Pacific Grove City Council
December 3, 2025

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
4 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Figure 10-2 Liquefaction Susceptibility
Figure 10-2 Liquefaction
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10.1.4 Tsunami Hazards
Tsunamis are large ocean waves generated by an
earthquake in or near the ocean. Tsunamis present as
a series of very long-period waves (lasting five
minutes to several hours) that are low in height when
traversing water of oceanic depth. But when tsunami
waves approach shore where the water depth
decreases rapidly, wave refraction, shoaling, and
bay or harbor resonance may result in dramatically
increased wave heights. Earthquakes below 6.5
magnitude are unlikely to cause a tsunami, while
earthquakes between 6.5 and 7.5 magnitude may
trigger a tsunami but these are rarely destructive.

Earthquakes of magnitude 7.5 and higher can
produce destructive tsunamis.

Most tsunamis that have struck the California coast
in the past have been a result of very distant
earthquakes. Because of flooding and wave action,
the tsunami hazard associated with large distant
earthquakes appears to be high along beaches and
within harbor facilities. Most notably, the 1964
Crescent City disaster, the 2010 Chilean tsunami
and 2011 Tōhoku-oki tsunami have caused
infrastructure loss, damage to docks and boats in
harbor areas, injury, and loss of life in coastal
communities along the Pacific coast.

The major California offshore faults close to
Monterey Bay are strike-slip faults, and earthquakes
generated on strike-slip faults are not likely to
produce large-scale tsunamis. Thus, tsunami
potential associated with a local offshore seismic
event is low.

Nevertheless, tsunamis have occurred within the
Monterey Bay region, resulting in significant
damage to harbors and other coastal facilities. There
is no record of any tsunamis more than 10 feet high
occurring along the Monterey County Coast. The
effect of a tsunami wave on the Pacific Grove
shoreline would likely be comparable to a swiftly
rising and falling tide.

For the Pacific Grove shoreline, the areas vulnerable
to tsunami inundation are shown in Figure 10-3.

Areas above the seacliff in Pacific Grove are
considered to have a low tsunami hazard, while
beaches and bluff areas below the seacliff are
considered to have a high tsunami hazard. The main
safety hazard from a tsunami is the possibility that
residents on Ocean View Boulevard and other low
altitude streets such as Coral Street and Acropolis
Street who are not evacuated may be caught by the
waves. There is also the possibility that sight-seers
who evade police tsunami warning barriers and
follow the tsunami drawdown into the exposed
intertidal areas may be swept away by the following
crest of the tsunami.

A national tsunami warning system was established
in 1967 with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in
Hawaii, and the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in
Alaska. These Centers are operated by the National
Weather Service and provide tsunami alerts on
potential tsunami-generating seismic events. The
messages are broadcast through various notification
formats including local sirens and text message
alerts. Information is relayed to the Pacific Grove
Police Department and other local officials. Pacific
Grove is a certified TsunamiReady city.

TsunamiReady is a voluntary recognition by the
National Weather Service that promotes tsunami
preparedness through collaboration among various
agencies and the public. The program aims to
enhance public safety by setting guidelines for
communities to effectively mitigate, prepare for, and
respond to tsunamis.

Coastal erosion, later discussed in Section 10.2
Climate Change, and climate change induced sea
level rise would likely amplify the impacts of
tsunamis on coastal communities, such as Pacific
Grove. Higher sea levels allow tsunamis to travel
further inland, resulting in more extensive flooding,
coastal erosion, and damage. Additionally, smaller
tsunamis may have more severe effects due to the
elevated sea levels.

10.1.5 Summary of Seismic and
Tsunami Hazards
Pacific Grove is in a relatively stable area. The
principal danger to structures from seismic hazards
is caused by groundshaking, with a low to moderate
potential for damage. Liquefaction potential is
limited mostly to the Spanish Bay area. Low-lying
areas adjacent to beaches and the immediate
shoreline are potentially subject to tsunami
inundation.

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Figure 10-3 Tsunami Inundation
Figure 10-3 Tsunami Hazard
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10.1.6 Landslide and Erosion Hazards
The potential for landslides and serious erosion
exists wherever natural or man-made disturbances
have created unstable soil and slope conditions.

Erosion is a natural process that is affected by
variables such as the amount and intensity of
rainfall, ocean wave exposure, properties of soil type
and underlying rock, and vegetative or organic
debris cover. It becomes a serious problem only
when man-made factors are also at work. Landslides
are usually more destructive and can be triggered by
either natural causes (such as seismic shaking or
stream erosion) or by human activities such as
grading, compaction, and filling, which can increase
the load on unstable ground masses.

