LandWatch’s mission is to create a blueprint for sustainability, using Monterey County as a model.
LandWatch advocates climate-friendly infill housing near jobs and affordable to local residents. We also work to preserve natural lands and farmland.
Though often cast as separate or even conflicting issues, the success of each - affordable housing and land conservation - hinges on the success of both. Supporting housing that is close to jobs and amenities reduces climate impacts. More compact housing is, by design, more affordable. When developers pave over farmland to provide expensive sprawl housing for Silicon Valley commuters, they price local working families out of the market.
LandWatch is currently organizing Gonzales residents to make the proposed Vista Lucia development more affordable and climate-friendly. Through bilingual outreach, we are raising awareness of who will benefit and who will be left out. We are providing the tools to demand a better project. Empowering the local community to hold decision makers accountable is critical to our individual and collective success.
Without LandWatch, Monterey County would be a very different place — less open space and farmland, and fewer housing options for our local workforce. LandWatch advocates climate-friendly infill housing near jobs and affordable to local residents. We oppose sprawl development on natural and agricultural lands. Our work benefits all of Monterey County, including all 12 cities and future growth areas identified in the County's General Plan. Importantly, our work focuses on current AND future residents. We are a strong voice for sustainability and the next generation. Through our efforts and advocacy today, we create Monterey County's tomorrow.
Where would we be without LandWatch? As a former Monterey County Supervisor, I know how effective LandWatch has been as our advocate for sustainable development. For the past 25 years LandWatch has served as our watchdog over constantly threatened natural resources, farmlands, coast, and water supplies. Tirelessly, LandWatch advocates for city-centered, climate-friendly growth, and affordable housing. It has alerted us to bad projects, like the Monterey Downs horse track and Armstrong Ranch subdivision—and stopped them. But needed projects like Pebble Beach’s workforce housing and Tanimura and Antle’s farmworker housing get LandWatch's support. Because of that, Monterey County hasn’t yet lost its soul to urban sprawl. Rather, much of the County is now charting a more sustainable future. But new challenges continue to strike. Support LandWatch now to assure we keep winning those battles!
- Karin Strasser Kaufman, Carmel Valley
