14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 5-11, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Alarm bells began ringing across the state in the wake of the devastation of the Los Angeles County fires. Suddenly it became evident that even communities thought to be “safe” from wildfires were vulnerable. The CalFire Hazard Severity Maps were updated and on March 10, neighborhoods in Monterey County found themselves newly coded bright red for very high risk, orange for high risk or yellow for moderate risk for wildfires. The new designation comes with new regulations, including neighborhoods in Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel, where within about three years structures will be required to have a defensible space, including a 5-foot space with no vegetation or debris. Large trees will have to be trimmed back. For now it’s all about education, says Jennifer Valdez, fire inspector and fire mitigation specialist with the Monterey Fire Department, which covers all three cities. “Our bottom line is we don’t want people to panic,” she says. “We are here to work with you.” The department mobilized after the maps were released to hire and train six new defensible space inspectors, joining one existing inspector. The three-week training was completed at the end of May. Over the next few months the inspectors will be going out across the cities, first to inspect vacant lots, regardless of what wildfire zone they’re in. Property owners are notified if debris needs to be removed or vegetation cut back. Next they will visit homes in the very high-risk areas, followed by high-risk then moderate-risk neighborhoods. They hope to be done by September. Inspectors will first take a look at any structural weaknesses—wood shake roofs, single-paned windows, for example—and make recommendations for home hardening improvements. Next they will look at surrounding vegetation and advise on what needs to be removed to comply with upcoming regulations. Part of the goal is to prevent homeowners from making costly landscaping decisions and other changes that would later have to be removed once enforcement begins. The inspectors will also be looking at homes that are in violation of an existing ordinance that took effect Jan. 1, 2023. That ordinance requires people to remove “combustible vegetation” from within 100 feet, or to the property line, from structures, whichever is closer. Division Chief Justin Cooper says they are looking for tall weeds, leaves collecting on rooftops and other debris that could result in a fire, among other risk factors. Delays, design constraints and cost are all-too-familiar factors cited as obstacles to creating affordable housing. Such is the case of Soledad’s 132-unit Miravale housing project, which has been in the works since 2003 and was approved by the City in 2019 on the condition that developer HMBY, LP provide 52 affordable units—24 moderate-income for-sale units and 28 rental units for low- and very low-income households. The rental portion of the project is in the process of being transferred to Eden Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing developer that HMBY partnered with in 2013. Eden Housing was granted a density bonus, which will allow them to increase the number of affordable rental units from 28 to 39, plus one non-deed-restricted manager’s unit. “I can’t tell you how valuable that is,” says Megan Hunter, Soledad city manager. She adds that the nonprofit has invested roughly $1 million to facilitate the project. While HMBY remains on the hook for the remaining for-sale units, the developer has told city leaders that negotiating with a builder to construct the moderate-income homes has been challenging. So the developer proposed a new plan: reduce the number of moderate-income homes from 24 to one, pay the city a $460,000 in-lieu fee to cover the remaining units, and donate a 16,000-square-foot parcel of land (valued at $218,000) for a future affordable housing development. Soledad City Council was set to discuss the proposed amendments on Wednesday, June 4, after the Weekly’s deadline. Hunter says this will protect homebuyers, as the units will have deed restrictions that go beyond the initial sale—preventing buyers from immediately reselling at market rate—in addition to city oversight. She believes the project will be more attractive for moderate-income housing developers if offered at low cost, subsidized by HMBY’s new plan. “We have a few infill projects left,” Hunter says, “and we’re laser focused on getting those developed.” Fire Safe Inspectors are going door to door to educate property owners on wildfire risk. By Pam Marino NEWS COMMUNITY BOOST The City of Seaside has prepared a draft plan for its Community Development Block Grant Program, which determines how the city will use federal funds to support housing, infrastructure and other services that benefit low- and moderate-income households. Public comment is accepted. 5pm Thursday, June 5 and Tuesday, June 24. City Council Chambers, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free. 8996726, ci.seaside.ca.us/CDBG. SARDINE EMPIRE Historian Tim Thomas leads a walking tour focused on Monterey’s sardine industry, hosted by the Fisherman’s Wharf Association. 10am Saturday, June 7. Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. Free. Reserve a space at 646-3933, monterey.gov/library/events. WATERSHED MOMENT Share your thoughts on how best to manage the Pajaro River Watershed in light of the growing number of climate-fueled disasters. The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency hosts a workshop to gather feedback on a future plan. 9am-noon Tuesday, June 10. Online via Zoom. Free. RSVP at bit.ly/ PVWaterJune10. 722-9292, pvwater. org/prwrp. ON THE DAIS The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board of Education meets and accepts public comment. 6:30pm Tuesday, June 10. District office, 540 Canyon Del Rey, Del Rey Oaks. Free. 645-1200, mpusd.net. STUDENT SUCCESS Salinas Union High School District holds a public hearing to receive input on its Local Control Accountability Plan, determining how state funding is allocated. 6:30pm Tuesday, June 10. District office, 431 W. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. 796-7000, salinasuhsd.org. PLANNING MATTERS Monterey County Planning Commission meets to discuss various development projects, including the construction of accessory dwelling units at two homes in Carmel. 9am Wednesday, June 11. Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. 755-5025, countyofmonterey.gov. SETTING FEES The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency Board of Directors meets to consider setting groundwater sustainability fees for the upcoming year. Public comment is accepted. 3pm Thursday, June 12. City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. 471-7519, svbgsa.org/fy-2026-fee. Housing Swap Years after project approval, a developer in Soledad asks to revise affordable housing plan. By Katie Rodriguez Monterey Fire interns Cindy Williams (left) and Ava Valdez walk up a driveway in Monterey to talk with the owners as they conduct defensible space inspections. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “We don’t want people to panic.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
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