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Community participation is integral to the process and a broad-based, inclusive community engagement program will help provide opportunities for everyone in Monterey to have their say. Read more below to learn about the project, the timeline, and ways to get involved. Sign up on the top right of this page to stay informed via email.
Watch a short video to learn more about the key phases of Housing Elements: Housing Element Explainer 2022
Help Build A Housing Plan for Monterey!
Monterey 2031 is an important citywide project that involves updates to the Housing, Land Use, and Safety Elements of the City of Monterey General Plan to respond to emerging issues and new State laws. The update will be a collaborative effort between the City and its residents to create a blueprint that will guide Monterey in the years to come. All cities and counties in California are required by law to have a general plan. Like other communities in the Monterey Bay Area, the City is required to update the Housing Element of the General Plan by December 15, 2023 to address demographic trends, market conditions, and new State laws. Amid the ongoing housing shortage in California, Monterey is required to plan for 3,654 new houses over the next 8 years to accommodate this projected need. The Land Use Element will need to be updated to ensure consistency with the 2019 Monterey Regional Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. At the same time, State law triggers requirements to incorporate new data on natural hazards and climate change into the Safety Element along with actions to strengthen community resilience and emergency evacuation capacity.
Critical issues to be addressed in the General Plan Update include:
Community participation is integral to the process and a broad-based, inclusive community engagement program will help provide opportunities for everyone in Monterey to have their say. Read more below to learn about the project, the timeline, and ways to get involved. Sign up on the top right of this page to stay informed via email.
Watch a short video to learn more about the key phases of Housing Elements: Housing Element Explainer 2022
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Share City Council Approves the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update and Certifies the Environmental Impact Report: Approved Housing Element Revisions Posted Online for 7-Day Public Review on Facebook Share City Council Approves the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update and Certifies the Environmental Impact Report: Approved Housing Element Revisions Posted Online for 7-Day Public Review on Twitter Share City Council Approves the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update and Certifies the Environmental Impact Report: Approved Housing Element Revisions Posted Online for 7-Day Public Review on Linkedin Email City Council Approves the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update and Certifies the Environmental Impact Report: Approved Housing Element Revisions Posted Online for 7-Day Public Review link
Share Planning Commission and City Council to Consider Approval of the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update and Certification of the EIR at a Public Hearing on July 16, 2024 on Facebook Share Planning Commission and City Council to Consider Approval of the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update and Certification of the EIR at a Public Hearing on July 16, 2024 on Twitter Share Planning Commission and City Council to Consider Approval of the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update and Certification of the EIR at a Public Hearing on July 16, 2024 on Linkedin Email Planning Commission and City Council to Consider Approval of the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update and Certification of the EIR at a Public Hearing on July 16, 2024 link
On July 16, 2024, a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council will be held to consider adoption of the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update, an update of the Housing (2023-2031), Land Use, Circulation, and Safety Elements; certification of the EIR; and adoption of environmental findings, statement of overriding consideration, and mitigation and monitoring program. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at 7:00 P.M. or as soon thereafter as is practicable. The full agenda and agenda packet are available on I-Search Monterey: https://isearchmonterey.org/onbaseagendaonline/ Written comment: Members of the public may submit comment(s) to cityclerk@monterey.gov until ½ hour before the start of the meeting. These messages are not read aloud during the meeting but are made available to the meeting body and public at https://monterey.gov/submitted-comments. All comments received become part of the record.
