Category: Big Sur News

Where is bigsurkate?

I know it doesn’t look like I am as active as I usually am, but I have entered a phase on my Tourist Tuesdays that requires a more time and effort on my part – that, and a vacation to the desert, a funeral, illnesses, and appointments in Palo Alto have kept me busy.

I like where my Tourist Tuesdays is taking me, and I hope you are enjoying looking for a long-term solution for the “bigger picture” and not just the poo on the side of the road. We need to continue to work on specific issues like bathrooms, traffic, enforcement, etc. while we explore a new paradigm for sharing our coast with visitors.

 

The absurdity of a food truck at Bixby Bridge, 1/6/18

Yes, that is a “food truck” in the form of a trailer. And yes, it set up shop on the Bixby Bridge turnout. And yes, that is a customer standing in line. At one point, I am informed, the line was edging over the white fog line. Thanks Ken Ecklund for taking the photo and Martha for sending it. I will make sure and send this on.

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STRs, part 3, 1/5/18

Probably THE most comprehensive website on Short Term Rentals in Monterey County can be found here:

Preserve Monterey Neighborhoods

This is their mission statement:

“This is a working group to consider litigation, voter initiative, and activism options to stop STR in Monterey County.

We are looking for constructive suggestions and a healthy debate to develop a consensus and action plan that can win. The purpose of this website is to be a resource for information that may be helpful.

In the Coastal Zone of Monterey, every City and area has at least one group opposing STR except for Seaside and Marina. In the one city where STR is currently legal (Pacific Grove), opposition is growing and organizing. There is a page for each that has their public statements and/or Comments to the Planning Commission.”

I urge you to explore this website for a wealth of available information about this issue before the January 10th workshop with the Planning Commission. I will offer bits & pieces of it as I can.

 

STRs, part II, 1/4/18

One of the more comprehensive journalistic stories done on short term rentals in Monterey Peninsula was penned by Joe Livernois and published by Voices of Monterey Peninsula a month ago. Mr. Livernois investigated those communities that had regulated STRs as well as those with outright bans. His article is a good place to start for an overall picture of the ways STRs change neighborhoods for the good and for the bad. It can be found here:

Livernois’s STRs article in Voices

It is really worth the time and effort it takes to read it. See what Carmel has done and see what Pacific Grove has done. Each has taken a completely different approach, and as could be expected, with completely different results. It is an issue which is not going to go away, but which needs to be addressed. It is not only Big Sur that will be affected, it is all the unincorporated areas of Monterey County – Carmel Valley and the Highlands, for example. However, as many vacationers want to spend it on the coast, those of us ON the coast will face the biggest impacts. Airbnb has changed the face of the visitor worldwide.

Short Term Rentals in Big Sur

One cannot look at the impacts of tourism in Big Sur without also looking at the impact of Short Term Rentals (STR). In one week, the Planning Commission will hold a public workshop to discuss this issue. Below you will find the announcement in a pdf format converted to jpg. In the days ahead, as necessary weather reports allow, I will post information on the issue to help those of you who wish to prepare for the meeting. On the weather front, we will finally get some rain today, thankfully.

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Tourism Tuesday, 12/26/17

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TOUR BUSES AT THE PERITO MORENO GLACIER, LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK, ARGENTINE PATAGONIA. PHOTO: JONATHAN TOURTELLOT

“Overtourism has been manifesting itself for over two decades in popular countries like Spain, Italy, and France. But somehow the population pressure hit the red zone this year. Says one colleague, “It’s the topic du jour. The phrase is on the lips of every travel expert, every pseudo-expert, and every travel industry opportunist.”

Residents have raised a chorus of protest: “Too many tourists!”

No surprise. From Barcelona to Venice, from Reykjavik to Santorini, residents have raised a chorus of protest: “TOO MANY TOURISTS!” Plenty of visitors chime in: Not what we came for. How can a visitor experience the delights of a foreign city if the streets are packed with thousands—yes, thousands—of cruise-ship passengers and lined with global franchises to cater to them? Serious travelers increasingly dismiss such places—“too touristy.”

Pressed beyond tolerable limits, some destinations are fighting back. Dubrovnik is instituting severe caps on cruise passengers, as is Santorini. Italy’s Cinque Terre is ready to impose quotas on people hiking between the five picturesque villages. The Seychelles wants to limit hotel sizes to protect their reputation as an Indian Ocean paradise.” (To be Continued next week)

 

Highway 1 closure update, 12/18/17

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Photos: 1-3 of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) from Wednesday, Dec. 13 ; photos 4-6 of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52) from Monday, Dec. 11 .

HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE – Monday, Dec. 18
State Route 1 in Monterey County remains closed from north of Salmon Creek, just south of the Ranger Station (PM 3) to just south of Gorda (PM 10) due to the Mud Creek slide. State Route 1 south of Salmon Creek is accessible via State Route 1 in San Luis Obispo County near Ragged Point.

REMINDER: Travelers still CANNOT access the entire length of Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria but local businesses are open on both sides of Mud Creek.

Mud Creek (PM 8.9)
Mud Creek had a major slide on Saturday, May 20, 2017, losing over 5 million cubic yards of material. Caltrans continues with its plan to realign the existing terrain with the projected timeline to safely open to public traffic is late-summer 2018 at an estimated cost of $40 million.

Last week, the contractor continued placing rock revetment, working from the north going south and will place rock revetment across the entire toe. Also, construction continues of the south fill embankment. These same operations will continue this week.

There is currently no public/local access through the Mud Creek area since this remains an active, emergency construction zone.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)
Paul’s Slide is still active but the 24/7 traffic signal remains in place and temporary guardrail (k-rail) in the centerline.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge [PCB] (PM 45.52)
Final work continues for several weeks. Roadwork at Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge consists of alternating lane closures from 7 am to 4 pm Mondays through Thursdays and 7 am to 2 pm on Fridays until work is complete. Last week the contractor continued with prep and painting on the girders; installed the joint seal assemblies; performed permanent seeding and mulching, and completed the underground electrical for the seismic sensors. This week, the contractor will continue painting the girders, finish permanent seeding, remove concrete debris in turnout south of the project, and perform concrete finishing on structure—activities this week will require lane closures, as mentioned above.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones.

The next update will be on Wednesday, Dec. 27. Happy Holidays to all!!! ☺
Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]

STRs – Short Term Rentals, 12/14/17

Short Term Rentals are a controversial subject among residents in almost all communities. It is not an easy subject to discuss in many circumstances, as the opponents and supporters on each side tend to hold some strong feelings about the issue. One local attorney is exploring the idea of a voter’s referendum to determine the appropriateness of these commercial enterprises among local residential areas. Others claim this is an inappropriate avenue, given the Coast Commission’s position on STR. I will be covering this subject over the next few weeks and providing information as I can to help you decide for yourself what will work in your area.

First, is the position the Carmel Valley Association sent out today:

”CVA’s Position on Short Rentals

The Carmel Valley Association recognizes that short-term rentals have the potential to have negative impacts in residential areas, especially when unlimited, concentrated and unregulated. Control of STRs is necessary to ensure that they will be compatible with surrounding residential uses and will not harm or change the residential character of existing neighborhoods. Additionally, we are very concerned about ensuring that STRs do not further increase traffic on our over-burdened roads and intersections.

A review of local and non-local ordinances in other jurisdictions indicates that the following elements are critical to effectively control potential negative impacts of STR’s:
*Short-term rentals must have permits and be regulated.
*Rental properties must comply with zoning and building codes.
*Number of occupants must be limited and parking adequate, preferably on site.
*Safety and health codes must be maintained by periodic inspection.
*Wells and septic systems must be inspected, maintained and meet public health standards.
*Density of STRS must be limited in neighborhoods to control their residential character.
*Nuisances must be controlled (such as noise, lights).
*Rentals must be subject to the County’s Transient Occupancy Tax and initial fee must be paid in person directly to the County.
*Notice to, and approval by, neighbors of STRS must be required.. Permission of neighbors to use private road or shared driveway must be required.
*Owners/residents must live on site and be available and responsive.
*The ordinance must be enforced and adequate funds provided for that enforcement.”

Shooting on Nac-Ferg Rd. Tonight, 12/11/17

MCSO responded to reports of a shooting 5.5 miles up Nacimiento from Highway One. (Near Summit) They gave chase to the shooter, and lost him. A helicopter assisted in the search and came right by my house down Prewitt Loop but was lower than my house. The suspect was eventually caught on San Miguelito Loop, over by the Mission on FHL. They retrieved the pump action shotgun and EMS was ordered from FHL, as well as a life-flight. Victim drove himself past the med 24 and ended up at Post Ranch. (This report put together with help from Jim Kimball who sent reports from scanner.) The victim is Peter Harris, USFS. From his wife:

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Fire behind Ventana, 12/11/17

7:15 am – As of 12:34 am, a fire back behind Ventana was reported at about 3 acres.  It was reported to me that evacuations were issued. 4 LPF responded. I am sure BSVFB, also, but have no collorboration. At 2:11 am, Ryan Webster was made IC, but at 3:29 am, Peter Harris was made IC, both of the LPNF, and the acreage was reduced to 1.6 acres.