Sunday, May 10, 2009

Mark Bayne (SOCNC): "...this project is not about preserving the old hospital, low income housing or altruism. It’s only about corporate profit."

ABSTRACT: At the City Council Meeting on May 5, 2009, during Appearances, Mark Bayne of Save Our Carmel Neighborhoods Coalition addressed the public and City Council. Bayne's remarks are transcribed. As part of his remarks, Bayne requested that the City “make its concerns known to the County Planning Department” regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Report on the Villas de Carmelo Project by June 5, 2009 as the project site is within the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s sphere of influence.

AGENDA
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
4:30 p.m., Open Session


VI. Appearances
Anyone wishing to address the City Council on matters within the jurisdiction of the City and are not on the agenda may do so now. Matters not appearing on the City Council’s agenda will not receive action at this meeting but may be referred to staff for a future meeting. Presentations will be limited to three (3) minutes, or as otherwise established by the City Council. Persons are not required to give their names, but it is helpful for speakers to state their names in order that the City Clerk may identify them in the minutes of the meeting.

Always speak into the microphone, as the meeting is recorded. The City Council Chambers is equipped with a portable microphone for anyone unable to come to the podium. Assisted listening devices are available upon request of the City Clerk. If you need assistance, please advise Heidi Burch as to which item you would like to comment on and the microphone will be brought to you.

Mark Bayne, Save Our Carmel Neighborhoods Coalition:
"Hello, I’m Mark Bayne, Carmel citizen."

"Madam Mayor, City Council Members. Have you seen the car lot type banners up on Valley Way and Hwy One at the former Carmel Convalescent site? This marks the site of a proposed massive development called Villas de Carmelo. It would be the same size, height and scale of our...Barnyard Shopping Center. Not only would the buildings be two and three stories, but if this application were successful, half of the trees on the project site would be clear cut. The Save Our Carmel Neighbors Coalition represents over 110 households in Carmel. Our volunteer group has gathered 1,800 signatures opposed to the proposed rezoning to high density to build 46 condos on the hospital site. We are not opposed to the adaptive reuse of the hospital or developing the site under Carmel’s Local Coastal Program and the current zoning."

"We are sure you’ve heard that the Leidig group is no longer involved, but the current owners, the McDowells, and New York real estate developers Widewaters are now the applicants. Widewaters is a corporate real estate developer best known for its strip malls and shopping centers. According to their website, their moto is “We never give up.” It is apparent that this project is not about preserving the old hospital, low income housing or altruism. It’s only about corporate profit. The hospital site is in Carmel’s sphere of influence. Our city government must be proactive in responding to establishing the dangerous precedent of rezoning in single-family residential neighborhoods. This will open the door for this newer developer and for other developers. Thank you for assigning Sean Conroy to monitor this project. We support the City and the capable planning that has taken place to protect the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea and its surroundings."

"The Draft Environmental Impact Report written by Denise Duffy & Associates has just been released. The deadline for public comment is June 5. After reading the DEIR, we are asking the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea to make its concerns known to the County Planning Department. The report is available online at the county website or at the Harrison Library. This massive proposed project would change Carmel and its neighborhoods forever."

"I am Mark Bayne from the Save Our Carmel Neighborhoods Coalition."

"Thank you very much."

(Source: Archived Videos, Regular City Council Meeting, May 5, 2009, 01:47:00 – 01:49:46)

ADDENDUM:
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE VILLAS DE CARMELO PROJECT
CARMEL, CALIFORNIA
VOLUME I: DRAFT EIR
April 2009

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

GO, GO, GO SAVE OUR CARMEL NEIGHBORHOODS COALITION! We must get all our letters, emails, faxes in by 5 p.m. Friday, June 5.

Anonymous said...

I urge all interested parties and all residents concerned about retaining our quiet, tranquil neighborhood to get comments into the County and attend the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors meetings on this out-of-scale, incompatible project in our neighborhood. All meetings will be in the county chambers in Salinas after the Final EIR is completed. Stay tuned.

Anonymous said...

We too support a quiet tranquil Carmel neighborhood. Now, if Mark Bayne could assist in keeping our neighborhood quiet and tranquil by turning down his nightly music and loud patio conversations, this would help us all on a more immediate basis.