GSA to close the PG NOAA Building Auction Next Week!
GSA will close the auction of the PG NOAA building next week, but it's not too late to speak out against it. The California Coastal Commission is meeting next week, and we need volunteers to speak up. You can attend virtually via Zoom or speak in person. Sign up at https://www.coastal.ca.gov/meetings/agenda/#/2022/4
Need help with talking points? See our comments below!
Thanks for your continued Support!
-Friends of COAST
Addendum: Ideas for Speakers
Feel free to crib some talking points from the comments our social media director made at the March meeting:
At your December 2020 meeting, the Commission ruled on GSA’s federal consistency determination, issuing a conditioned concurrence that clearly highlighted the significant reuse constraints on this site. It specifically lists five Pacific Grove Local Coastal Program Policies that should be disclosed to prospective buyers. Of highest importance is LCP Policy Land-Use Development 11.b., which limits use of the property to "coastal-dependent marine research and educational activities, aquaculture, and coastal-dependent recreation and public recreational access that is compatible with maintenance of coastal-dependent scientific and educational uses.”
Despite your conditioned concurrence, the GSA has failed to adequately disclose this critically important constraint to potential buyers. To the contrary, their ads tout “Azul Bay” as "an oceanfront site in booming Monterey County.”
Our community and local representatives oppose the auction:
Over 2000 local constituents have signed a petition in support of reuse.
Representative Jimmy Panetta is working to stop the auction and has requested a negotiated transfer to the community for reuse.
The City of Pacific Grove passed a resolution in support of reuse; in it, they cite both the California Coastal Commission’s direction and the GSA’s lack of full compliance.
I urge the California Coastal Commission to review your 2020 decision and to step in to enforce your conditional concurrence before the auction closes.
Without your oversight, the GSA will simply sell the property to the highest bidder, with no obligation to ensure that its reuse complies with your concurrence.