Supervisors vote to pass Ferrini Ranch development

Monterey County Supervisors voted to approve the Ferrini Ranch subdivision Tuesday night.

The vote was close, 3-2, and it came after hours of public comment at prior supervisor meetings, as well as much discussion at Tuesday’s meeting.

The Ferrini Ranch subdivision, ten years in the making, will bring 185 homes to 870 acres near Toro Park on Highway 68.

But some area residents say it will also bring extra traffic.

“Bottom line is, they’re trying to stick like 50 pounds of fun in five bags,” Brenda Cranford said.

Cranford lives off Highway 68, and has been working at Toro Place Cafe for 14 years.

She said Tuesday, over the years, she’s seen the traffic get more and more congested.

“Even though they say they are going to widen the road to a four-lane road up to the Toro Place Cafe here, it’s only going to cause people to really just gun it to get to that one lane off the two lane,” Cranford said. “And it’s very dangerous right here at the corner.”

She also said she fears the traffic will negatively impact business. She said people already turn around as it is when there’s a jam.

But the staff report on the subdivision, which plans for the installation of a traffic signal, disputes traffic getting more dangerous.

It also disputes water supply concerns.

An added condition to the project, announced Tuesday night, requires the developers to pay $425,000 to help create a community service district. Supervisors said the district would ensure the community has even more water than it does now.

Another condition will require fencing around some areas to keep the land, and cattle, untouched. The construction of the subdivision will remove 921 trees from the 28,000 in the area. That’s 3.2% of the trees.

Still, some of those who left the meeting, left angry.

“If this was in your backyard, would you want this?” Cranford said.