Soils. A number of soil properties have important
implications for development and resource
management. Soil-related issues to be addressed in
planning and management include erosion,
drainage, runoff, and expansive soils. The soils in
Pacific Grove have a moderate erosion hazard and a
moderate runoff potential.

Landslides. Landslides are the movement of rock,
debris, and soil down a slope. Unstable and
potentially unstable slopes can be identified by
bowl-shaped or step-like hillsides, broken and
sheared bedrock and/or soil deposits, near-surface
saturated conditions as evidenced by springs or
seepage areas, slopes generally greater than 15
percent, and broken ground and/or tilted vegetation.

All are indications of poor slope stability.

Most areas of Pacific Grove have an extremely low
potential for landsliding, as shown in Figure 10-4.

No significant landslides have been recorded in the
city, and with the exception of a few low bluff areas
along the waterfront that are used as parks and are
protected by retaining walls, no significant areas of
landslide susceptibility have been identified. Only a
relatively small portion of the city contains slopes
over 30 percent: Calabrese Canyon, some coastal
bluffs, Benito Avenue, Piedmont Avenue, Hillside
Avenue, Adobe Lane, and Syida Drive. Areas of
steeper grades are at risk of landslides during heavy
rains.

Extreme precipitation events are expected to occur
more frequently and with greater intensity as a result
of climate change, which will increase the frequency
and magnitude of landslide events.

Erosion. Erosion and deposition are common
natural geologic processes that result from gullying,
rilling, ravelling, and bank cutting. In areas
undisturbed by human activity, these processes may
or may not pose a hazard. They may, however, be
accelerated by concentrating natural surface flows
into culverts or by removing vegetative cover. Then
the chances of hazardous conditions increase.

The majority of Pacific Grove is in a moderate
erosion hazard zone. Figure 10-5 shows erosion
hazards in Pacific Grove. Areas of the city most
susceptible to erosion are concentrated on the
western portion of the peninsula, specifically areas
west of Asilomar Avenue along Sunset Drive
containing the Hotel and Conference grounds and
beach walking trails, as well as the northern portion
of the city containing the Point Pinos Lighthouse
Reservation.

The grading of sites can result in increased erosion
hazards which can affect not only the property being
graded but also adjacent and downslope properties.

Sediment traveling from eroded areas usually affects
an area much larger than the site under construction.

Section 24.24.020 of Pacific Grove’s Subdivision
Ordinance is intended to control the erosioninducing effects of development. Through the Monterey Regional Stormwater Management
Program, the City also requires that temporary cover
or mulching be used to protect bare soil and slopes
and certain activities be restricted during
construction to mitigate erosion hazards in the rainy
season (October to April).

10.1.7 Marine-Related Erosion
Hazards
The ocean and bay shore on the north and west of
the city are subject to weathering, erosion, and
deposition of rocks and sand from both ocean winds
and waves. Whereas sandstone and bedded cliffs
have posed cliff-retreat problems for urban areas on
the other side of Monterey Bay, Pacific Grove’s
shoreline is mostly dominated by exposed granitic
rock that forms a relatively stable and durable
barrier to protect shoreline development from the
constant barrage of ocean waves. Although wave
activity can become intense during winter storms,
the Pacific Grove shore has not retreated
significantly.

Approximately 80 percent of the city’s shoreline is
still in its natural state. Approximately 4,695 feet of coastline have been altered with seawalls to provide
protection from waves and erosion. Two small areas
(at Point Cabrillo and on the ocean side of Point
Pinos) have either protective beaches or stable rock
formations. The U.S. Department of Navigation and
Ocean Development has classified four small areas
where man-made shoreline improvements may be
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endangered, although damage may not have
occurred recently. Along the rest of the natural
shoreline, existing improvements are not considered
in danger from wave damage.

The Coastal Hazards Modeling Technical Methods
and Results Report prepared for the City in 2024
identified that the potential coastal erosion hazard is greatest in the Great Tide Pool Area, Crespi Pond,
Asilomar Dunes neighborhood, and Pacific Grove
Retreat neighborhood. Figure 10-6 shows the areas
of the city susceptible to coastal erosion. This
modeling overlaps with sea level rise by foot, or
projected sea level rise by year.

Historically, the city has been affected by coastal
erosion, experiencing shoreline changes and
infrastructure damage over the years. Intense winter
storm waves caused a 31-foot section of seawall and
adjacent public overlook near 701 Ocean View
Boulevard to collapse on January 20, 2017. In
January 2023, a coastal storm wave event caused
considerable erosion, specifically along the
Asilomar Coastal Trail, where the natural dune was
displaced 50 feet back and 5.5 feet of depth was lost.

