From the Monterey County Herald Serving Monterey County and the Salinas Valley December 12, 2004 L E T T E R S   T O   T H E   E D I T O R Measure A misunderstood Editor: Dr. and Mrs. Avera's letter, "Trouble in forest" (Dec.1) provides valuable facts about Pebble Beach Company's pending application for major construction projects in Del Monte Forest. Many county and Del Monte Forest residents didn't understand the implications of Measure A, Pebble Beach Co.;s massive land-use initiative, passed by Monterey voters in 2000. Many still don't understand the major adverse impacts that will be created with the expanded commercial operations, new equestrian center and new golf course driving range. The destruction of more than 17,000 trees will create a significant impact. While Measure A does preserve tracts of forested land, a large portion could never be built upon and will always be open space. The most significant impact of Measure "A is that it allows for unlimited expansion of hotel operations. Measure A must still go before the Coastal Commission for a determination of consistency with the California Coastal Act. It is hard to believe it will be found consistent with the Act. If Pebble Beach Co.'s Measure A and development plans are approved by the County and Coastal Commission, residents in Del Monte Forest and surrounding communities will be confronted with far-reaching negative consequences. Ted R. Hunter Pebble Beach

From the Monterey County Herald Serving Monterey County and the Salinas Valley December 6, 2004 L E T T E R S   T O   T H E   E D I T O R Protect Del Monte Forest Editor: I can sympathize with the chagrin evinced by Dr. and Mrs. John B. Avera regarding the approval of the Pebble Beach development by the county subcommittee in its Dec. 1 letter. I suspect there are a few other county residents who also supported the Measure A initiative under the misapprehension they were protecting the Del Monte Forest. Those of us who have been following the company's development plans over the years have learned to read the fine print. Promoting Measure A, as an initiative was a deliberate maneuver to avoid the amendment process which would have been required under the operative local coastal plan. By gaining public approval through the initiative process, the company essentially forces the county to act as its advocate. I sincerely hope that all residents of the county will express their disapproval of this irresponsible destruction of the irreplaceable Del Monte native Monterey pine forest. Janice M. OBrien Pebble Beach

From the Monterey County Herald
Serving Monterey County and the Salinas Valley

December 1, 2004

L E T T E R S   T O   T H E   E D I T O R

Editor:

We read with much dismay that the Monterey County subdivision committee OK'd the Pebble Beach Co. development plan after voters "resoundingly" approved Measure "A". Perhaps the voters were not clearly informed about the plan they said "yes" to.

From conversations , it is apparent that most thought they were voting to preserve the diminishing Del Monte Forest. They were not aware that "open space" referred to golf courses as well.

Ironically, the draft environmental impact report shows 15,391 Monterey Pines, 1,769 coast live oak, 538 cypress and more than 250 others will be removed. The "preserved" 492 acres won't be connected, but instead small, scattered groupings of trees. This is bad news for a forest already weakened by reduced size, pitch canker, etc. Realistically, uninterrupted sections need to be set aside undisturbed.

Voters may not have known Sawmill Gulch, the equestrian center relocation site, was to be restored and left undeveloped in perpetuity in return for sand mining damage by Pebble Beach Co. in constructing Spanish Bay. The restoration was never completed; they are not honoring past agreements. Will they in the future? Our natural treasurers cannot be re-created.

Mitigations only offer a pitiful, insufficient replacement for a viable woodland habitat.

Dr. and Mrs.John B. Avera
Pebble Beach