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EQUESTRIAN
CENTER RELOCATION
With the construction of the proposed golf
course, the existing Equestrian Center uses would
be relocated to the upper and lower sawmill borrow
sites, in an area formerly used for sand mining.
The sawmill borrow sites are located in the
northern portion of the Gowen Cypress planning area
and comprise approximately 43 acres. The area is
bounded to the north, east, and south by the
Huckleberry Hill Natural Habitat Area, portions of
which include the S.F.B. Morse Botanical Reserve,
and to the west by LUP Development Area "D," which
is located outside the coastal zone.
Sand mining most recently was conducted for the
sand related to dune rehabilitation at Spanish Bay.
Restoration plans for the sawmill borrow sites
required by the Spanish Bay project have been
implemented, although the success rate has not
achieved expected results. The existing Land Use
Plan designates a portion of this area as
Residential, a portion as Institutional Commercial,
and a portion as Open Space Forest. Measure A
proposed rezoning this site to Open Space
Recreation, so the proposed relocation of
equestrian uses would be consistent. The terrain
slopes in a northwesterly direction with the two
borrow sites being separated by a small linear
terrace approximately 250 feet in width. The
vegetation is comprised mostly of young, replanted
Gowen cypress and Monterey pines with minimal
understory. The banks of the former quarry area
have experienced some erosion and are in need of
further rehabilitation. Approximately 7 acres of
Monterey pine forest (herbaceous subtype) occur in
this area. Activities would be similar to those
currently occurring at the existing, Equestrian
Center.
The following policy would apply to the proposed
development of the subject site:
92. Certain areas have been mined
for silica and other minerals and are will need
of rehabilitation. These areas are the most
suitable for more intensive development, as
compared with other forested and undeveloped
land. Consequently, those areas should be
assigned higher densities or permitted the
development of needed visitor accommodations,
recreation facilities, corporation yards, public
works facilities and neighborhood shopping
areas. The more intensive use of these areas
will also provide the incentive to rehabilitate
the previously mined areas and consequently
repair the damage.
The Equestrian Center will occupy both the upper
(17 acres) and lower (26 acres) Sawmill quarry
sites, approximately 43 acres of disturbed former
quarry operations. The horse stable and event
functions are located on the upper site, and the
field on the lower site will be used for outdoor
equestrian and other recreational activities,
temporary equestrian event staging, overflow
parking and other activities, as well as open
space. Forest residents will be able to use the
Congress Road corridor for direct access to the
proposed Center. Users from outside the Forest will
have direct access to the center via the S.F.B.
Morse Drive Gate, minimizing vehicular travel on
the primary visitor road, 17 Mile Drive, and in
residential areas of the Forest. See
Exhibit E-1 for site statistic
details.
Site access to the Equestrian Center is by a new
24 foot wide paved entry drive off S.F.B. Morse
Drive. On S.F.B. Morse Drive, left turn storage and
right turn acceleration lanes would be added into
and out of the new entry drive. The service road is
20 feet wide asphalt paving. The internal
circulation is to be decomposed granite for safe
horse husbandry and maximum surface water recharge
to minimize surface run-off.
The irrigated acreage of the lower sawmill site
is comparable to the irrigated acreage of the
existing, Collins Field turfed area, and will be
irrigate with reclaimed water to the extent
feasible. The amenities and structures at the new
Equestrian Center would serve approximately the
same number of horses and equestrians as the
existing Equestrian Center.
Relocating the Center's uses to the sawmill site
would have the effect of relocating much of the
equestrian activity on the trail system. According
to the Center's operating manager, the existing
trails receive light use from equestrian activity
(average of 10 horse trips of less than 1.5 hours
each per week for boarders, and an average of 12
horses per day of 1 hour total for escorted guest
rides).
Unlike the existing facility, this relocated
facility would offer immediate access to trails in
the Huckleberry Hill Natural Area that is
unencumbered with paved roads. Because the majority
of trail rides are less than one hour duration and
occur in close proximity to the Center, most riders
at the new Center will not come into contact with
traffic on paved roadways.
The existing Center has access to a small beach
(except during high tides) just south of Bird Rock
via a trail through Planning Areas U, N, and M. The
distance is 1.5 miles. The new Center would have
access to the larger Spanish Bay Beach area during
all tides via the existing Green Trail through
Monterey Peninsula Country Club property, a
distance of 1.5 miles.
Site Drainage. The proposed
relocated Equestrian Center lies within the Sawmill
Gulch Watershed and is well drained. The Center is
located at the base of a 105-acre portion of the
Sawmill Gulch Watershed. The site slopes to the
northwest, and is flanked on either side by
drainage.
Grading. Gabion retaining walls
would be used to limit the grading required on some
of the perimeter areas and minimize the erosion
potential. Cut and fill areas would be limited to
relatively low slopes (3:1) to minimize erosion
potential. Erosion control methods will be the same
as those proposed for the Project. Potential
pollutants to down stream watershed from site
runoff water would be controlled in grease traps
and other suitable devices.
The grading plan for the improvements at the new
Equestrian Center results in a need for
approximately 15,000 cy of fill material. This
material is proposed to be transported from The Inn
at Spanish Bay. A truck route has been established
for the hauling of soil (Congress Road to S.F.B.
Morse Drive to the entrance to the new center, thus
minimally impacting residential roads). The
construction impact is discussed in the
Transportation Analysis prepared for this
project by Fehr & Peers Associates. Inc., a
copy of which is on file with Monterey County.
Architectural Design. The
architectural design program is intended to provide
for an equivalent facility to the existing
Equestrian Center in terms of size and function.
The Lesson Tie-Stall Barn is a new concept to
provide safe saddling and grooming of lesson horses
by children and novices. It handles the same
population of horses as at the existing facility.
The covered riding arena is new. The overall fenced
ring, areas are somewhat less than at the existing
Center. The new Center would have one more lunge
ring than the existing Center (2 instead of 1).
This additional lunge ring would be covered for use
by boarders. Staff housing is the same as existing,
but is substantially improved. The new Center adds
a small clubhouse to the office facilities.
Building heights and setbacks would be per
applicable zoning. The buildings are to be sited
and/or screened to minimize visibility from S.F.B.
Morse Drive and Congress Road, both of which are
approximately a quarter mile away.
Horse Stabling Facilities. Horse
stabling facilities include 12 x 12 box stall
barns, 12 x 24 box with corrals, and open corrals.
Tack rooms and storage areas are built into the
stall barns. Wash racks are provided. A total of
174 horses could be stabled (a mix of privately
owned and school/trail horses). The buildings would
use simple shapes and soft roof forms and be
consistent throughout the facility. The exterior
materials would be predominantly wood and metal
with a natural finish. Roofs would be fire
retardant with a Class "A" fire rating, and use
earth tone colors. Skylights and solar collectors,
if present, are to be located so as not to be
visible from neighboring residences or from the
road. Perimeter, corral, and ring fencing would be
consistent with safe horse husbandry practices.
Landscaping. Native and drought
tolerant species would be used for landscape areas.
The design, maintenance and care of all trees,
shrubs and landscaping would be done in accordance
with the Forest Management Plan and the Biotic
Report prepared for the area. Irrigation with
reclaimed water is planned for the site to the
maximum extent feasible.
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