Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Pebble Beach Company want to cut down 17,000 trees?
To make a profit by developing forest land.

What do their plans include?
• Construction of a new 18-hole golf course on the existing Equestrian Center site. The proposed golf course would be on one of the largest unfragmented native forest areas. MAP
• Relocation of existing Equestrian Center to the Sawmill Borrow site.
• Construction of 160 new visitor-serving suites at the new golf course, Spanish Bay and the Pebble Beach Lodge.
• Addition to the existing Spanish Bay Inn and Lodge at Pebble Beach to include additional hospitality and meeting space.
• Construction of a new driving range and golf teaching facility at the Spanish Bay Resort. MAP
• Creation of 33 residential lots within five subdivisions and construction of 60 employee housing units.
• Designation of approximately 273 acres of permanent open space forest lands.
• Relocation of existing trails segments and construction of new trails segments for a net increase of 2.5 miles of new trails.
• Road and infrastructure improvements, including an upgrade to the Highway 1/Highway 68/17-Mile Drive intersection.

What kind of trees and plants would be killed?
17,000 trees would be killed including Monterey Pines and California Live Oaks. The plan would also kill as much as 25 percent of the few remaining endangered Yadon's Rein orchids.

Will any animals be harmed?
Yes. The Coastal Commission lists 19 endangered species that would be affected by the plan. Native deer, grey fox, ringtail, opossum, and striped skunk would lose vital shelter and food, and suffer fatal collisions with an increased number of cars. Birds species that would lose their homes include the Great Horned Owl, Pygmy Owl, Saw-Whet Owl, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Hairy Woodpecker, flycatchers, finchers, sparrows, and hummingbirds. California red-legged frogs - the creature that made Mark Twain famous in Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County - would be doomed. The loss of forest would also affect the migration pattern of the monarch butterfly.

What is Measure A?
Measure A was a plan called "Del Monte Forest Plan, Forest Preservation and Development Limitiations" which was submitted by the Pebble Beach Company to Monterey County Planning & Building Department for approval. Supervisor David Potter, an ex-developer who is also on the Coastal Commission, approved the plan.

Did people vote for Measure A?
Yes, but the majority of the people who voted didn't know the plan included cutting down 17,000 trees. Clint Eastwood appeared in a commercial urging people "save the forest" by voting for Measure A, but did not mention that trees would be cut down. The Pebble Beach Company also told the public that the only alternative is to build 900 homes, but in truth, they only own up to 41 legal lots.