Arguably one of California’s most visited areas has become too popular…at least for some locals. Residents in Big Sur have called on the Monterey County Planning Commission to enact a moratorium on new lodging development.
In a letter made public by Keep Big Sur Wild—a group of residents concerned with protecting the scenic landscape, sensitive natural resources, and wild, rural character of the Big Sur coastal region—the group asked the Planning Commission to recommend the imposition of a moratorium on new Visitor Serving Units (VSUs) while the Planning Commission continues its work. “Without such a moratorium, irreversible land use impacts will likely occur,” the letter states.
“The moratorium is necessary for at least three reasons,” the letter continues. “First, the goals of the existing Land Use Plan (LUP) underscore the critical importance of the VSU limitations. Without effective implementation and enforcement of the limitations, the Plan’s goals cannot be met. Second, changes in markets and development patterns are currently undermining the Land Use Plan’s limitations. Third, the County’s confusion and lax enforcement of the VSU cap requires clarity now, rather than waiting for completion of the LUP Update process.”
The group specifically calls out that the Land Use Plan—currently in the midst of an update—did not anticipate the emergence of the new kinds of visitor serving uses that currently threaten Big Sur, namely “glamping” sites that function much more like lodge or inn units and the mass popularity of converting residential units to short-term rentals.
According to the S.F. Chronicle, the 70-mile area in Monterey County receives more annual visitors than Yosemite. A significant portion of Big Sur is currently inaccessible by car due to slide damage on Highway 1.
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