Rancho Cañada
Village

Monterey County Supervisors Approve 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 9, 2021 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 will also 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