Below is a chronological list from the newest to oldest posts and communications (with multiple links) since the formation of the Defense Committee. See the right column for the most recent posts.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
07.09.19
Special Planning Commission meeting on July 24, 2019. Please see the attached notice. Submit your comments to RMAcomments@co.monterey.ca.us
05.26.19 Letter to membership from the Steering committee. HERE
05.15.19
Monterey County Draft Ordinance for public review and comment regarding short term rental HERE.
Our comments regarding the latest draft ordinance from the County of Monterey HERE.
11.09.18
Measure M passes in Pacific Grove. A small community speaks out. A yes vote was a vote in favor of prohibiting short-term rentals (defined as rentals of less than 30 days) in residential districts outside of the coastal zone and phasing out existing short-term rentals within 18 months. BallotPedia HERE!
07.22.18
Comments made by Kirk Gafill at the Monterey County Planning Commission Workshop on Short Term Rentals, 07.11.18. HERE!
07.03.18
Important planning commission meeting on 7.11.18 (Notice HERE)
The purpose of this planning commission (PC) Workshop is to allow RMA staff to report back to the PC on the input they have received from their tour of the LUACs, and changes they have made to the draft resulting from that input or at least made since original draft, and their preliminary consistency analysis conclusions, with goal of getting additional guidance from the PC as to how to proceed forward.
Thus, this is again an opportunity for our community to directly speak to the PC about why STRs should not be allowed in the Big Sur Planning Area. It is important that the PC understand that the opponents of STRs are widespread, representative of their communities and committed to preserving the Big Sur Land Use Plan as well as quality of life within their communities. We are focused on the inconsistency of the STRs with the LCP.
We need to continue to to engage in the public process if we don’t want STRs and other encroachments on the LCP to occur.
06.12.18
Open letter to the Coastal Commission: Click HERE.
06.05.18
The only substantive information from the latest LUAC/RMA meeting 06.04.18 is as follows:
1) RMA will present summary of public input from various LUAC meetings and updated considerations, as a result of that input, for draft STR Ordinance to Planning Commission on July 11, 2018. This will be a “workshop” type of meeting with PC and RMA but they will not be presenting an updated draft ordinance, rather it will be seeking additional input/direction from PC. At some time thereafter, RMA will then present a draft ordinance to the PC.
2) RMA will not provide any consistency analysis on any element of its updated considerations or preliminary conclusions until after the PC workshop, and this consistency analysis will be presented in conjunction with updated draft ordinance when it is presented to PC.
05.31.18
LUAC meeting on 06.04.18 9.30 AM at the Lodge Conference Center. Please try to make it. Agenda and “Updated Considerations for Preliminary Consistency of Short-Term Rental Ordinance Draft Consistency with the Big Sur Land Use Plan (BSLUP)” CLICK: HERE.
05.11.18
Letter to the BSMAC from Tim Green. Please click here.
04.18.18
Report from ‘Special Meeting’ to discuss STR’s in Big Sur.
Agenda and Memorandum
Notes from meeting.
03.26.18
Re: Big Sur Land Use Advisory Committee and South Coast Land Use Advisory Committee Joint Meeting. The meeting will be held at the State Park Lodge Conference Center at 9.30AM, Tuesday, March 27. PLEASE see/download AGENDA and current draft STR Ordinance HERE. (Meeting is indeed at the Lodge.)
01.11.18
Re: Planning Commission Workshop 01.10.18 on STR’s in Big Sur
Notes from meeting courtesy Kirk Gafill
Testimony from Tim Green
Testimony from Mary Wright
Testimony from Ken Wright
Memo referred to in testimony from Dr Charles Lester, former Director of the Coastal Commission. (CLICK HERE)
Notice of Public Workshop
January 10, 2018, Planning Commission Hearing on STR’s CLICK for pdf
12.21.17
Notice of Public Workshop
January 10, 2018, Planning Commission Hearing on STR’s CLICK for pdf
11.30.17
A report from the Nov 29 hearing at the Planning Commission, courtesy Kirk Gafill.
