WHISLER WILSON RANCH Monterey, California CAMPING FEASIBILITY REPORT November 2013
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WHISLER WILSON RANCH Monterey, California CAMPING FEASIBILITY REPORT November 2013 Contents INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District . 2 Purpose of the Whisler Wilson Ranch Acquisition . 5 Site Context . 5 PHYSICAL ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................................. 7 Existing Conditions Mapping . 8 Planning Considerations . 22 MARKET ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................................. 25 Introduction . 26 Population Trends . 28 School Enrollment Trends . 31 Recreational Demand . 35 Recreational Supply . 39 SOCIO-POLITICAL ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................. 53 Public Input . 54 Socio-Political Context . 64 FEASIBILITY RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................... 71 Recreational Use Spectrum . 72 Financial Analysis . 79 Estimated Construction Costs . 88 Next Steps . 91 SURVEY RESPONSES .......................................................................................................................... 93 | iii 1 INTRODUCTION Project Background • Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District • Purpose of the Whisler Wilson Ranch Acquisition • Site Context | 1 Context San Francisco (118 mi) US Highway 1 Carmel River State Beach Palo Corona Regional Park Whisler Wilson Ranch Point Lobos Ranch State Park Point Lobos Ranch State Park Palo Corona Regional Park Whisler Wilson Ranch Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District California State Park NORTH Big Sur (28 mi) 0 Mi 1.5 Mi 3 Mi Exhibit 1A. 2 | WHISLER WILSON RANCH CAMPING FEASIBILITY | Monterey, CA Project Background The Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District In 1972 the voters of Monterey County approved Measure A, which created the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District . The district was entrusted to acquire lands for the express purpose of preserving open space and providing passive public access . Since then, the district has successfully protected ap- proximately 12,500 acres of open space while maintaining balanced budgets and minimal overhead . More recently, the district acquired the old Fish Ranch, also known as Palo Corona Ranch, in 2004 . That same year the voters of the district approved a ballot measure creating the Parks, Open Space and Coastal Preservation Benefit Assessment District. The ballot measure assesses each property owner within the district approximately $20 per year to provide additional funding for the district to continue preserving and protecting parks and open space . This annual assessment, which raises approximately $1,000,000 per year, ends in 2019 . The district’s current boundaries cover over 500 square miles and include the seven incorporated cities on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach and the Big Sur Coast . The District is governed by an elected Board of Directors, representing the citizens in each of five wards. Further information can be found on the district’s website: www .mprpd .org View of Palo Corona Regional Park from overlook Inspiration Point in Palo Corona Regional Park Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District logo | 3 Site Location To Monterey Carmel River State Beach US Highway 1 Palo Corona Monestery Regional Park Beach Point Lobos State Natural Reserve Whisler Wilson Ranch Point Lobos Ranch State Park Point Lobos Ranch State Park To Big Sur Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District California State Park Palo Corona Whisler Wilson Ranch Boundary Regional Park NORTH 0 Miles .5 Mile 1 Mile Exhibit 1B. 4 | Whisler Wilson Ranch Camping Feasibility Study | Monterey County Project Background Purpose for Whisler Wilson Ranch Acquisition The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MRPRD) and California State Parks (CSP) have made significant strides to preserve undeveloped coastal landscape in Monterey County. Using shared funding from the 1990 State Proposition 117 Habitat Conservation Fund, and other statewide park bond funds, they have acquired two significant coastal properties south of Carmel. CSP acquired the 1300 acre Point Lobos Ranch east of Point Lobos State Reserve and MPRPD purchased the adjacent 4300 acres of Fish Ranch (Palo Corona Ranch) . In 2005 the northern 600-acres of the new Palo Corona Regional Park were opened for limited public pe- destrian use . The limitation on access is a result of only one public entry point directly into the park from State Route 1 just south of the Carmel River Bridge (the Fish Barn entrance) and no established parking other than along the highway . Meanwhile the district has commissioned many studies on all the natural features and resources of the entire 4300-acre park for use in a soon to be drafted General Development Plan for the long term access, use, and management of the park . Since opened, the district has received a steady stream of positive comments on the great trail system and spectacular views had from the 600-acres currently accessible by permit only . At the same time, the district has also received a growing increase in demand for more access; confirming the need to establish expanded parking and accessibility. To help resolve the issues limiting public access to the park, the district approached the Whisler Wilson family with an offer to purchase their 317-acre Ranch (WWR), east of Carmel River State Beach at San Jose Creek Road (at Monastery Beach) . This property was a high priority for conservation acquisition by both the MPRPD and the CSP because of its location, natural resources and ideal accessibility to Point Lobos Ranch and Palo Corona Regional Park lands . In 2012 the district purchased WWR with Coastal Conservancy and Habitat Conservation Fund grant funds for $4,000,000 . The California Coastal Conservancy’s $1 million grant included a condition to ensure that the investment would align with their mission to preserve, protect and restore resources along the California Coast and provide opportunity for increased public access and camping . This feasibility study has been commis- sioned by the district to meet this grant funding condition by assessing the potential of this property to provide affordable overnight camping to meet the growing demand along the coast, and specifically in the Monterey area. This document is a summary of the findings and provides site assessment and planning, environmental assessment, and market and economic analysis for limited campground facilities at the WWR property . Site Context: Location and Usage The WWR site is located in an established recreation destination region including the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur areas . Existing concentrations of day use and camping facilities are found throughout the re- gion . As a result the site may attract recreation users from local communities as well as from non-resident travelers visiting the region and recreating on public lands. While access to the site is near the Pacific Coast, it is not an ocean side area . Thus it will not likely attract casual pass-through visitors unless they seek an upland recreation area or camping alternative to hotel accommodations . Access The site offers access from a primary travel and recreation corridor, Highway 1 . Access into the site, as with most recreation sites, will be limited by parking availability and any identified limitations regarding the access road into the property . Access from State Route 1 (SR1) along San Jose Creek Canyon Road (Road) into the WWR property is through CSP’s Point Lobos Ranch property . This study cannot predict what level of use or development CSP will eventually permit in and on its Point Lobos Ranch property . Therefore, the findings and conclusions are based on development levels on Point Lobos Ranch neces- sary to support what is feasible on the WWR property . | 5 Site features WWR is a 317-acre property that was originally owned by the Whisler - Wilson family . It is located a little more than six miles from downtown Monterey . It is east of Highway 1 at Monastery Beach (Carmel River State Beach), which is popular with scuba divers and beach goers . It shares its southern and western boundaries with California State Parks’ Point Lobos Ranch and its northern and eastern boundaries with the district’s 4300-acres Palo Corona Regional Park . The WWR Property is adjacent to, visible from, and provides connectivity to both of these parks . The higher elevations offer breathtaking views of Point Lobos State Reserve, Carmel River State Beach, Jacks Peak County Park, the Santa Cruz, Gabilan and Santa Lucia Mountains, Palo Corona Regional Park, and Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley . In addi- tion to the public open space, the property provides a potentially ideal opportunity for establishing the much needed and sough-after expanded public parking and accessibility demanded by the public . 2 Physical Analysis Existing Conditions • Off Site Assessment • Highway 1 Access and Enhancements • Entry Road • Parking • On Site Assessment • Topography • Soils • Hydrology/Stream Zones • Vegetation Planning Considerations • Developable Land Mapping | 7 Existing Conditions Point Lobos Ranch State Park Existing Day-use Entrance Palo Corona Regional Park US Highway 1 Midden Field Tight Curve Proposed Parking Lot CPS Residences