Seaside approves twelve-month extension for Monterey Downs agreement

Seaside >> The City Council approved the third amendment to extend the life of the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Monterey Downs, LLC, at the Seaside council meeting on Thursday.

The ENA for the proposed Monterey Downs and Monterey Horse Park in the former Fort Ord keeps the document alive for another twelve-month period.

The extension is necessary because the CEQA (environmental review), the Disposition and Development Agreement and other agreements and entitlements that may be required as part of the project's approval, have yet to be completed.

The long-awaited Final Environmental Impact Report has yet to be delivered and no date for its presentation has been announced.

The City Council also received the applicant's presentation of the Monterey Downs Fiscal and Economic Impact Analysis Final Draft Report dated August 2015 and the peer review and supplemental sensitivity analysis done for the city. The council accepted the reports with no further direction to city staff.

In-N-Out Burger

Keep dreaming of that "double-double" because the opening of the Seaside In-N-Out Burger restaurant continues to be a moving target.

According to a company spokesman in Irvine, no opening date has yet been set and they are still taking applications for job openings at the 1350 Del Monte Blvd. site, so it is probably a few months out.

A Seaside city official said that no occupancy permit has been issued and even if it were, the burger chain could sit on it until they are ready to open, so it is up to In-N-Out.

When complete, the project will be a 3,750-square-foot restaurant with indoor and outdoor patio dining totaling 159 seats and a drive-thru window.

Seaside considers extending Monterey Downs agreement another year

The Seaside City Council will consider a third amendment to the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Monterey Downs, LLC for the proposed Monterey Downs and Monterey Horse Park in the former Fort Ord.

The amendment is an extension of the agreement for twelve months so the city can complete its compliance with the California Environmental Act (CEQA), to obtain the project entitlements and to complete negotiations of the Disposition and Development Agreement.

“The extension is necessary for the city and the applicant to both continue to meet the terms of the ENA and requirements for the parties to move forward,” said Teri Wissler Adam, Seaside contract project manager.

The Final Environmental Impact Report – a key component to completing the project – has not yet been submitted and there is no scheduled date for its publication.

“There are other thing that need to occur, but it is the EIR that is at the crux of it,” said Adam.

The council will also receive the Monterey Downs Fiscal and Economic Impact Analysis Final Draft Report dated Aug. 2015 at the Thurs. March 3 meeting. That report was prepared by Willdan Associates for Monterey Downs, LLC and the peer review and supplemental sensitivity analysis conducted by Economic & Planning Systems on behalf of the City of Seaside.

“The idea is to provide the council with economic and fiscal information on the project,” said Adam. “There are no decisions being made on the project.”

Seaside considers hiring firm to appraise proposed Monterey Downs land

Map of the proposed Monterey Downs project area. (Courtesy City of Seaside)

As the city awaits the final Environmental Impact Report for the Monterey Downs specific plan, the Seaside City Council will consider hiring a firm to appraise the property at the Feb. 4 council meeting.

“The city and developer can't negotiate a price without knowing the value of the property,” said Teri Wissler Adam, Seaside contract project manager. The council will likely authorize the city manager to draw up a Professional Service Agreement with The Dore Group to perform Real Property Appraisal Services for Monterey Downs, Monterey Horse Park and Central Coast Veterans Cemetery.

The Monterey Downs project is proposed to include a 225,000 square foot horse training facility with a track, stabling area and a 6,500 seat sports arena and grandstand. It is proposed to also include a 330,000 square foot commercial center, a 15,000 square foot horse park, visitor center, office space, veterinary clinic and stables. Two affordable hotels totaling 256 rooms, 1,280 residences, a 100,000 square foot office park, a 200-room hotel of 100,000 square feet, a 5,000 square foot tennis and swim club, a 73-acre habitat preservation area and 74 acres dedicated to open space, parks and infrastructure.

 The cemetery includes 13,838 burial sites, administration building, maintenance yard and building, memorial areas, veterans hall, cultural history museum, chapel and 300-seat amphitheater. The appraisal process would include all areas of the proposed project except the veterans cemetery, a habitat restoration area and a recreational habitat area.

It is not known how long the appraisal process would take. Upon city approval, city staff would finalize the $124,975 contract with Dore which would be reimbursed to the city by the developer.

According to the city, there is not yet a date for receiving the final EIR even though the draft EIR ended its public comment period eight months ago.