STATEMENT TO CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION REGARDING
MONTEREY COUNTY PERIODIC LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM REVIEW

March 18, 2004
Hyatt Regency Monterey

The League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula greatly appreciates the Coastal Commission staff's timely recommendations regarding greater protection for the native Monterey Pine Forest. The recommendations are long overdue.

Although the current Local Coastal Plan includes some strong protective policies which give a high priority to the preservation of the native Monterey Pine Forest, current regulations focus on protecting individual trees through the land use entitlement permit process. With the County approving 512 permits in over the last 15 years, the Del Monte Forest has lost 9,000 trees according to Commission estimates.

Unfortunately, various development plans in the Del Monte Forest have been uniformly inconsistent with implementing LCP policies. The new plan is no exception, and, if approved in its present form, it would destroy most of the remaining significant pine stands within the Del Monterey Forest.

New regulations focus on protecting the remnant contiguous swaths of the native Monterey Pine Forest as environmentally sensitive habitat. This would make the forest less susceptible to disease and would ensure its regenerative capability of sustaining the forest presence.

This is a critical moment. Only 1,881 acres of the native Monterey Pine Forest remain undeveloped. This is our last chance to preserve a resource unique to only five areas in the world. It is incumbent upon the Commission to recognize its responsibility in this crucial decision.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this important issue.

Representative of the League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula