10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Nearly every seat was filled at the Big Sur Multi-Agency Facility on March 10. It’s uncommon to see a Land Use Agency Committee meeting at this level of capacity, LUAC members noted. They sat alongside the two people in the hot seat, there to defend a project involving popular campgrounds in Big Sur. Robin Bot-Miller, COO of EOS Investors—the company that owns Big Sur Campground and Cabins, Riverside Campground and Cabins, and the Pheneger Creek Community Housing Project—was flanked by Mike Linder, a consultant for EOS and a Big Sur resident. Their proposal aims to modernize the sites while addressing years of deferred maintenance. “We’re now five years in,” Linder said. “The Coastal Commission forced us to come forward with this massive project, so here we are with all three properties in one big project…I think this is a change for the better.” LUAC members thanked the presenters for what they described as a thorough and thoughtful proposal that worked within existing land-use codes. They unanimously recommended approval of the plan, which will head to the County Planning Commission. Linder said traffic, tourism impacts and housing concerns guided the proposal, which he described as a redevelopment rather than new development. The plan adds 24 housing units, bringing the total employee housing to 30 units. Of those, 28 would be reserved for employee housing and two would be set aside for people who work in the community. The number of visitor-serving units will shrink, from 130 to 107, with those 23 becoming tent-only sites. A key difference for the other sites is that visitors would no longer be able to bring their own RVs. Instead, they would be fixed “park-model units,” functioning like trailers but legally considered RVs because they would have wheels and the ability to be removed. A total of 61 tent-only campsites are proposed—50 at Riverside Campground and 11 at Big Sur Campground—with 13 designated as affordable. Linder argued these changes, in addition to the creation of a cafe, would help reduce traffic and keep visitors on site. “I completely understand the project in a different light,” LUAC member Christina DiPaci said. “There’s going to be a major improvement and it’s going to change how Big Sur interacts with Riverside. It’s a thoughtful and considerate approach, and a change needs to happen.” It’s been more than 20 years since Terry Tallen, CEO of Tallen Capital Partners, purchased the former Kmart building in Marina and brought Walmart to the city. With the exception of Quick Quack Car Wash opening in 2023, the rest of the Marina Landing Shopping Center on Beach Road has remained stagnant, with empty plots of land waiting for businesses to set up shop. Tallen says the shopping center lacks visibility from Highway 1, with relatively low traffic counts, estimated at about 20,000 vehicles passing by on Beach and Reservation roads daily. He’s been pushing the City of Marina for years to rezone his 5.5-acre portion of land next to Walmart as mixed-use to allow for future residential development that will give the center built-in customers and spur new retailers. That now seems to be gaining traction within city government, as the Marina Planning Commission voted 6-1 in November to recommend the city council rezone the property. It’s part of discussions around updating the Local Coastal Program, a land use document that covers 1.5 square miles of Marina, including the shopping center. Tallen points to the major mixed-use development at the Dunes in south Marina, and says north Marina is subjected to outdated zoning laws that hinder development. “We want equal property rights,” he says. “The bones of it are all good. It’s a great mixed-use/residential site. You can walk to a public library. You can walk to Locke-Paddon Park. You can walk to Monterey Bay. You’ve got a bus stop, and you’ve got a Walmart.” In a report to the council, Senior Planner Phil Angelo writes that city planners believe the land should be kept as commercial, as the city needs more retailers in light of the number of new housing units constructed. Yet, the Planning Commission considered how long the site has been vacant, leading to its recommendation for mixed use. The council is expected to discuss the plan on Tuesday, March 17. At Camp LUAC backs reconfiguration of two Big Sur campgrounds. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS PUBLIC PROCESS Monterey City Council meets and accepts public comment. Tell your elected officials what they are doing well and what you think they can do better. 4pm Tuesday, March 17. Colton Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. (831) 646-3799, monterey.gov. DRIVE SAFE A workshop focuses on how cannabis affects driving and the legal consequences of driving under the influence. The workshop, presented by the County of Monterey Health Department, is geared toward teens and their parents. 5:30-7:30pm Tuesday, March 17. Government Center, 1441 Schilling Place, Salinas. Free. Register at bit. ly/DUIworkshopMC. (831) 796-2871, covarrubiasL2@countyofmonterey.gov. LEADERS IN STEM Employers in the STEM fields will be on hand to meet with job seekers during the Monterey County STEM Talent Expo. Attendees can take part in mock interviews, networking, free professional headshots and more. 1-4pm Wednesday, March 18. Hartnell College STEM Center, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. Free. asanchez@hartnellcollegefoundation.org, mcstemtalentexpo. com. GET HIRED Monterey County Works hosts a job fair to connect local employers with job seekers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their résumés and dress to impress. 1-4pm Wednesday, March 18. Career Center, 344 Salinas St., Salinas. Free. (831) 796-3335. Register at montereycountyworks.com. RENTAL RIGHTS Salinas City Councilmember Tony Barrera hosts a discussion on housing rights. The event—open to renters, property owners, managers and the general public—will discuss rent increases, tenant protections and more. 6-7:30pm Thursday, March 19. Cesar Chavez Library, 615 Williams Road, Salinas. Also via Zoom at bit. ly/4tOUdj5. Free. (831) 566-0824, fernando@echofairhousing.org. FUTURE LEADERS The City of Salinas’ Youth Leadership Academy helps students build leadership skills, create résumés and learn how to master interviews. The weeklong program is open to teens ages 13-18. 9am-1pm March 23-27. Community Center, 940 N. Main St., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7096, lizbeth.garcia@salinas.gov. Live and Shop Property owner pushes for housing development next to Marina’s Walmart. By Erik Chalhoub Mike Linder, Big Sur consultant for EOS Investors (wearing a hat), sits left of Robin BotMiller, COO of the company, at a LUAC meeting on Tuesday, March 10. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “It’s going to change how Big Sur interacts with Riverside.” KATIE RODRIGUEZ
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