Carmel Valley group sues over Rancho Caada project
UPDATED 1/17/17 6:00 PM – The Rancho Cañada development project in Carmel Valley is facing legal action. This, after a local neighborhood association filed a civil lawsuit against the county last week.
The Carmel Valley Association says even though the county approved the project, certain requirements were not met.
Developers with plans to build on the old Rancho Cañada Golf Course have been given the green light by Monterey County.
It’s a plan the Carmel Valley Association doesn’t support.
“The county is in violation of the general plan as well as the California Environmental Quality Act with this particular project,” said Carmel Valley Association president Priscilla Walton. The County believes differently. “The staff analyzed it under the General Plan, the Carmel Valley area master plans, the appropriate special plans as well as the California Environmental Quality Act and EIR,” said Monterey County Counsel Charles McKee. “It was all done appropriately and I suspect that’s what the court will find in the end.” Walton says that the information used to analyze the plans was outdated. “They used information that was more than 10 years old,” she said. “And it doesn’t meet the Environmental Quality Act.” McKee countered saying that the Environmental Impact Report was done properly. “The EIR for this project was completed. Otherwise the board would never have had the opportunity to consider the project. The staff’s not going to bring forward a project that hasn’t had appropriate and adequate environment review,” McKee said. The decision as to who is right will fall onto the court handling the lawsuit. “The county and the parties involved in the development in the lawsuit have been at it for a long time,” said McKee. “And I hope that as this case moves forward to the courts, everyone can address it respectfully and end up with the right amount and balance of development in Carmel Valley.” PREVIOUS STORY: Despite approval by Monterey County supervisors, the Rancho Cañada Village development project is not yet a done deal. This week, the Carmel Valley Association, a group representing area residents, announced that it is suing the County, claiming the plan violates county and state regulations.
The mixed use development project would be built at the former Rancho Cañada golf course. County supervisors approved the project in December.
On Tuesday, KION reporter Zach Fuentes spoke with CVA president Priscilla Walton and Monterey County Counsel Charles McKee about the project. Tonight, he’ll explain what issues need to be addressed before the project can break ground.
