City Planners to View New General Plan
The city staff’s vision of the new General Plan will be presented before the Planning Commission Thursday night. Highlights of the new plan are projects proposed at Cypress Knolls and 3rd Avenue; a possible future hotel and retail center at the airport; an extension of CSUMB along with student housing in the 8th Street area; a campus retail center and a parking lot near 2nd Avenue; an improved gateway to the city from Beach Road; an expansion of the sports facilities in Preston Park and improvements in the surrounding townhomes.
All together, it’s an ambitious, exciting future that the plan has in mind for the city. More housing would be created around Cypress Knolls, at least 1,500 units, along with medical offices and a small retail node. A new road connection would link Imjin and 2nd.
Over at 8th Street, new walking trails and gathering places would be created; while a mix of new uses would be created closer to the college. On Beach Road, more retail space would be created at the gateway to support the existing hotels. A mini park or plaza might also be added. And the plan for Preston/Abrams park is even more ambitious, building out the athletic field into a sports complex with multiple fields, viewing stands, concession stands, and more.
You can view the whole plan here.
Las Animas Back on Agenda
City staff are also srecommending the Planning Commission approve a Conditional Use Permit to allow the continued operation of the Las Animas concrete plant at 499 Ninth Street.
According to the resolution for approval, written by staff and available to view on the city’s website, the plant will be allowed to operate for three more years before taking a year to dismantle. As it is an existing facility, the whole operation is exempt from environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
The plant first began operating in 2005. In 2023, Las Animas began negotiations to extend its lease with the city when it was discovered the plant has been operating without a permit since 2017. Last October, the plant submitted plans for a new CUP and it has been under review for the past year.
The project site has existing material bunkers, hoppers, an air compressor shed, admix shed, a parts room, workshop space, two 55-foot-tall silos, one 125-footlong conveyor, and four 30×15 foot washouts/settling ponds. The proposed project would not add new improvements, expand the existing facility, or increase operations. The plant would operate from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. up to six days per week, employing 14 people. There would be up to 35 truck trips per day in and out of the plant. There would also be nighttime operations at the plant between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. up to 30 days per year.
The Planning Commission had originally been set to approve the project without much discussion, but some residents living nearby have expressed concern. Marie Weiner submitted a detailed seven-page letter to the Planning Commission outlining her opposition. According to her letter, what’s being requested is not simply a renewal or extension because the prior CUP expired in 2017, making this a new request. And since that CUP was last issued in 2012, hundreds of homes have been built nearby. There are also cultural resources involved, claims the letter, as the Marina Equestrian Center borders the facility and should be considered a historical resource. The letter is co-signed by her husband Adam Weiner, along with 11 other local residents. California State Monterey Bay also wrote a letter opposing the plant.
Both CSUMB and Weiner object to the noise. Weiner’s letter says that the Ambient Noise Study was insufficient as it only measured the noise coming from the site, and not the noise created by trucks coming and going on the surrounding streets. All of this and more, the letter says, makes the project non-compliant with the California Environmental Quality Act. A supplemental letter of Weiner’s states a hosts of reasons as well, including the claim that the Marina Municipal Code requires an M zoning (Manufacture) for a concrete plant and the operation does not qualify as Light Industrial.
The letter from CSUMB says the noise generated from braking trucks and operations at night exceed the city’s limits and will disrupt students as they sleep and study.
The meeting, at 211 Hillcrest Avenue, starts at 6:30 p.m. Click here to attend by Zoom.
Miss Margarita’s to Reopen
The commission is also recommended to approve a Conditional Use Permit for Miss Margarita’s Child Development Center at 226 Beach Road. Owned by John Mims and Margarita Ramos, the business first began operating in 1992. However, the business license expired in 2023 and it has been closed, but after having the proper inspections done, Ramos has applied for a new Conditional Use Permit. Now the center will be able to care for 48 children while employing four people. The 48-child capacity was determined by the available parking, with 10 children allowed per space.
Homes for Sale
Three homes in Marina have come on the market in the past week and they probably won’t last long. Call me today at (831) 869-2484 if you would like to look at any of them.
• At 236 Haben Circle is this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home for $890,000. It has hardwood floors, custom cabinets and granite countertops.
• 16526 Alexander Lane has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and is located in East Garrison. It’s a two-story with an open design for $825,000.
• 3106 Redwood Circle is the least expensive of the three. Listed at $798,000, it has four bedrooms and 2 baths on a single level with more than 1,900 square feet of space.
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POLICE REPORTS
Nov. 14
• Little of note: A 21-year-old man arrested for shoplifting on General Stillwell Drive, and a 66-year-old man arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, most likely a syringe or a meth pipe.
Nov. 15
• On Seacrest Avenue, a 22-year-old was charged with obstructing a police officer or medical technician, assault and threatening a crime with intent to terrorize.
• At the intersection of Carmelo Circle and Carmel Avenue, a person was charged with driving a vehicle without a bumper, possession of drug paraphernalia and battery on a police officer.
• A report on Palm Avenue of threatening a crime with intent to terrorize.
Nov. 16
• A 46-year-old man on Beach Road was charged with violating probation, resisting arrest, and possession of narcotics.
• A 21-year-old on Reservation Road was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, but not a firearm.
• A 26-year-old on Reservation Road was charged with drug possession.
Nov. 17
Nothing of note
This newsletter brought to you by Jon Chown, Renee Mello & Associates, DRE#02040730 PHONE: (831) 869-2484 or email chownbiz@gmail.com.