Monterey County holds EIR scoping meeting for Moss Landing Community Plan update; public raises sea‑level, sewer and habitat concerns

Monterey County staff held an environmental-impact-report (EIR) scoping meeting on the Moss Landing Community Plan update to solicit public input on the scope and content of environmental review. County planners said the county posted a draft plan dated Dec. 6, 2024, and that the Notice of Preparation comment period runs through Jan. 21, 2025.

The Monterey County planners said the EIR will analyze the plan update itself, proposed updates to related North County Land Use Plan policies and the Monterey County Coastal Implementation Plan, and two specific development projects identified for review: remaining components of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) master plan and a Moss Landing Road storm‑drain, street and sidewalk improvement project. "The comment period for the NOP began on 12/06/2024 and will go until 01/21/2025," said Katie Skirriac, planner with Monterey County.

Why it matters: the county said the EIR will compare reasonably anticipated buildout under the draft community plan to current on‑the‑ground conditions and consider feasible alternatives and mitigation measures required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). County staff highlighted two plan policies that will guide buildout assumptions: a policy allowing up to 150…