At beginning of meeting, staff recommended that consideration of continuing any discussion of Big Sur Planning Area be moved to a Planning Commission Workshop on January 10, 2018. In the public comment, there were six local residents who spoke in favor of this recommendation, while one non-resident Big Sur property owner and short term rental operator spoke against the recommendation.
Commissioner Diehl made motion to continue discussion regarding regulations of short term rentals in Big Sur Planning Area to January 10, 2018. During discussion, Commissioners Roberts and Getzelman both made it clear that they were not in favor of separating out Big Sur or any other part of the county from an overall county ordinance on short term rentals. Additionally, Commissioner Padilla, stated that he also did not favor separating out a part of the county, but did acknowledge that the unique access challenges in Big Sur during the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge closure warranted this continuance.
During discussion period, Commissioner Diehl made it clear that County staff was not prepared to coordinate short term rental regulations with Big Sur Land Use Plan update in the foreseeable future due to limited staffing resources, but as Planning Commission had previously given direction to suspend discussion on Big Sur Planning Area until access restored, it was untenable to simply fold the Big Sur Planning Area back into the process that had been developing over the last eight months without Big Sur community participation.
Commissioners Diehl, Duflock, Mendez, Padilla, and Vandevere voted to approve the motion. Commissioners Roberts and Getzelman voted against the motion. Commissioners Hert and Ambriz were absent from meeting.
Following that motion, workshop continued with public comment on short term rental ordinance discussions, excluding the Big Sur Planning Area.
11.27.17
In anticipation of the hearing coming up o the 29th county staff just sent out a memo to the planning commission recommending that discussions regarding STR in the Big Sur planning area be continued at a workshop in January, 2018. (Memo HERE.)
The staff’s memo is a recommendation and not a guarantee that the issue will be continued. The Defense Committee strongly recommends that as many of us as possible be at the hearing on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 9:00 a.m., in the Monterey County Board of Supervisors Chambers, County Government Center, 168 West Alisal Street, Salinas. .
11.26.17 Reminder: (from Janet) If you can’t make it to the meeting on Wednesday 29 you can write in your thoughts/opinions to Melanie Beretti: berettim@co.monterey.ca.us (Special Programs Manager) and ask that she include them for public comment. Also ask that she distribute them to Planning Commissioners and all concerned. In the subject line of email include – Project File No. REF130043 & REF100042
11.11.17 SAVE THE DATE! Please save Wednesday, November 29, 2017 for Planning Commission public hearing on the Draft Short-Term Rental Ordinance. AGENDA HERE. | NOTICE OF HEARING HERE.
09.01.17 NOTE: The Monterey County Supervisors have decided, through the efforts of Supervisor Mary Adams, to exclude the Big Sur Planning Area from the ongoing draft ordinance process until such time as the Big Sur community can have meaningful access to participate in the public planning process. In addition, the County has determined that the STR draft ordinance should include the Big Sur Planning Area in conjunction with the County’s review of the Draft update of the LCP.
04.04.17 A draft ordinance has been issued. Please download here.
03.16.17 A notice was sent out for the Planning Commission hearing on March 29, 2017 “to consider preliminary draft regulations on short term rentals for overnight accommodations in residential areas in the unincorporated area of Monterey County.” Note: STR PC Notice 032917 This meeting comes at a very inopportune time for us in Big Sur. It is of course important that all our voices be heard therefore PLEASE: Send an e-mail asking for a postponement of this meeting, and any other public meetings in regard to STR’s, until such time as reliable access has been restored to the Big Sur coastal area. Please send to: Carl Holm: HolmCP@co.monterey.ca.us
CC:
Mary Adams: district5@co.monterey.ca.us
Melanie Beretti: BerettiM@co.monterey.ca.us
11.23.16 A 37 minute part of a two hour conversation with Big Sur resident and Defense committee member, Tim Green. Well worth listening to. HERE! About AirBnB in Los Angeles: Well worth reading ! HERE!
