10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY april 18-24, 2024 www.montereycountyweekly.com Pacific Repertory Theatre amended its Golden Bough Theatre renovation project, resolving all existing issues in front of the Carmel Planning Commission on March 13. The project was previously approved in 2020, but certain details remained at issue in terms of bringing the building into full ADA compliance, next to additional design changes, proposed by PacRep with a new application submitted in 2023. The big vision includes a total rebuilding of the theater, meant to improve the audience experience. Originally constructed in the 1920s, Golden Bough Theatre has been PacRep’s home since 1995. In 1999, PacRep announced a fundraising campaign for renovations, and in 2011 completed the first phase of the project. The second phase started in 2021. “We currently have a soft opening scheduled for the late June to early July time period,” says John Newkirk, PacRep’s development and marketing executive. Among the final issues to resolve were: the size of bathrooms, the size of exit ramps and how to pave them, the Monte Verde entrance (not fully meeting the ADA requirements), the driveway (too big), the loading dock area, the fence. The commission’s concern was the project could expand the footprint of the building, increasing site coverage. PacRep Executive Director Stephen Moorer, who appeared in front of the commission with project architects and a group of supporters, said there will be no footprint expansion. He explained why the architects decided to enlarge restrooms (already ADAcompliant), adding a baby changing station and moving urinals to offer more privacy. (This additional square footage was previously approved by the Planning Commission in 2020.) The parties found a solution to everything: Ramps will be paved with concrete, the driveway can be 8 feet long and a loading dock can have a short platform to facilitate access. The biggest issue was the fence. The architects requested iron rods while the commission insisted on a wooden fence. After ensuring the rod iron fence will not have spikes and will look as “residential” as possible, the commission approved the project unanimously. PacRep will be back in front of the commission seeking approval for changes to the front, including getting rid of the current “mustard” color of the building. “This is not the color we envisioned,” Moorer said. They were going for golden. In 2010, the County of Monterey approved a master plan that would limit the number of new housing units in Carmel Valley to 266. It was too many for residents’ group Carmel Valley Association. CVA took the county to court and won—the result was a cap of 190 units. Fast forward to today, when state laws requiring cities and counties to add more housing units will force a new reality in the valley. At some point, the cap will be no more. Rather than preparing to fight, CVA leadership appears to have accepted that more units are coming. They’re turning their focus to pushing the county to make most of them affordable to the people who live and work there. “The board as a whole has come to the conclusion that the priority needs to be affordable housing,” CVA President Pris Walton says. CVA is now waiting for the county to release its draft housing plan, called a housing element, to comment in detail. The county’s Housing and Community Development director, Craig Spencer, says the draft will be released in mid-May for a 30-day public comment period. The county must add 3,326 units to its housing element, almost 2,000 of which are in the very low-, low- and moderate-income categories. Some of those will need to be in Carmel Valley. Now five months past the state deadline to complete and approve a housing element in order for the California Department of Housing and Community Development to certify it, the county is vulnerable to state fines and penalties. It also leaves the county open to what’s known as the builder’s remedy, laws that enable developers to get larger projects approved when there is no certified housing element in place, as long as there is 20-percent affordable housing included in a project. On April 9, county planners received a builder’s remedy application for 59 single-family market-rate homes and 15 townhomes deed-restricted as low-income—20 percent of the 74 units total—on Val Verde Drive, at the mouth of Carmel Valley. Show Time With Planning Commission’s blessing, PacRep moves forward on theater remodel. By Agata Pop˛eda news FARM FAIR Farmworkers can receive information on several agencies dedicated to supporting well-being via housing, healthcare, labor rights and more. San Ardo’s community resource fair has information available, plus snacks and raffle prizes. 5:30-8pm Thursday, April 18. San Ardo School District, 2428 Center St., San Ardo. 208-4295. ONE PLANET Hear from speakers who are involved in protecting the planet this Earth Day at this climate justice forum hosted by the local chapter of the Climate Reality Project. With the effects of climate change already being felt, this is a chance to learn about how to make a difference. 9:30-11:30am Saturday, April 20. Monterey United Methodist Church, 1 Soledad Drive, Monterey. 375-8285, chapter@climaterealitymb.org. STAY HERE The Monterey Hostel has reopened after three-and-a-half years of renovations. To showcase the new space, they’re holding an open house where you can see the work that was done and learn more about its nonprofit work. 11am-3pm Saturday, April 20. Monterey Hostel, 778 Hawthorne St., Monterey. 394-5656, montereyhostel. com. GREEN THUMB Get your garden ready with the UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties’ annual spring plant sale. Proceeds go to benefit the all-volunteer UC Master Gardener program. Shop the plant sale online until Sunday, April 21. 759-7351, mbmg.ucanr.edu. FIND A JOB Various businesses and organizations set up at Hartnell College to share information on full- and part-time job openings, as well as internships and volunteer opportunities. 11am-2pm Monday, April 22. Hartnell College, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. Free. 755-6700, hartnell.edu. BIG HELP Big Sur neighbors are asking for help due to the Highway 1 closure south of Rocky Creek Bridge, which is restricting access except by the daily convoys. Donations to the Big Sur Disaster Relief Fund set up by the Community Foundation for Monterey County will be used for grantmaking to local nonprofits supporting the Big Sur community. Donate by mail, phone or online. Mail: Community Foundation for Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940, “Attn: Big Sur Disaster Relief Fund.” 375-9712, cfmco.org/bigsur-relief-fund. Squeeze Play Carmel Valley residents won a housing unit cap in court. New state laws are going to break it. By Pam Marino Stephen Moorer inside the Golden Bough Theatre, currently under construction. The project is a complete remodel, including new seats, a new lobby and new lighting. e-mail: toolbox@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “We have a soft opening scheduled for late June to early July.” Daniel Dreifuss
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