Sierra Club Opposes Ferrini Ranch Project in Monterey County

From the Ventana Chapter website:

A proposal for a Combined Development Permit for new construction of a subdivision of about 870 acres into 212 lots for market rate single family homes, clustered market residential lots and 43 inclusionary units on Highway 68 near Toro Park is currently under consideration by the Monterey County Planning Commission. Also proposed is future development of winery related uses that would result in the removal of up to 921 protected Oak Trees and a Use Permit for development on slopes exceeding 30 percent.

The Chapter has submitted a letter opposing the project on the grounds that it is too large, would create urban sprawl and thus contribute to greenhouse gas emissions from excess single vehicle use. We believe this project is not needed as there are already 10,000 residential units approved but not yet constructed in the County, it would cause negative impacts to biological resources including species of special concern on site that cannot be mitigated and it would require water from the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin that has been over drafted for years.


Monterey County Planning Department page for Ferrini Ranch
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/major/Ferrini%20Ranch%20Subdivision/Ferrini_Ranch_Subdivision.htm

Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club
http://ventana.sierraclub.org/current/index.shtml