11.19.16 Planning Commission Workshop 11.09 notes taken by Kirk Gafill – HERE. Letter from Supervisor Potter HERE! HERE is the statement made by Congressman Farr. Link to a full video of meeting HERE.
11.08.16 URGENT! Please act now. COME TO THE MEETING AT 9AM TOMORROW, Wednesday! MEETING AGENDA HERE. IF YOU CAN’T BE AT THE MEETING SEND AN E-MAIL TO: Melanie Beretti at Monterey County Planning Department: berettim@co.monterey.ca.us You can copy and paste the blue text below: (you can of course say whatever you want but it is fine, and useful, just to make a quick statement too!) (-: do include project name etc.
Re: Project Name: SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCES Project File No. REF130043 and REF100042e
I am opposed to making it legal to do Short Term Rental in the Big Sur Planning Area. Please make my comment part of the Planning Commission record.
Signed N.N.
Sending this e-mail will HELP save Big Sur from becoming a complete commercial zone dedicated (even more) to the few that can afford it.
PLEASE SEND THE E-Mail NOW! And forward this to anyone you think would help!
It will postpone the inevitable and dangerous gridlock that will occur on Highway One (unless something is done).
It will hopefully help save the few houses that are still available to rent for the people who work in Big Sur.
From the Big Sur LUP: “The significance of the residential areas for planning purposes is that they have the capacity, to some extent, to accommodate additional residential demand. Unlike the larger properties or commercial centers, they are not well suited for commercial agriculture, commercial, or visitor uses (author’s emphasis); use of these areas, to the extent consistent with resource protection, should continue to be for residential purposes.” (LUP, 5.1.1, pg. 81)
10.27.16 IMPORTANT: There is a Monterey County Planning Commission Public Workshop on Short-Term Rentals scheduled for November 9, 2016. It will be held at the Government Center – 168 W. Alisal, Salinas, CA, 93901.
The workshop is currently intended to be the last one before the ordinance is drafted. County staff promises to distribute information for the workshop at least a week before the hearing. (We will put it up here as soon as it is published).
County Staff also suggests that depending on the outcome of the workshop the ordinance may be brought forward in 3-4 months.
You may confirm this date and download a copy of the agenda (when it is posted) at the Planning Commission web site by clicking HERE.
To make comments on agenda items go HERE! If you haven’t yet! Please join us!
10.04.16 If you read this and you would like to suggest news items for us to disseminate through this site please e-mail us. In recent e-mails in the Big Sur community there’s been some discussion about the national effort to regulate STR’s and the virtue in joining in that effort or not. A website that gives some info is here: http://curestr.org/
07.24.16 Our land use issues take on a different hue when we now are fighting for our homes and land. When we spring into action, when neighbors join together. We’ve had too many destructive fires in Big Sur lately. That hazy sky, the smell of smoke, the sense of helplessness when friends in need are inaccessible, the layer of ash, the eerily beautiful light (especially the sunset) and the knot in your stomach. Your mind racing through the various places where fire clearance can be improved, deep gratitude for the Big Sur Volunteers Fire Brigade and all the other firefighters from around the state and country, the frustration of not being able to fully comprehend reports because of a vague knowledge about exactly where green, long, rocky, palo, bixby, creeks and ridges all intersect and interact higher up and further east. A grapevine fairly vibrating with pent up need for true information: Thank God for a ‘portal’ like Big Sur Kate. Let’s pray that the the suppression efforts get help from the weather and that this does not develop into one of the worst in history…it does not look good at the time of writing this… In OTHER NEWS: The Planning Commission Workshop on July 13 showed the Commissioners that there are a lot of people in the community who are adamantly opposed to the idea of making STR’s legal in Big Sur. We did really well! Many good testimonies that were all heartfelt and well argued. (As I think was not the case from the opposition who were mostly folks driven by a more short term financial goal in mind). NOTE: ACTION ITEM NOW (please help to spread the word) If you haven’t yet sent your comments please do so to: Melanie Beretti & Mary Adams as soon as possible. Melanie Beretti, Special Programs Manager berettim@co.monterey.ca.us Re: SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCES Project File No. REF130043 and REF100042 Ask to have your comments copied and sent to each commissioner. Mary Adams, our newly elected 5th District Supervisor: MaryAdams2016@gmail.com or call 831.313.4605 Note: If you e-mail your comments it is best to format in a word processor and then saving and sending as a pdf via e-mail. (you can certainly have the content in the body of the e-mail as well). Please cc admin@bigsurlcp.com we will share it here on the site as inspiration and education for everyone. The STR’s steering committee is currently scheduling meetings with the Coastal Commissioners. We will report here when news comes in from those meetings. Here are some good recent letters. Click on the titles. Letter from Barbara Woyt Statement of Robert N. Danziger Letter from Jerri Masten Letter from George Braff A recent letter dated June 23 to Carl Holm, Mty. County RMA Director, from Susan Craig, Central Coast District Manager, California Coastal Commission.
