UPDATE IV: Flanders Mansion Property: SALIENT POINTS AGAINST THE SALE OF THE FLANDERS MANSION PROPERTY

ABSTRACT: On the 3 November 2009 General Election Ballot, there appears the following question: “Shall discontinuance and abandonment of the Flanders Mansion Property (APN 010-061-005) as public parkland, and authorization to sell the Flanders Mansion Property "with Conservation Easements and Mitigation" as passed on May 12, 2009 by the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council by Resolutions No. 2009-30 through 2009-33, be approved.” A Summary of the SALIENT POINTS AGAINST THE SALE OF THE FLANDERS MANSION PROPERTY gleaned from Letters to the Editor and Editorial Commentaries between March 13, 2009 and October 9, 2009 are compiled and presented. REFERENCES consisting of links to the entire original letters and commentaries are provided.

SALIENT POINTS AGAINST THE SALE OF THE FLANDERS MANSION PROPERTY:
• “Bravo to those who support preserving this special piece of parkland so future generations can know of the work of this amazing woman (Lester Rowntree, author, plant collector, lecturer and early popularizer of California native plants for the garden) who died in Carmel in 1979 at the age of 100!” (October 9, 2009)

• “A precedent-setting sale of Flanders could empower current or future Carmel-by-the-Sea city councils to carve up more of the Mission Trail park. For starters, there are nine 40-by-100 lots in the native plant garden which could be sold and developed. Imagine the years of construction disruption, traffic congestion, noise and parking problems that would cause.” (October 9, 2009)

• “...the long battle to save the integrity of Carmel’s one lovely natural park, Mission Trail Nature Preserve. Without a doubt, the nature-loving artists, writers and musicians whose vision gave our town its original soul would turn over in their graves that the idea to sell a part of this treasure could gain any currency here. Though the mansion itself would not be to their taste, since “small is beautiful” expressed their value system, its location within the park and the potential for its use to serve as a venue to preserve and celebrate Carmel’s remarkable past would gain their enthusiastic support. To them it would be a no-brainer!” (October 9, 2009)

• “Back in 1987, when faced with another council’s intention to sell Flanders Mansion and adjacent Martin Meadow, a group of us, neighbors of the park, natives and enlightened newcomers, got together a petition and in a week garnered over 600 signatures to save the mansion and the meadow. It was an inspiring grassroots effort, and we got the city’s promise that they would not ever sell these treasures.” (October 9, 2009)

• “Over the years, there have been a number of suggestions as to a use for it. One, which is echoed by the Flanders Foundation, which is waging a further inspiring battle on behalf of the park, was to utilize the mansion as a library, heritage museum, natural history study center and small gathering place. It had the support of CSUMB and all the Monterey Peninsula’s living artistic luminaries. This is the use that cries out to be implemented.” (October 9, 2009)

• “A precedent-setting sale of Flanders Parkland could empower the current or future Carmel City Councils to carve up more of the Mission Trail Park…there are nine 40-foot-by-100-foot lots in the Native Plant Garden that could be sold and developed. Imagine the years of construction disruption, traffic congestion, noise and parking problems that would cause.” (10/05/2009)

• “Sell Flanders and a precedent is set to carve up another large chunk of our park. The public loses recreational, educational and environmental treasures.” (09/21/2009)

• “I always thought that the city leaders were to be stewards of the public's land, not the agents of their demise.” (09/21/2009)

• ”Land matters. If a piece of our city is taken away, if our parkland is sold off acre by acre, bit by bit, our community begins to lose the distinctiveness, and charm it once created.” (09/19/2009)

• “The park thus would lose its most dramatic area with incomparable views of the Carmel Mission, and the littoral of the Carmel River entering the Pacific with Carmel Bay and Point Lobos in the background.” (September 18, 2009)

• The Flanders Mansion Property “is so clearly a central part of the park that the wooden map signs at park entrances feature the Flanders Mansion as a prominent landmark.” (September 11, 2009)

• “Once the property is sold, this beautiful piece of our park is gone forever.” (September 11, 2009)

• “...substantive reasons for voting not to sell the Flanders Mansion property, including maintaining the physical integrity of Mission Trail Nature Preserve and retaining a National Register of Historic Places resource as a public asset...” (09/10/2009)

• “For over nine years, the mayor has refused to meet and confer with the Flanders Foundation to explore possible public uses; City Council members have failed to present persuasive reasons for the sale of the Flanders Mansion; and the sale of the Flanders Mansion Property would result in the loss of significant parkland that is considered an integral component of Mission Trail Nature Preserve.” (09/10/2009)

• General Plan goals and objectives: "To protect, conserve and enhance the unique natural beauty and irreplaceable natural resources of Carmel"; "Use, maintain, and enhance publicly owned land for the benefit of Carmel residents"; "Establish an acquisitions list when opportunities arise to obtain land and/or facilities within the Carmel city limits"; and "Develop, preserve and enhance areas of scenic interest." (09/07/2009)

• “...tragic to permit this irretrievable loss.” (09/07/2009)

• ”...if our parkland is sold off acre by acre, bit by bit, our community begins to lose the distinctiveness, and charm it once created.” (SEPTEMBER 03, 2009)

