EIR SCOPING MEETING TODAY: Proposed Villas de Carmelo Project

ABSTRACT: A PUBLIC NOTICE from Monterey County Resource Management Agency, Planning Department, is transcribed; the Notice notifies the public of a public scoping meeting on the proposed Villas de Carmelo project on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 5:00 P.M. at the Monterey County Planning Department, 168 West Alisal Street, second floor, Monterey Room, Salinas, CA. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Report for the Villas de Carmelo project from members of the public and interested public agencies. The EIR is anticipated to address the following issues: aesthetics, air quality, alternatives, biological resources, cultural resources, cumulative impacts, geology, growth inducement, hazardous materials, hydrology/water quality, land use, noise, population/housing, public services/utilities, traffic and water supply. A notice of preparation (NOP) has been prepared for this project; copies of the NOP are available for public review and inspection and written comments on the NOP will be accepted through the close of the public review period on August 11, 2008.

Monterey County
Resource Management Agency

Planning Department

168 West Alisal St., 2nd Floor, Salinas, CA. 93901
(831) 755-5025 Salinas Office, (831) 883-7500 Marina Office

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that one public scoping meeting will be held by the County of Monterey Planning Department regarding the matter described below. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. at the Monterey County Planning Department, at 168 West Alisal Street, on the second floor, in Salinas in the Monterey Room.

The purpose of the meeting is to solicit comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Report for the Villas de Carmelo project from members of the public and interested public agencies.

SCOPE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED VILLAS DE CARMELO PROJECT – LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF HIGHWAY 1 IN THE UNINCORPORATED COASTAL ZONE OF MONTEREY COUNTY, BETWEEN HIGHWAY 1 AND VALLEY WAY IN CARMEL, CALIFORNIA: The project (PLN0700497/Rigoulette LLC) consists of proposed development on the 3.68-acre, former Carmel Convalescent Hospital site. Proposed development would include the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the existing 11,500 square-foot hospital structure on-site and demolition of the two existing ancillary structures. The proposed project also involves amending the Local Coastal Plan to allow a subdivision to include a mix of 46 market-rate and affordable residential units (to be known as Villas de Carmelo). The plan calls for the existing hospital structure to remain with the construction of new two and three-story structures. There is an existing easement providing access to Highway 1 that would be abandoned so the project will be designed with access on Valley Way. Traffic safety improvements will be required at the intersection of Highway 1 and Valley Way. Project entitlements will include, but not be limited to, Local Coastal Plan Amendment and Rezoning to change the land use designation from Medium Density Residential to High Density Residential, Tentative Subdivision Map, and Coastal Development Permits (e.g.; tree removals, etc). The applicant is Carmel Hospital Development LLC. The County staff has determined that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) shall be prepared for the project. The EIR is anticipated to address the following issues: aesthetics, air quality, alternatives, biological resources, cultural resources, cumulative impacts, geology, growth inducement, hazardous materials, hydrology/water quality, land use, noise, population/housing, public services/utilities, traffic and water supply.

ANY AND ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE HEREBY invited to attend this scoping meeting for the purpose of being heard thereon. The public will be provided an opportunity to submit oral and written testimony.

A notice of preparation (NOP) has been prepared for this project. Copies of the NOP are available for public review and inspection at the County of Monterey, Planning Department. Written comments on the NOP will be accepted through the close of the public review period on August 11, 2008. Submit written commits on the NOP c/o Liz Gonzales, County of Monterey Planning Department, 168 W. Alisal Street, 2nd Floor, Salinas, California, 93901.

CARL HOLM
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR