I I I I I I MONTEREY COUNTY GENERAL PLAN I MONTEREY COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA I I I I ADOPTED BY THE MONTEREY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 10, 1968 I ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF MONTEREY COUNTY OCTOBER 22, 1968 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 0 N I I I MONTEREY COUNTY I I I I I I PREFACE I The Monterey County General Plan is an attempt to establish a county philosophy based on the values and desires of the people. This in turn becomes a valid basis for decisions by public bodies as well as private enterprise. Such a pro­ cedure is vitally needed in our rapidly changing environment. The General Plan I is a study of the ever changing pattern of Monterey County --a mirror in which to review the past, to comprehend the present, and to contemplate the future, This plan reflects years of research and study as well as many other reports such as I the continuing Facts and Figures, Recreation in Monterey County, Beach Acqui­ sition, and other plans which are shown as separate documents h~cause of the volume of material. I The size of Monterey County, its variety of climate, vegetation, and land forms make it imperative that only large land uses or broad proposals be used to portray geographically the objectives desired for the future development of the County. I Accordingly, in addition to the maps, greater emphasis in the General Plan is placed on the text which conveys in words the objectives as well as the princi­ ples and standards recommended to make them effective. More detailed analysis I of each section of Monterey County may be found in the previously adopted General Plans of each area which have been incorporated into and become a part of this Monterey County General Plan. Each of the sectional General Plans incorporate greater details of the elements contained herein as well as suggested I methods of implementation for each area. I The success of this plan as a guide to future development of Monterey County I will depend primarily on the imagination and daring of the people of present and future generations. I I I I I I I I MONTEREY COUNTY I ORIGIN OF THE NAME "The name is composed of the words, monte and '!:!!lb and "literally means 'king I of forests'. The harbor and country were so named in honor of Count Monterey, as well as for the beautiful forests of pine and other trees that surrounded the harbor and covered the hiU-tops." I AREA OF THE COUNTY I "The area of Monterey is three thousand three hundred square miles and is within a fraction of the size of the State of Connecticut, and is greater than the combined area of the States of Rhode Island and Del(J);)are." I "It possesses nearly a mi Uion acres of rich agricultural land almost unparalleled for productiveness. Until recently the greater portion of the county has been I devoted to the raising of cattle and sheep and much of the best land is held by the original grantees, their assigns, or immediate descendents." I CLIMATE AND PRODUCTION "There is a great diversity of soil, climate and productions, owing to the peculiar I manner in which the country is divided by mountains, hills and valleys. The territory may be regarded as divided naturally into four sections, viz: The Santa Lucia Mountains in the western portion, following the coastline, the Great I Salinas Valley in the central portion of the county, the Gabilan Mountains, with the smaller valleys enclosed by that range in the eastern portion of the county, and Pajaro Valley in the northern portion of the county. Monterey has Zang been known for its equable temperature. " I REF: History of Monterey County - Elliot E. Moore Publishers 1881 I The charm of Monterey County lies in its inherent beauty----its mountains, fertile valleys, rolling hills studded with oaks, cypress and pine trees that meet the ocean, a mgged shoreline and white I sand beaches. Fortunately it has not experienced rapid growth, and the environmental features of the county have been maintained. I I I I -I I It is through the efforts of those who have endeavored to preserve the county and through the work I of those who have lived here in the past that it has retained its natural appeal. Today this heritage still exists, as exemplified by the people who live in the geographically I different areas of the county; the ranchers of the Salinas Valley who have retained their agricultural lands which remain the dominant economic influence in the valley; the residents of the Monterey Peninsula, who, with many years of thoughtful progress behind them al'e still strong and sincere with ideals of how they wish the area to develop; and those who live on the coast south of Carmel I and have expressed their wish to retain the dramatic appeal of the coastal area. It is through the ideals of the people of the past and the desires of the people of the present, the goals can be set