Alarmed by recent large hotel proposals for Montara, the MCC held two well-attended meetings in March to discuss the extremely limited development standards in the C-1 zoning ordinance for Midcoast neighborhood commercial districts that can lead to this type of oversize development insensitive to community character. MCC 3/22/17 letter & slide presentation to Supervisor Horsley and Community Development Director Steve Monowitz urged their support for an updated Neighborhood Commercial ordinance specific for the Midcoast.
The 3/29/17 County reply details the reasons for denying the MCC request, basically that existing standards adequately protect community character and that the Planning Dept is too busy the next few years with other long-range projects.
Instead of development standards that clearly and simply guide appropriate development that preserves our unique coastal small town character, we are left with long and contentious permit approval cycles and appeals with uncertain results.
Montara 13-unit hotel plans - MCC comments - CCC staff comments