County launches public review of draft Environmental Justice element; staff seeks community input

Monterey County planning staff presented a draft Environmental Justice (EJ) element on April 1 and invited public review and comment. Staff said the EJ element is being prepared under state law (Senate Bill 1000) because multiple general‑plan elements are being updated concurrently, and it is intended to reduce disproportionate health and environmental burdens in disadvantaged communities.

Sarah Wel, principal planner with Housing and Community Development, and Edgar Sanchez, associate planner, said the draft includes goals, policies and an implementation‑oriented action plan and is supported by an existing‑conditions report. The draft identifies 11 disadvantaged unincorporated communities across the county (examples cited in the briefing include Bradley, Castroville, Moss Landing, San Ardo and San Lucas) and staff said the spatial distribution is concentrated in north county and along the Salinas/Selenus Valley.

Staff summarized past outreach — a community advisory committee, focus groups, pop‑up events, library displays and an online survey that yielded over 300 responses — and said common concerns that informed the draft include air pollution near freeways, access to safe and affordable drinking water, affordable healthcare and child care, reliable internet, parks and recreation, and climate‑related risks such as wildfire, drought, flooding and extreme heat.

County staff said the public‑review period began in mid‑March and is expected to continue through mid‑May, but they may extend outreach depending on community engagement. Staff plan targeted outreach with supervisorial offices and community groups in April–May, a second community meeting and Planning Commission workshop in summer, and a Planning Commission hearing and Board adoption targeted for the fall; environmental review (CEQA/SEQ) will accompany adoption as required.

Staff requested bilingual comments (English/Spanish) and provided a contact email and web link for the draft in the briefing materials. They encouraged community members to identify which issues most affect their local area and to propose solutions that would be most useful on the ground.