• General Plan encourages the city “to preserve, protect our forest and open space; conserve and enhance the irreplaceable natural resources of Carmel.” (SEPTEMBER 3, 2009)

• The City, since Sue McCloud was elected mayor, has “failed to look at lease options that keep the park public and achieve restoration.” (08/23/2009)

• The City, since Sue McCloud was elected mayor, has not “explored any viable uses” for the Flanders Mansion Property; five task forces “looked for uses” “11 to 30 years ago.” (08/23/2009)

• “Once parkland is sold, it is gone forever.” (07/13/2009)

• City has rejected offers to “lease and refurbish” Flanders Mansion from “numerous individuals and organizations” and City has failed to “avail itself of public or private grants.” (07/13/2009)

• City does not lack money to maintain or rehabilitate Flanders Mansion; City reserves $10 million, FY 2008/09 budget “$1.2 million in the black.” (07/13/2009)

• “No reason to sell” Flanders Mansion Property, a 1.25 acre parcel in the “heart of the park.” (7/13/2009)

• Encourages “all of good faith to join the committee to preserve and enhance Flanders Mansion, instead of selling it to a rich party-developer for personal gain.” (6/24/2009)

• Senses “some ulterior motive for the city not putting energy and foresight into Flanders.” (6/24/2009)

• Flanders Mansion a “jewel in the crown of Carmel;” it “could be as well-known and visited as the Carmel Beach and Ocean Avenue." (6/24/2009)

• “Win-win proposition” of a resident curatorship; City leases Flanders Mansion Property to an individual for life and upon death property reverts to the City. Resident curator restores Flanders Mansion at his/her expense and allows public access to Flanders Mansion Property at specified times. (5/8/2009)

• “...once Flanders is gone, it is gone forever.” (4/16/2009)

• Flanders Mansion is “a beautiful mansion situated in spectacular park setting.” (4/16/2009)

• Urges city government representatives and Carmelites in favor of selling the Flanders Mansion Property to meet with Carmelites opposed to selling the Flanders Mansion Property and “work out a solution that keeps this priceless property in the community’s hands.” (4/16/2009)

• Comparison made between what Flanders Mansion and Mission Trail Nature Preserve could be and Villa Montalvo, Gamble House, Filoli, Steinbeck House and La Mirada. (3/13/2009)

• City cites reason to sell Flanders Mansion Property based on need of “significant” repairs, yet the City had failed to apply for grants and meet with local groups during the last 10 years. (3/13/2009)

• Sale of parkland in the “heart of the park” “will damage the park irrevocably." (3/13/2009)

REFERENCES:
The Carmel Pine Cone, Letters to the Editor, October 9, 2009 (Move the garden? Mary Ann Matthews, Carmel Valley) 22A & 15 IYD

The Carmel Pine Cone, Letters to the Editor, October 9, 2009 (‘Be careful what you wish for,’ Robert E. Kohn, Carmel) 15IYD

The Carmel Pine Cone, Letters to the Editor, October 9, 2009 (The importance of parks, Linda Lachmund Smith, Carmel) 15IYD

The Monterey County Herald, Letters to the Editor, 10/05/2009, (Be wary of parkland sale, Robert E. Kohn, Carmel)

The Monterey County Weekly, The Public Voice Letters, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 (WHAT’S AT STAKE, Margaret L. Purchase | Carmel-by-the-Sea

The Monterey County Herald, 09/21/2009 (Save Carmel park, vote no on Measure I, Margaret L. Purchase Carmel)

The Monterey County Herald, 09/19/2009 (Don't sell off Carmel parkland, Roberta Miller Carmel)

The Carmel Pine Cone, September 18, 2009 (‘Simple solution,’ Olof Dahlstrand, Carmel) pg. 28A

The Carmel Pine Cone, Letters to the Editor, September 11, 2009 (Same parcel? Ann Flower, Carmel) 20A

The Monterey County Herald, Letters to the Editor, 09/10/ 2009 (Don't sell Flanders Mansion for short-term gain, Barbara Stiles, Carmel)

The Monterey County Herald, Letters to the Editor, 09/10/ 2009 (Carmel council failed residents on mansion, L.A. Paterson, Carmel)

The Monterey County Herald, Letters to the Editor, 09/07/2009 (Protect Carmel: Vote 'no' on Measure I, Richard M. Flower, Carmel)

The Monterey County Weekly, Letters to the Editor, SEPTEMBER 03, 2009 (PARK PLACES, Roberta Miller|Carmel)

The Monterey County Herald, Letters to the Editor, 08/23/2009 (Flanders options ignored, Shirley Humann, Carmel)

The Monterey County Herald, Letters to the Editor, 07/13/2009 (No reason to sell Flanders Mansion, Brie Tripp, Carmel)

The Monterey County Herald, Letters to the Editor, 06/24/2009 (Invest in Flanders Mansion, JoAnn Vincent, Carmel)

The Carmel Pine Cone, Letters to the Editor, May 8, 2009 (‘Resident curatorship,’ Virginia Connelly, Carmel) 26A

The Monterey County Herald, Letters to the Editor, 04/16/2009 (Flanders priceless property, Richard Stiles, Carmel)

The Carmel Pine Cone, Letters to the Editor, March 13, 2009 (‘Enrich our lives,’ Shirley Humann, Carmel) 26A