Housing in Monterey That’s Affordable and the Water Supply Obstacle
Chamber leaders regularly receive inquiries regarding the conversion of long-vacant commercial buildings on Garden Road (next to the Monterey Regional Airport) to residential units. Your Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee has discussed these proposed projects during its meetings since 2018.
For the past two years, the City of Monterey and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD) have attempted to figure out how to get water entitlements for these developments. The State Water Resources Control Board contends that allowing additional water for new units - even affordable units required under state law - violates its Cease and Desist Order to compel California American Water (Cal-Am) to stop extraction of water from the Carmel Valley Alluvial Aquifer in an amount exceeding its legal water rights.
Your Chamber of Commerce has a priority to increase the supply of housing that’s affordable for ordinary people who work on the Monterey Peninsula. But like all residential development, the proposed housing on Garden Road is controversial in the community. Concerns include the nearby airport noise and its impact on quality of life. Some people point out that conversion of commercial properties to residential properties takes away tax revenue for city services and takes away zoned locations for economic development and job creation. Developers who have been waiting for years for water entitlements think it’s unfair that affordable housing development would get prioritized. And some residents feel that additional housing will compromise quality of life and community character.
If you are interested in learning more about this complex topic, download 55 documents related to the two-year effort to try to get water for these projects: 55 Documents