07.01.16 On July 13, at 9AM the Monterey County Resource Management Agency (Planning Department) will present its plans to develop a short-term rental ordinance to the County Planning Commissioners. Please consider being at the meeting to let your voice be heard to make sure that STR’s remain illegal in the Big Sur planning area. See notice here: STR Public Notice 071316 ……………………..
04.05.16 The LCP Defense Committee is engaged with the County addressing the enforcement efforts of existing ordinances prohibiting short term rentals in the Big Sur Planning Area. If you are opposed to that effort then please notify us via e-mail (bigsurlcp@gmail.com) and we will have your name removed from the supporter list. Kirk Gafill wrote a letter on behalf of the LCP Defense Committee to the 5 Supervisors in opposition to the efforts by short term rental advocates to have a moratorium enacted on enforcement efforts. (see post 03.30.16 below). Read his letter HERE.
A copy of a memo that the then Planning Director Mike Novo wrote prior to his retirement on March 31, 2016, memorializing comments he had made about his views on short term rentals. Link: HERE.
……………………..
03.30.16 The MCVRA has published a “Take Action Now” memo asking folks to write a letter to County Supervisors demanding a moratorium on prosecuting STR’s. See letter HERE. ……………………..
09.09.15 Update on Efforts of the LCP Defense Committee During the past several months, members of the LCP Defense Committee have met a number of times with representatives of the County of Monterey, including District 5 County Supervisor, Dave Potter. We have presented and discussed our reasons for opposing any inclusion of the Big Sur Coast Planning Area ( the area from Mal Paso Creek to the Monterey County/San Luis Obispo County line), in a potential new County ordinance permitting short term rentals within the coastal zone.
During this same timeframe, the county issued its interpretation of the question of whether short term rentals of residential properties are permitted within the coastal zone, including the Big Sur Coast Planning Area. The County Planning Director’s interpretation, supported by County Counsel, is that such short term rentals are not permitted. The interpretation is posted (HERE) on this website. This interpretation may assist Big Sur homeowners associations in taking appropriate action where violations are occurring. The county has affirmed that they will respond to complaints of violations of the short term rental prohibition.
We have been encouraged by the response we have thus far received to why we believe short term rentals in Big Sur would violate the Land Use Plan and why Big Sur should be excluded from any future county ordinance which may permit such rentals. While we believe that County representatives have understood our reasoning, we make no representation that they are in agreement. We are at a relatively early stage of a process with many more stages of review and consideration.
It is important to understand that the efforts of the Big Sur LCP Defense Committee are occurring at the same time that a separate county wide group is assisting in the drafting of a County ordinance which considers short term rentals within the entire coastal zone of Monterey County. The efforts of the LCP Defense Committee are limited to the Big Sur Coast Planning Area, to the protections and direction contained in the LCP and to the exemption of the Big Sur Coast Planning Area from any future ordinance which may permit short term rentals within the coastal zone of Monterey County.
Members of the LCP Defense Committee will continue to meet with county representatives until these issues are resolved.
The Short Term Rental Issue Papers which have been submitted to the County dated May 21, 2015 HERE and September 4, 2015 HERE.
