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SALINAS, Calif. -- Emotions were flowing at the Monterey County Planning Commissioners meeting all over the proposed San Clemente Dam demolition.
At the meeting you could literally cut the tension with a knife. After the meeting neighbors were discussing the dam outside while representatives from California America Water were negotiating inside.
The biggest issue for neighbors was that they didn't have enough notice of this meeting. Gregg Shermann said he's one of the go-betweens for people in the small communities surround the San Clemente dam on the Carmel river. "I found out yesterday that there was a meeting today," said Shermann.
Shermann says he usually knows about everything that goes on except for this meeting until the last minute. Cal-Am representatives claim they sent out notices for this meeting 11 days ago, but most neighbors said they want to be directly involved with all plans concerning their neighborhood. "I want Cal-Am to come clean and just be up front and try hard to get us together," said Shermann.
On Wednesday the planning commissioners had to finalize transportation routes for the San Clemente Dam demolition. The original Environmental Impact Report said they were just going to use Cachagua Road affecting only about a dozen people. Cal-Am says two other plans were added in April and July changing the transportation plans to move along Carmel Valley Road to Tassajara then through Cachagua. That's about a 50 mile difference round trip.
Cal-Am claims the route was changed to fit large tractor trailers on the road because only using Cachagua was too narrow. Neighbors fear the longer route will bring traffic congestion and other issues to their neighborhood. "Its economic. Its in terms of environmental damage done to Cachagua road, the valley road and the Cachagua Creek," said Fidela Schneider.
No one at the meeting is against the actual demolition. In June, the California Public Utilities Commission gave Cal-Am the go-ahead for the $83 million project to improve the health of the Carmel River. "I know its inevitable, I know it has to happen but it has to happen in a good way," Shermann.
The planning commission meeting was continued for another six weeks so Cal-Am can answer community concerns and explain in more detail the route changes. The next meeting is set for October 31st.
