Big Wave project hearing tonight in El Granada

This meeting regarding “Big Wave, LLC” is being described as a “Pre-application PUBLIC WORKSHOP” but according to a friend of mine there was no Published Notice of this meeting nor, was the Mid-Coast Community Council advised of it taking place; only people residing at the El Granada Mobile Home Park were sent a Notice - this bypasses needed public scrutiny and that is just plain wrong!

Project Description: Major Development Pre-application Review, Coastal Development Permit, Use Permit, Major Subdivision and Grading Permit for (1) Office Park (4 two-story office buildings, plus common area), and (2) “Wellness Center” (36 one and two-story apartment and condominium housing units for disabled adults, plus associated common areas and commercial uses). For more information & to be placed on the mailing list for Notices contact Lisa Aozasa, Project Planner at 363-4852.

The location of this proposed project is more properly described as being directly adjacent to the Pillar Point Marsh and may well directly involve areas of the Pillar Point Marsh! The Notice does not reveal just how much Marsh would be graded and hauled away however I have heard that the proposed grading would do MASSIVE damage to the associated Marsh areas.

Note that the proponents/attorneys (Ex-County attorneys Michael McCraken & Dave Byers) would need to make an amendment to the Mid-Coast’s LCP to increase the LCP Buildout Numbers which are comprised of the out-dated over-estimates from the 1980’s where the hundreds if not thousands of antiquated 25’ Sub-Standard Lots in the Mid-Coast are not even represented!

Also troubling is the fact that this proposed project involves a move on the part of the Coastside County Water District (CCWD) to hijack the Water Service Area belonging to the Montara Water/Sanitary District (MWSD).

What would the addition of this huge development do to the traffic flow on SR 1 & SR 92?

Please attend this meeting and provide your concerns - it is at the El Granada School Multi-purpose Room tonight from 7pm to 9pm.

Barb Mauz

Another go-around for an attempt to put an office park on this property. Even J.L. Johnston once had an option for an office park there and proceeded to cut away some of the freshwater end of the marsh (to create an “edge effect” that would take out even more of the marsh on its own) and to drain the upper end of the wetland out to airport road to deny the wetland some of its necessary water supply.

Big Wave is nothing more than the carrot. It’s similar to affordable housing proposals where only a quarter of the units will be so-called “affordable” (in itself a ridiculous set of figures in San Mateo County) and the rest market rate.

If Big Wave is a good idea, why can’t it stand on its own? (Or fall on its own, in view of the fact it will be adjacent to a substantial fault.) And why can’t Big Wave be located in a less remote place where its residents can be better integrated into the community?

Yup, it’s a development scam shamelessly using good people in need of a residential setting as shoehorns.

Carl May

I made the announcement for this pre-application project review at the beginning and end of the last MCC meeting. I also announced it during MCC comments at the MWSD meeting - which will be shown tomorrow night. The notice had been mailed to folks in Pillar Ridge who live close by and to agencies; there are probably others.

It is not too late to comment. Please send your comments to Lisa Grote at the County Planning Dept.

Darin Boville was taking notes. I look forward to his article.

Kathryn