterey County Regional Fire District
- Monterey County of Emergency Services
- Cachagua Volunteer Fire Department
- Fire Safe Council of Monterey County
- Community Emergency Response Team
- Carmel Valley Garden Club
- Ember Defense
- Vulcan Vents
- Robles Firewise Group
Opportunity drawing grand prize: Ember Defense & Vulcan Vents will provide a complete retrofit of ALL air vents (attic, soffit and foundational) to the current WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) code of 1/16th mesh for up to 3000 square-foot house. Labor and materials included. Retail value of $5,000. (Cost of footage overages can be negotiated with the company).
This event is sponsored by Carmel Valley businesses including: Stonepine Estate, Valley Hills Nursery, Doug & Lisa Steiny: Sotheby’s International, Hawk Ridge, The Camp at Carmel Valley, M.J. Murphy Lumber and Hardware, Del Monte Fine Art, UPS Mid-Valley, and Aabha Indian Cuisine.
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Here's a web site to check to see
if your area is scheduled for a power outage:
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From the Big Sur Land Trust:
Stay healthy! Research continues to show that parks and open spaces provide health benefits beyond just physical exercise. Fresh air and organic compounds produced by trees may be a natural pharmacy that can help support our immune systems. Along with other important recommended precautions, none of us should forget our Vitamin N — Vitamin Nature!
If solo time in nature sounds right for you, visit our website and sign up for a self-guided hike on one of our spectacular conserved properties. In the meantime, to be cautious, we are suspending our guided hike program for the foreseeable future. We will let you know as soon as they are available again.
Be Well,
The Team at Big Sur Land Trust
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Issues of Concern to Residents of Carmel Valley |
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Make sure you are signed up to receive emergency alerts!
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Pris Walton, President
Carmel Valley Association
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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 weekly email Bulletin, which goes to over 1200 residents, and our quarterly Newsletter, which is mailed to over 7,000 valley addresses.
or reply to this email
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Header photo by
Carmel Valley Photographer
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