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Share City of Monterey responds to inaccurate information contained in anonymous mailing titled “SAVE OUR WATERFRONT” on Facebook Share City of Monterey responds to inaccurate information contained in anonymous mailing titled “SAVE OUR WATERFRONT” on Twitter Share City of Monterey responds to inaccurate information contained in anonymous mailing titled “SAVE OUR WATERFRONT” on Linkedin Email City of Monterey responds to inaccurate information contained in anonymous mailing titled “SAVE OUR WATERFRONT” link
On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, City of Monterey staff was made aware that an anonymous author distributed a pamphlet by mail to a select number of City of Monterey residents. The mailer contains highly inaccurate information about the City’s Housing Element and zoning related to the state requirement that requires us to plan for 3,654 new houses over the next eight years to accommodate this projected need. It appears that the mailer was created to potentially delay the required update of the City’s housing element. To remind everyone: to provide new housing opportunities in the City is mandated by the State. The City of Monterey is required to plan for 3,654 housing units to be built within the next 8 years. The contents of the 3-page mailer, titled “SAVE OUR WATERFRONT," is copied below, with a City response to each of the statements. It is always our intention to be transparent, responsible and inclusive. We feel it is important to address the misinformation contained in this mailing. Under State law, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) must review and certify the City's 2023-31 Housing Element as complete. Since the April 30, 2024, submittal of the Housing Element to HCD, the City has been working directly with HCD staff to adequately address any outstanding comments. The Revised Draft Housing Element is now available for public review before it is formally resubmitted to HCD for certification. The Monterey 2031 General Plan Update consisting of the Housing, Land Use, Safety, and Circulation Elements will be considered for adoption at a joint Planning Commission and City Council hearing tentatively scheduled for July 16, 2024. As we have done throughout this entire process, we encourage residents to participate in the public hearings. More information is available at https://haveyoursaymonterey.org/monterey2031.
BELOW IS A COPY OF A MAILED FLYER SOME CITY OF MONTEREY RESIDENTS RECEIVED IN THEIR MAILBOX IN JUNE 2024, AND OUR RESPONSE TO THE MISINFORMATION IT CONTAINS. THE MAILER CONSISTED OF THE WRITTEN CONTENT AND THE TWO MAPS. THE CITY’S RESPONSE IS IN ITALICS. COMMENT 1 IN MAILER: SAVE OUR WATERFRONT - The City of Monterey is in the process of adopting the 2023-31 Housing Element which proposes to rezone a section of the waterfront Area into the Downtown Specific Plan Area to permit the development of housing in the Waterfront Area. (Apartments/Condominiums> SECTION OF WATERFRONT AREA PROPOSED TO BE REZONED: On the Monterey Bay side of Del Monte Ave. between Camino El Estero and Washington St.
CITY RESPONSE TO COMMENT 1: The City does NOT propose to rezone the area along the bayside of Del Monte Avenue between Camino El Estero and Washington Street for residential uses. On Map 3-3: Opportunity Areas, a yellow line was shown to generally depict the opportunity areas; however, not all parcels within each opportunity area are a potential opportunity site for housing. The Downtown opportunity area is mapped on Map 3-4: Downtown Sites where individual parcels are identified as opportunity sites. As you can see on Map 3-4, there are no opportunity sites proposed on the bayside of Del Monte Avenue between Camino El Estero and Washington. The City can amend the Downtown opportunity area, outlined in yellow below, to clarify this intent. Map 3.4, page 38 - https://haveyoursaymonterey.org/17336/widgets/58946/documents/56479 COMMENT 2 IN MAILER: The Waterfront Specific Plan does not permit the development of housing.
CITY RESPONSE TO COMMENT 2: This comment is generally accurate with a minor correction. The City adopted a Waterfront Master Plan. Both the Waterfront Master Plan and the Coastal Commission certified Monterey Harbor Land Use Plan (Coastal Plan) do not allow residential uses on the bayside of Del Monte Avenue between Camino El Estero and Washington. For these reasons, the City is not proposing any opportunity sites in this area. COMMENT 3 IN MAILER: Nowhere in the 2023-31 Housing Element is it written this section of the Waterfront Area is to be rezoned into the Downtown Specific Plan Area; however, the 4 Maps in the 2023-31 Housing Element shows/indicates this is the City's intention to do so. Map 3-3: Opportunity Areas clearly shows the section of the Waterfront Area being in the Downtown Specific Plan Area. This area is where the vertical black line stops.
CITY RESPONSE TO COMMENT 3: The City of Monterey is not proposing to incorporate the Waterfront Area into the Downtown Specific Plan. See response above to Comment 1.