for the future ..... goals which will meet the impact of expanding populations and new ways of life, I yet preserve the natural beauty of the county. Monterey County is unique in its history, the position it occupies in California today, and in the opportunity it affords for the future. I The major factors in the planning for Monterey County are the people, their activities and the land. For many years only a handful of people lived in what is now Monterey County. Their needs were small, and, because of abundance of land, there was little friction among them and they did little I to change the character of the land. The •Golden Age" of the Californians was from 1830 to 1850, when the large ranchers were at their height. After the discovery of gold in California the way of life changed and more and more people settled in Monterey County. From 1850 to 1880 the population continued to increase, and by 1880 there were 11,309 people in I the area which is now Monterey County. Definite patterns of development appeared on the land-­ quiltwork patterns of agriculture in the Salinas Valley and urban-like settlem.ents there and on the Monterey Peninsula. One can go back in history today by having direct contact with the people who remember the past. The people who are active in planning today are a connecting link with this I past. Much of the planning for the future involves "what to save", and it is through an unde.zstanding of the land and the people that the answers may be found. I I ·I I I· MONTEREY COUNTY GENERAL PLANS I Name of Plan Board of Supervisors I Adoptive Dates Amendment Dates Moss Landing Area Development Plan 9-17 - 56 9- 19- 67 I Toro Area Master Plan 3- 21- 60 Central Salinas Valley General Plan 10- 17- 60 Marina Master Plan 1-16-61 4-19-66 & 1-17-67 I Carmel Valley Master Plan 1- 9 - 61 Monterey County Coast Master Plan 11- 5-62 North County General Plan 1-13-64 8- 9-66 South County General Plan 7- 20- 64 I Monterey Peninsula Area General Plan 7- 26-66 Greater Salinas Area General Plan 6- 28-68 Carmel Highlands - Carmel Riviera Master Plan 7- 8-69 I Santa Rita Community Plan 7- 8-69 I CITY GENERAL PLANS ADOPTED AS PART OF MONTEREY COUNTY GENERAL PLAN 1· Seaside Master Plan 7- 27- 59 King City Master Plan 6-10-63 Soledad General Plan 6-14-66 I Gonzales General Plan 5- 9-67 I PRIVATE PLANS ADOPTED AS PART OF MONTEREY COUNTY GENERAL PLAN I Rancho San Carlos Master Plan 7- 26-66 Laguna Seca Ranch Plan 4-18-67 I Del Monte Plan 7- 26-66 Conservation Plan for Three Ranches 7- 26-66 I I I· I I I I I MOSS LANDING AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN I MARINA MASTER PLAN NORTH COUNTY GENERAL PLAN I MONTEREY PENINSULA AREA PLAN SANTA RITA COMMUNITY PLAN CARMEL VALLEY MASTER PLAN GREATER SALINAS AREA GENERAL PLAN I TORO MASTER PLAN CARMEL HIGHLANDS - I - CARMEL RIVIERA MASTER PLAN CENTRAL SALINAS VALLEY GENERAL PLAN I I MONTEREY COUNTY COAST MASTER PLAN SOUTH COUNTY GENERAL PLAN I I I THESE PLANS ARE ADOPTED AS PART OF THE MONTEREY COUNTY GENERAL PLAN I I I I I I I MONTEREY COUNTY GENERAL PLAN I TABLE OF CONTENTS I PART ONE Page ASSUMPTIONS . • • • • • . • • • • • • • • . • • • • • . • • • • • . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • . • A I GOALS OF THE GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS · • • • • • . ..• • • • • • • • •.•••. • • . • . • • B I· PART TWO *HISTORICAL ELEMENT • • • • . • . • . • . • . • • • • . • • . • • • . • • • • • • . • • . • • • . 1 * POPULATION ELEMENT • • • . • • . • • . • • • • . • • . • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • . • • . 1 * GENERAL LAND USE ELEMENT • • • . • . • . • • . • • . • • • • . • • • • • . • • 2 I RESIDENTIAL LAND USE • • • . • • • . • • • • . • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • . • • • • • 2 COMMERCIAL LAND USE . • . • • • • . • • • . • . • • • • • . • • • • • • . • • • • . • . • • 3 INDUSTRIAL LAND USE . • • . • • • • • . • • . • . • • • • • . • • • . • . • . • 4 I *RECREATIONAL LAND USE • . • • • . • • • • • • • • . • • • . • • • . • . • • • . • • . • • • • • 4 AGRICULTURAL LAND USE . • • . • . • . • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • 5 * CIRCULATION ELEMENT . • • • • • . • • . • • • • • • . • . • • • . • • • • . • • • • • • • • . • • 6 I CONSERVATION ELEMENT . • . • • . • • • . • . • • • • • • . • . • • • • • • • . • • • • . • • • • • • • • • 7 OPEN SPACE ELEMENT . • • . • • • • . • • • . • . • . • . • • • • . • • . • • . • • • • • • • 8 ECONOMIC E·LEMENT • • . • . • . • • . • • • • • . • • • • • • • . • . • • • • . • • • . • • • • . • • • • • • 8 PUBLIC FACILITIES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS ELEMENT . • • • . • . • • . • • • • • . • . • . • • • • 9 I OCEAN RESOURCES ELEMENT . • . • • . • • • • • • • • • • • . • . • . • • . • . • . • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • 9 EXTERNAL INFLUENCES .. • • • • • • . • . • . • • . • • • . • • . • • • . • • • • . •