Message from Dr. Andrew Hawryluk – President of “Save Tarpy Flats” Consortium.
Dear Community Members,
Welcome to “Save Tarpy Flats”!
I, along with other community members, am honored to lead this vital effort to preserve the natural beauty and unique character of our cherished community.
As many of you know, the City of Monterey has proposed significant changes to Tarpy Flats. Despite being listed as a “backup plan,” the City’s continued mention of this land in their Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) plan and proposed timelines suggest a serious intention to permanently rezone and develop this area. If not challenged, this rezoning could have irreversible impacts on our environment and way of life.
We’ve also seen significant developments in the County’s RHNA plan, where we successfully removed over 100 acres from their proposal—an essential victory for our community. However, threats remain, such as a proposed private development on Olmsted Road and Via Malpaso. While we succeeded in removing this land from the County's RHNA plan, the possibility of a large development through the Affordable Housing Overlay still looms.
In response to these challenges, we’ve formed the Save Tarpy Flats Consortium. Our mission is to protect our environment, natural wetlands, historical cultural sites, native wildlife, and endangered flora,
We need your help. Together, we can make a difference and safeguard the future of Tarpy Flats.
Whether through donations, attending community meetings, contacting local representatives, or simply spreading the word, every action counts. Join us in our fight to keep Tarpy Flats and the Monterey region safe and beautiful for generations to come.
Kind regards,
Andrew.
ABOUT TARPY FLATS
Tarpy Flats is a historic, iconic wetland located close to the Monterey Airport, east of Olmsted Road, and between Highway 68 and via Malpaso Road. The site is one of the last remaining unique and undeveloped marine terraces in Monterey
MISSION
The “Save Tarpy Flats Consortium was created in response to Monterey County’s Regional Housing Needs Proposal which calls for excessive overbuilding well beyond the State’s affordable housing mandate. The consortiums mission is to preserve the unique environment and character of the Monterey region by preventing gross overbuilding and ensuring responsible, sustainable development.
THE THREAT
Environmental Impact: Building on these sites will destroy important wildlife areas, wetlands, and oak forests. This could mess up our local ecosystem and increase flood risks.
Water Issues: We don’t have enough water to support these new units. This could lead to water shortages for everyone if this plan goes through.
Traffic and Health Risks: More buildings mean more traffic, making getting around and emergency access a nightmare. Plus, the added pollution and risks from nearby toxic sites could harm our health.
Fire Hazards: Many proposed sites are in high fire risk areas. Removing greenbelts that help stop fires could make things worse.
Archeological site: several indigenous tribes claim that these lands have been occupied by their ancestors and hold significant importance to their history.
HOW YOU CAN HELP!
The threat to our community is real, immediate, and severe. We need your financial and vocal support to combat this overreach and protect our homes. Take action now by:
Stay Informed
Informed: Keep up with updates from Save Tarpy Flats and join community meetings to stay in the loop.
Speak Up
Contact your local representatives and let them know you’re against these plans. Your voice matters!
Donate
Zelle to olmstedconservation@gmail.com
GiveSendGo" website: https://www.givesendgo.com/GCTC4/donate
Share
Share this with friends and neighbors to get more people involved in protecting our community.