FROM THE 2005 GENERAL PLAN
CITY OF MONTEREY

Urban Design Element

Goals and Policies
a. Shoreline and Bay
The water’s edge is a particularly important natural feature because of the broad range of activities it supports. In order to maximize public use and enjoyment, City policy is to improve vistas and access; clean up beaches, protect remaining sand dunes, and protect the natural rocky shoreline character; protect the harbor from future landfill of any kind; screen or otherwise soften the intrusion of automobiles.

Goal a. Balance natural resources and public use of the shoreline and Bay, based on natural features, historic setting, maritime activities, and public access (see Figure 1).

Beach and Dunes
Policy a.1. Conserve and enhance the environment of the beaches and sand dunes as natural attractions, and improve public access consistent with dune preservation goals. Integrate the beaches and dunes into a continuous natural setting.

Window on the Bay and Beach Policy
Policy a.2. Develop for active park and beach use, but minimize parking and building intrusion into the park
Policy a.9. Enhance the visual qualities of the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. Preserve and enhance views from the Trail to natural features as much as possible and encourage access from the trail to the Bay.

Open Space Element

The Open Space Element is a required General Plan Element. It guides the preservation and conservation of open space land. State law defines open space land as any land or water that is essentially unimproved and devoted to open-space use.

The shoreline and beaches provide access to the bay as well as opportunities for the public to enjoy the ocean.

Goals and Policies
a. Monterey Bay
The Monterey Bay is the City’s most significant natural resource. It is the visual focal point of the City and home to a wide variety of marine life and birds. The bay is important to the City’s fishing and research industries as well as for recreational use.

Goal a. Preserve the Monterey Bay as the City’s most significant natural resource.

Policy a.3. Protect the views into Monterey Bay.