February 19, 2003

To: Mayor Fisher and Council Members of the City of Pacific Grove

February 19, 2003, City Council Meeting

Item 7A: Discuss Pacific Grove Housing opportunities of former Fort Ord property.

Mayor Fisher and Council Members:

The League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula is pleased to see the City of Pacific Grove discussing the possibilities of a land/housing trust for the Monterey County workforce at Fort Ord.

The League has long advocated for affordable housing which takes into consideration land use, transportation, natural resources, and basic human needs.

Recognizing the constraints on the city of having little land available for such housing within the city, we support efforts to provide such housing using the next best alternative, Fort Ord.

The League encourages the public agencies to make this land at Fort Ord available for affordable housing in the form of a land/housing trust.

We further encourage you to work with the other FORA members to create a solution that will benefit workers of all the cities on the Peninsula.

All avenues should be explored including how the state may contribute to this effort under the recently passed Proposition 42, Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2002.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of this positive and workable solution which addresses the need for affordable housing on the Peninsula.

Respectfully,

Beverly G. Bean, VDM, President

cc:

Congressman Farr
Assemblyman Laird
Senator McPherson
Mayor Albert, Monterey
Mayor McCloud, Carmel
Mayor Smith, Seaside
Mayor Barlich, Del Rey Oaks
Mayor Mettee-McCutchon, Marina
Mayor Pendergrass, Sand City
Supervisor Johnsen, Monterey County
Supervisor Potter, Monterey County
Landwatch