www.montereycountynow.com june 6-12, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 When Patrice Pastor’s real estate development company, Esperanza Carmel, acquired the Rocky Point Restaurant property near Big Sur’s iconic Bixby Bridge in 2021, they also purchased a slew of violations from the previous owner. The California Coastal Commission is expected to clear those violations from the board when they meet on Friday, June 14 in Morro Bay after a tentative agreement was reached between Pastor and commission staff last month to resolve the issues. Staff recommend commissioners approve the agreement. Additions or changes to the restaurant itself, which shut down in 2020 and has remained closed since, are not part of the agreement. The violations in question involve restriction of access to public land by Peter and Grace Wang, who owned the property from 2012 until 2021, as well as a number of unpermitted development projects, clearing native vegetation for a parking area and the introduction of nonnative plant species, among other things. According to Coastal Commission documents, Esperanza has agreed to remove unpermitted construction, restore native habitat, upgrade public access to the scenic coast and record conservation easements to prevent further development on much of the property. Even before reaching the proposed agreement, the new owners had largely reopened easy public access to county-owned land on three sides of the plot. Commission enforcement staff refer to the decision as an “amicable resolution” of the existing violations. “It’s nice to have someone working hard to resolve this,” adds Martha Diehl, Big Sur resident and member of the Monterey County Planning Commission. According to Diehl, some of the restoration work involved may require additional permitting. “None of this is going to happen overnight,” she notes. Esperanza purchased the location for $8 million after the death of Peter Wang and has not reopened the restaurant since. Its proposal for facility updates has yet to be reviewed by county planning officials. “The county cannot review the plan as long as there are violations,” Diehl explains. What’s important at the moment, she points out, is that “this owner is returning public access.” In 2018, the commission began investigating reports that a gate, locked during non-restaurant hours, had been installed and signs declaring Rocky Point to be “private property” were posted on public access points. The investigation revealed further unpermitted work at the facility. Among the public access amenities to be added to the site per the proposed agreement, Esperanza will install ADA-compliant public restrooms, a picnic area overlooking the coast, and a number of dedicated parking spaces, with eight equipped for charging electric vehicles. The cost to Esperanza to mitigate violations and upgrade public access is estimated at $4 million. Fixer Upper A deal would clear Rocky Point violations, but any further development will take time. By Dave Faries The view from the back of Rocky Point restaurant. County-owned land, including the entry road, surrounds the property. The area has long been an attraction for sightseers and photographers. NEWS “This owner is returning public access.” NIC COURY
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