12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Faced with a problematic wastewater treatment plant, Greenfield City Council took drastic measures last year, voting to pause new construction to prevent further strain on the aging facility. However, that moratorium remains on standby pending final approval from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. A threemonth waiting period as a result of a backlog at the state agency has turned into a wait of over seven months. “We don’t yet have their approval to actually have the building moratorium in place, nor do we know why,” Greenfield City Manager Paul Wood writes via email. This isn’t the only policy that is on standby. Since the city didn’t include a moratorium when it submitted its housing element—a plan produced every eight years to map out the zoning for needed new development— Greenfield will also have to resubmit its housing development plan to HCD for approval. City officials pursued the moratorium to minimize impact on the wastewater treatment plant, which came under scrutiny from a different state agency, the Central Coast Regional Water Board, which issued three notices of violation since 2024 and in April 2025, ordered Greenfield to build a new plant by 2030. Meanwhile, operational issues with the existing wastewater plant persist, including slow percolation, slow processing and high influx. “Legally, we cannot stop permitting projects that are coming to the pipeline,” Public Works Director Jamie Tugel says. “That’s going to increase the load even further to our wastewater plant.” Since the moratorium was adopted last August, the City Council has not approved any new development, but four residential projects have received approval from the Planning Commission. Those include a 350unit, single-family subdivision and three multi-family projects: Phase II of Greenfield Commons at 100 new units, and two more for another 100 units combined, according to city planner Brent Slama. “Should any of them receive permits prior to the moratorium going through, they would certainly have an impact on the existing sewer plant,” Slama writes via email. The plant is permitted for an average daily flow below 1.2 million gallons. Tugel says they exceed the mark several times a month. With agricultural harvest season approaching, Tugel expects flow to increase by up to 100,000 gallons per day. Despite the delay, the process to get funding is advancing. The city is working with the State Water Board’s Department of Financial Assistance on its application to obtain grants and loans to build a new $111.3 million wastewater plant, with a capacity of up to 2 million gallons per day. (The city is seeking $75 million in grants and $36 million in low-interest loans.) Last year, Greenfield City Council approved increasing sewer rates. “We needed to show that we could pay for this wastewater plant even if we didn’t get the funding,” Tugel says. Out Flow State approval for Greenfield’s building moratorium on standby while wastewater issues persist. By Celia Jiménez Greenfield’s wastewater treatment plant exceeds its permitted daily flow of 1.2 million gallons several times per month, particularly during recent rains. NEWS “They would certainly have an impact on the existing sewer plant.” CELIA JIMÉNEZ 484 Washington St., Downtown Monterey 11:30am Mon—Fri 10am Sat & Sun melvilletav.com (831) 643-9525 scan QR code for menu IT’S MARCH MADNESS WATCH ALL THE GAMES HERE CORNED BEEF & CABBAGE, CORN BEEF SANDWICHES, IRISH BEER SPECIALS LIVE MUSIC TUESDAYS, 6:30-8:30PM DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY (HOUR) SUN-THURS 4–6PM DRINK BEER & EAT HERE ON ST. PADDY’S DAY GRAB YOUR BEST GREEN GARB AND JOIN US ON TUESDAY MARCH 17! 831-230-0910 1730 The Mall | Seaside SullivansAutoService.com *Cannot combine. 10% off labor only. Must present coupon at check-in. Shop supplies and any additional parts extra. Limited time only Spring Special 10% OFF BRAKES UP TO $150 OFF BOOK NOW!
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