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CONCERNED RESIDENTS OF PEBBLE BEACH

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

July 27, 2006

Dear Concerned Resident of Pebble Beach and Monterey County

As a valued supporter of the Concerned Residents of Pebble Beach we felt it was very important to write to you and describe what happened to Pebble Beach Company’s initiative, Measure “A”, at the June California Coastal Commission meeting.

As you probably know, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, at the request of the Pebble Beach Company, voted on June 13th to withdraw Measure “A” from the June 14th California Coastal Commission agenda. We were very disappointed by the withdrawal.

The basis for this request was that the Coastal Commission staff report created confusion by intermixing Measure “A” issues with the Pebble Beach Company’s proposed development plan. Measure “A” covers just major amendments to the Del Monte Forest Land Use Plan to allow major zoning and policy changes not development plans. In our opinion Pebble Beach Company recognized that it was about to suffer a defeat before the Coastal Commission and needed to prevent a Commission vote.

The Coastal Commission staff report clearly laid out the reasons Measure “A” was not consistent with the California Coastal Act. If there was confusion it was because Monterey County and Pebble Beach Company insisted--despite objections from us and the Coastal Commission staff--on processing Measure “A” and the development plan concurrently through the County system. They were responsible for the very action that they now say created confusion.

Peter Douglas, Executive Director, California Coastal Commission, told the Commission at the June 14th comment period that the staff was very disappointed by the County’s withdrawal of Measure “A” because they spent literally thousands of hours preparing the report and working with their biologist and with others who provided input into the staff recommendations. Also, the withdrawal was costly to the Commission and the public because of the loss of a hearing and action day.

Both Measure “A” and the Pebble Beach Company’s application for development were sent to the Coastal Commission concurrently; however, the Commission made the decision to separate them and hold a public hearing only on Measure “A” in June.

Charles Lester, Deputy Director, Central Costal District Office, commented that Measure “A” is a project driven amendment and the staff has always been clear on that. He also didn’t think the Coastal staff had been confused on that issue; the staff’s recommendations went into some length on that and the staff report was framed in that way.

So, what will happen next? Frankly, we don’t know.

The County doesn’t yet know how it is going to handle the problems they created with their abrupt “urgency action” withdrawal on June 13th.

Clearly, the Coastal Commissioners and their staff were ill treated by the County and Pebble Beach Company. Based upon comments made by Peter Douglas it seems a highly probability that if Measure “A” is re-submitted it will be placed at the bottom of the priority list because of other significant land use plans and issues from other jurisdictions awaiting Commission action.

Measure “A” was written in such a way that no changes can be made to the initiative by the Board of Supervisors; any changes will require another vote of Monterey County voters. In our view the County can not bring a modified version of Measure “A” back to the Coastal Commission for action unless the modifications are approved by the voters.

The Supervisor’s action on June 13th created its own confusion and has placed both the County and Pebble Beach Company on the horns of a dilemma. It will undoubtedly take some time for the County to work through the problems they created.

In the meantime the Del Monte Forest is safe from the proposed excessive commercial development plans of the Pebble Beach Company. However, it will require that we continue our work and have your support to help protect the Forest and residential community. We will be posting the latest information on our web site (www.cr-pb.org) as it becomes available. Please check the web site periodically.

We wish to again express our gratitude to you for your support through the years. We look forward to your support in the future.

With sincere thanks,

s/ss/s
Ted R. Hunter     Carl E Nielsen