LandWatch’s mission is to inspire California to create a sustainable future, using Monterey County as a model.
As Monterey County’s land use watchdog, LandWatch actively encourages sound redevelopment on Fort Ord, while opposing unsustainable development, such as building where sensitive species will be eradicated in the name of unaffordable housing or where there is no water supply. LandWatch actively monitors proposed Fort Ord developments for Monterey County, Seaside, Monterey, Marina, and Del Rey Oaks. We recently filed a lawsuit against Seaside for Seaside East, a residential development of 600 acres of natural lands. Advocating for Conservation and Sustainable Redevelopment of Fort Ord will enable LandWatch to unite and resist destructive piecemeal projects, while also calling for more equitable infill housing opportunities that are affordable to local working families and individuals.
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
