45-Day Public Review Period Begins for the Draft Program-Level Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update

The City of Monterey invites comments on the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update Draft EIR during a 45-day public comment period that begins on February 9, 2024 and ends on March 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM.


Project Background: The Project under review is the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update, which includes updates to the City of Monterey Housing, Land Use, Safety, and Circulation Elements, and is intended to respond to emerging issues and new State laws and guide development and conservation within the Planning Area. The following are some of the specific objectives of the targeted General Plan Update: 1) Address the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, 2) Provide a variety of housing opportunities, 3) Provide equal housing opportunities, 4) Address affordable housing needs, 5) Address the housing needs of special needs groups, 6) Remove potential constraints to housing, 7) Maintain existing housing, 8) Provide adequate housing sites, 9) Promote sustainability and energy efficiency, 10) Address risks from natural hazards, and 11) Consistency with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan.

Draft EIR Overview: This Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) evaluates the potential impacts of the proposed Monterey 2031 General Plan, referred to as the “Proposed Plan.” The Proposed Plan is both a policy document and an implementation tool for implementing the City’s General Plan. It contains goals, policies, and programs to guide future housing development within the approximately 8.7-square-mile Planning Area. The Proposed Plan was developed in response to policy direction provided by the City Council, Planning Commission, and community. This Draft EIR has been prepared on behalf of the City of Monterey, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The City of Monterey is the lead agency for this EIR, as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code Section 21000, et seq. (CEQA).

The Draft EIR is a public information document that assesses the potential physical environmental impacts that could result from implementation of the Project, recommends mitigation measures to lessen or eliminate adverse impacts, examines feasible alternatives to the Project, and is intended to inform City of Monterey decision makers, other responsible agencies and the public. The Draft EIR evaluates potential physical environmental impacts that could result from the Project and identifies that the Project may have significant and unavoidable impacts in the following areas: agricultural resources, air quality, greenhouse gases, transportation, utilities, and wildfire.

Public Review and Comment Period: The City invites comments on the Monterey 2031 General Plan Update Draft EIR during a 45-day comment period that begins on February 9, 2024, and ends on March 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM. The City directs comments to be submitted via email to sabdo@monterey.org. Alternatively, comments may also be submitted in writing by hand delivery or mail to Christy Sabdo, AICP, Senior Associate Planner, City of Monterey Planning Division, 580 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940. Please reference Monterey 2031 General Plan Update Draft EIR Comments in all correspondence.

The public hearing, anticipated to be held April of 2024, will be noticed separately.


Updated Draft General Plan Elements:

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