2011 MVNA Annual Meeting notes - May 19 |
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The City of Monterey is in the process of developing new downtown and Waterfront Master Plans. Master Plans are important documents because they set direction for 20 or 30 years, sometimes longer. This is very timely because many residents believe downtown and the Waterfront need revitalization.
Historically downtown and the Waterfront have been linked. One challenge that Planners face today is integrating the core features of downtown and the Waterfront of Monterey so that they are fully utilized by residents and visitors alike. |
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It was revealed in the Planning process that long-term leases for up to fifty years had been given to many Waterfront businesses in the 1990s.
These leases were reviewed by Planning Commissioner Willard McCrone who is a real estate attorney. His preliminary findings, based on information provided by the City, raise many concerns. Rents collected by the City are clearly not commensurate with market rates. Some lease owners sublease at great profit to themselves. The legality of the leases has been brought into question. Mr. McCrone believes that, in many cases, the City owns the buildings, but the city is only charging tenants ground lease rates, not building lease rates. This loses perhaps millions of dollars of revenue for Monterey annually. |
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Mr. McCrone, speaking as a citizen, addressed the MVNA membership on May 19 at our annual meeting. He explained the complexities of this situation and why it is very important that the City follow through in a complete investigation and then pursue remedies that may exist. The leases are problematic to modern planning and may be costing the city significant lost revenue. The city also has not been able to clearly present operating costs on the Waterfront. These costs include many services and maintenance on the two wharves. Consequently, the exact operating cost to Monterey residents is not clear.
Mary Alice Fettis also spoke as a representative of the Fisherman’s Wharf Association. |
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