Land Use
3705 Rio Road:
The proposal by Foothill Partners to build a commercial retail development on approximately 3.8 acres of land located at 3705 Rio Road within the County of Monterey's Carmel Valley Master Plan Area has been withdrawn.
Our understanding is the the property, which is located in the 100 year flood plain, has been purchased by a local person with the intent of building condominiums or apartments. We'll keep you informed as we learn more.
September Ranch:
September Ranch, now renamed and advertised as ONE Carmel, is moving through Phase 1 of its development as a residential community. According to the local manager, the project is close to clearing all of almost 200 conditions imposed by the County and has applied for a grading permit to start roadwork and prepare home sites for sale.
Phase 1 includes 33 residential lots and the construction of on-site affordable housing units, located on the eastern side of the ranch. The plan is to sell lots to individual buyers for market rate homes. The main entrance to the development will be directly across from Brookdale Drive, and Carmel Valley Road will be widened along the frontage of the ranch to add a middle turning lane like other segments of the road.
The red stakes that recently appeared in the ranch pasture are part of the grading plan. On timing, the manager estimates that it will take about a year of work before any lots are ready for sale. Funding for the project is from investors in DL Holdings Group Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Project Map as Currently Proposed
Palo Corona/Rancho Cañada Park Expansion:
The acquisition of the former Rancho Cañada golf course for protection by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District securess water for wildlife, helps prevent flooding, and provides new opportunities for recreation.
The land, which includes a mile of river frontage, absorbs water when the river runs high, protecting downstream neighborhoods from flooding. It is home to numerous threatened and endangered species, including steelhead, red-legged frogs, and tri-colored blackbirds. And it is part of a network of protected land stretching south 150 miles from Carmel to San Luis Obispo.
The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District has moved its headquarters to the former golf course and oversees its restoration. A network of trails provides access to the river and connects to the parklands accross the river. The district and the local Santa Lucia Conservancy plan an outdoor classroom and environmental education programs for visitors and school groups.
Also important for the water-starved Monterey Peninsula, public ownership allows water formerly used for irrigation is returned to the river, protecting native steelhead by stabilizing flows downstream.
The existing clubhouse serves as Palo Corona’s and the district’s headquarters, provides offices for like-minded non-profits, space that can serve as an command center during fire and flood emergencies, banquet rooms to host events like weddings, and meeting space for our community’s civic organizations.
The Rancho Cañada Unit’s trails will connect with the existing Southbank Trail, may provide access to the Big Sur Land Trust’s Odello East (formerly Mr. Eastwood’s farm, immediately east of Highway 1), and Palo Corona’s units which the district calls the "Front Ranch" and “Back Country.”
The back country parcel appeared unchanged, with existing trials and some added camping opportunities.
A Message from MPRPD General Manager, Rafael Payan, received February 22, 2018:
MPRPD recently received, signed, and submitted the financial grant-related agreements to the respective State agencies that generously awarded us funding for the acquisition of the Rancho Cañada property.
Each grant's purpose and intent includes: acquiring the Rancho Cañada property; substantially reclaiming, restoring and sustaining the site as native habitat; and providing compatible environmental education and passive recreation opportunities that minimize or eliminate potential negative impacts to the site's soils, plants, animals, and water features. A key goal with respect to this property's acquisition is to reintroduce common, threatened, and endangered native flora and fauna.
Several uses that have been explored are unfortunately incompatible with the property's and grants' intended purposes. Activities that may inevitably or unavoidably result in the repeated trampling of restored habitat, and/or disturbance of extant and reintroduced native flora and fauna will not be allowed. To further this goal, MPRPD is carefully identifying trail corridors geared to keeping people on-trail.
More information at palocorona.org.
Partners on the project included the Santa Lucia Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District.
[From Trust for Public Land www.tpl.org, photo by Carmel Realty]
Property Adjacent to Carmel Middle School:
The vacant field on the west side of the middle school, previously proposed for affordable housing, has been purchased by the Carmel Unified School District. We understand that atheletic fields are proposed for the property.
There is a partially completed flood control trench on the east side of the property, which was intended to drain flood waters comming downfrom the Rio Vista into the river, preventing flooding of properties to the south of Carmel Valley Road. Flooding from Rio Vista in the mid '90s caused severe damage to properties along Rio Road, including the Crossroads and Mission Fields.