COMMENT 4 IN MAILER: 2023-31 HOUSING ELEMENT (3-11) states: "To facilitate housing development downtown, the following strategies have been incorporated into the Housing Element Action Plan (Chapter 4): * Program 1-C: Revise City policy and regulation to incorporate a clear statement that 100 percent residential projects are permitted throughout the downtown area, except on/adjacent to Alvarado Street per City Council resolution 21-129 C.S. The City of Monterey does need additional housing but not in the 2 block area of the Waterfront.
CITY RESPONSE TO COMMENT 4: See Response to Comments 1 and 3 above. COMMENT 5 IN MAILER: (CITY RESPONSE IN ITALICS)
HOW CAN YOU HELP STOP HOUSING IN THE WATERFRONT AREA
CITY RESPONSE TO COMMENT 5: Housing is not proposed in the Waterfront Area.
1. Spread the above information to family, friends, and business owners.
City Response: Do not share the flyer because it contains misinformation.
2. Immediately email the City Council opposing the rezoning of the Waterfront Area into the Downtown Specific Plan Area to permit the development of housing.
City Response: As always, let the City know if you have additional questions. Email suggest@monterey.gov with any questions or comments.
3. Email the cityclerk@monterey.org with your opposition to the rezoning starting Friday July 12th and request it to be posted in the public comments for City Council Meeting on July 16th.
City response: Gather factual data first and then make an informed decision. The information contained in the anonymous flyer is not accurate. Attend the joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council on July 16th voicing your opposition to the rezoning to permit the development of housing in the Waterfront Area. ADDITIONAL CITY RESPONSE TO COMMENT 5: The Monterey 2031 General Plan Update consisting of the Housing, Land Use, Safety, and Circulation Elements will be considered for adoption at a Planning Commission and City Council hearing tentatively scheduled for July 16, 2024. As the City has done through this entire process, we encourage residents to participate in the July 16, 2024, joint meeting. More information is available at https://haveyoursaymonterey.org/monterey2031. Map 3.3 is on page 35 of the Revised Draft of the Housing Element Volume 1 - https://haveyoursaymonterey.org/17336/widgets/58946/documents/56479
This map is on page 11 of the Downtown Specific Plan, posted at https://files.monterey.org/Document%20Center/CommDev/Planning/Downtown%20Specific%20Plan/20_0519-Downtown-P-Amend-Web.pdf
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Comments can be sent to the Planning Division by emailing Christy Sabdo, Senior Associate Planner: sabdo@monterey.org or mailing a letter to City of Monterey Planning Division, 580 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940. All comments received will be shared with the Planning Commission and City Council ahead of the public hearing planned in July 2024.
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On April 30, 2024, the City submitted the revised Draft 2023-31 Housing Element, updated to respond to HCD's comment letter of December 22, 2023.The revised Draft Element was made available for public comment between April 18 and April 30, 2024 during which time 56 comments on the content of the revised draft were received. A letter from the Monterey-Salinas-Transit recommended incorporating a revision to a policy in support of infill in locations with pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; a letter from the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) expressed support of the Element overall and recommended some revisions to programs to further support development feasibility; a letter from LandWatch reiterated opposition to development at Ford Ord; and fifty-three letters primarily from residents of the unincorporated area south of the City of Monterey expressed concerns for the cumulative impacts of housing development in the Highway 68 Area in combination with housing development pursuant to the County of Monterey Housing Element in the same vicinity. Given that the revised content of the Draft Element has been reviewed informally with HCD over the past several months, the City's submittal to HCD requests an expedited review of the Draft Element in anticipation of the scheduled hearing before the City Council on June 18, 2024. Cover Letter to HCD dated April 30, 2024
Volume 1 - Draft Housing Element Appendix A - Sites Inventory
Appendix A - Monterey Sites Inventory HCD Form
Appendix B - Needs Assessment
Appendix C - Housing Constraints
Appendix D - AFFH Analysis
Appendix E - Fifth Cycle Accomplishments
Appendix F - Additional Analysis and Information in Support of Housing Projections
Appendix G - Outreach Materials
Letters received during online posting, April 17 - April 30, 2024