The issue statement from the Defense Committee sent to: Melanie Beretti, Resource Management Agency Project Manager Mike Novo, Director of Planning Department Carl Holm, Acting Director of Resource Management Agency Les Girard, Assistant Monterey County Counsel Supervisor Dave Potter Supervisor John Phillips Supervisor Fernando Armenta Supervisor Jane Parker Supervisor Simon Salinas Below is the ‘CONCLUSION’ and ‘RECOMMENDATION’ of the issue statement.
CONCLUSION: Short term rentals are neither permitted nor are they consistent with the letter and spirit of the LUP. Further, their exclusion as a permitted development in the Big Sur Planning Area must be supported with a successful enforcement effort. Each current and additional short term rental in the Big Sur Planning Area represents an additional increase in destination traffic impacts, a conversion of existing housing and the loss of long term community housing stock.
- The added transient visitor use resulting from short term rental conversions causes significant additional and cumulative destination traffic impacts on Highway 1, further reducing its capacity to provide for the priority scenic driving uses protected by the certified Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan.
- The vast majority of short term rentals, prior to their conversion, were affordable long term rentals. Their conversion represents a clear conflict with the county’s responsibility under the LUP to protect existing affordable housing and the State General Plan law.
- The local community that is recognized in the LUP as a key resource for the public and responsible for the care and preservation of the Big Sur coast is comprised of property owners and tenants, with the majority being tenants. The loss of housing due to short term rental conversions thus has an overwhelming negative impact on the tenant portion of our community.
RECOMMENDATION: The Big Sur Coast Planning Area should be excluded from any countywide ordinance permitting short term rentals and an appropriate enforcement mandate should be adopted to make this exclusion effective.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
On July 9 the County of Monterey issued a statement confirming that STR’s are illegal in the Coastal Zone. This puts to rest any doubt about what the law says regarding STR’s.
See statement HERE!
The County of Monterey is now working on a redraft of the STR ordinances. The negative impact of STR’s on the Big Sur Coast are many and STR’s are in clear conflict with the Big Sur LCP.
Let us continue the ongoing work to make sure that the LCP is taken into full account so that STR’s are kept out of the Big Sur Planning Area once and for all!
Help us gather support – send the link to this website to your friends and neighbors – the more support we can show the better. www.bigsurlcp.com
The legal counsel for the MCVRA (Monterey County Vacation Rental Association) ‘disagrees’ with the clarification document. Correspondence between the MCVRA attorney, Gary Patton, and County officials may be read HERE.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you haven’t yet! Please join us!
Please encourage your friends and neighbors to join us in this important effort!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Regarding the senate bill 593 – “Ordered to inactive file on request of Senator McGuire.” Please read more here.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
LETTERS TO THE Big Sur LCP website:
12.13.15 I am completely AGAINST any form of STR activity in Big Sur. Having 2 contiguous property owners continuing to violate the Code and the Law, seeing the speeding cars on our private road system, hearing drunken party short term renters disturbing the previously pristine quiet solace of our spectacular coast, increasing the traffic on the Coast highway, increasing the traffic on our private road system, with renters, cleaning staff, supply and repair persons is outrageous. It is against the Law. The lawbreaking owners’ excuse, they need the money…what 60-110k per year…do they really need that to maintain the property?
Please have your Law/Code now being drafted reflect zero tolerance for STR owners. Please put a series of substantial monetary fines followed by injuctions and jail time for these immoral individuals written into the Rules. Respectfully submitted/ george braff 47826 middle road big sur 93920 831-667-2457.
12.12.15 Dear Big Sur Neighbors, Elected Officials and Future Elected Officials: We take the position that STRs should remain illegal in the Big Sur planning area. Every effort should be taken to preserve the status quo of residential zones. The non-visitor-serving ridge tops, canyons, ledges, and valleys are where those fine people live who have the deepest passion for protecting Big Sur’s natural beauty and unique human culture. To sell out these community members for the almighty transient tourist buck is nothing less than criminal. / Carol and Carl Shadwell
Go Back to the Home Page.
Big Sur LCP Defense Committee 