Near the Great Tide Pool a pedestrian boardwalk
and lookout area were also destroyed.

Pedestrian traffic along the immediate shoreline can
contribute to shoreline bluff erosion. Walkers can
disturb protective vegetation in bluff-top areas. Loss
of vegetative cover leads to further abrasion of the
bluffs, and run-off and storm wave action increase
erosion and sedimentation. The City’s
2020Shoreline Management Plan contains projects
and programs to continue the provision of recreation
coastal trail access while protecting public
infrastructure, coastal access, and the city’s natural
and cultural resources. The seawall has enhanced
public access in certain locations, and may also have
had a beneficial effect on maintaining water clarity
in the Marine Gardens Fish Refuge.

Very few structures in Pacific Grove have been built
directly adjacent to the shoreline. Roadways (Ocean
View Boulevard and Sunset Drive) separate
urbanized land uses from the shore. Portions of
Ocean View Boulevard adjacent to any steep drop to
sea level are protected by retaining walls.

The erosion hazard along the shoreline in the
Asilomar Dunes Neighborhood could have an
impact to residential structures and recreation
infrastructure; at least two residential structures and a gazebo fall within the hazard areas. Unless
stabilized by vegetation or snow fences, dune sands
will shift and change frequently. Without such
stabilization, construction and siting of structures in the dune area constitutes a hazard to both the new
structures and surrounding properties. Disturbance
or removal of natural dunes will also increase wind
damage hazards.

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Figure 10-4 Landslide Susceptibility
Figure 10-4 Landslide Susceptibility
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Figure 10-5 Erosion Hazards
Figure 10-5 Erosion Hazards
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Figure 10-6 Coastal Erosion Hazard
Figure 10-6 Coastal Erosion Hazards
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SEISMIC, SOILS, AND GEOLOGIC

GOALS, POLICIES, AND

PROGRAMS
GOAL
1 Prevent loss of life, injury, and
property damage from geologic
and seismic hazards.

POLICY 1 Design underground utilities,
including water and natural gas
mains, to withstand seismic forces.

POLICY 2 Continue City requirements for
post-earthquake building
replacement, reconstruction, and
rehabilitation to conform to the
latest City codes.

POLICY 3 Ensure that any hazardous
conditions associated with
unreinforced masonry (URM)
buildings are mitigated to an
acceptable level.

POLICY 4 Ensure future developments
adequately address erosion and
coastal erosion hazards through
proper siting and design, the
incorporation of appropriate
mitigation measures, and
compliance with Local Coastal
Program policies related to coastal
hazards.

Program A Continue to enforce construction and
design standards for underground
utilities to minimize damage from
seismic activity and soil-related
problems.

Program B Continue to implement the Seismic
Hazards Identification Program to
identify and mitigate potentially
hazardous buildings.

Program C Monitor coastal erosion and shoreline
changes, and make coastal hazard
mapping and policy modifications at
least every five years, or as necessary.

Program D Reevaluate coastal conditions after
severe storms and other coastal
erosion events and assess
infrastructure risks. All unreinforced
masonry (URM) buildings that are
potentially hazardous have been
identified, and the City has developed
and implemented a mitigation
program to reduce the associated
hazards. This program is outlined in
Chapter 18.40 of the Municipal Code.

10.2 CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change refers to any distinct change in
measures of climate lasting for a long period of time,
including major changes in temperature, rainfall, snow, or wind patterns. In recent times, climate change has
been attributed to and accelerated by human activities
that alter the atmosphere. These activities include the combustions of fossil fuels, which releases significant quantities of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and
methane, and land-use changes such as deforestation
and urbanization, which reduce the Earth's capacity to
absorb carbon dioxide.

SB 379 amended Government Code Section 65302(g)
to require jurisdictions incorporate climate adaptation and resiliency strategies into their general plan safety element. The Pacific Grove Climate Change
Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA), included as
Appendix A, was prepared using the vulnerability
assessment process recommended by the California
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, as
documented in the 2020 California Adaptation
Planning Guide. The CCVA uses data from the United
States Census, American Community Survey 5-year
estimates, Cal Adapt, California’s Fourth Climate
Change Assessment, and the most up to date Monterey
County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Rincon Consultants, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as
"Rincon") prepared vulnerability assessments that
evaluate climate change hazards, including wildfire,
based on numerous sources, including third party
consultants, State and Federal mapping resources, and
various software modeling programs that are
considered industry standard best practices. The CCVA
prepared for this Safety Element evaluated wildfire
hazards based on CAL FIRE’s Fire Hazard Severity
Zones. Wildfire is an unpredictable hazard, and the
specific conditions of wildfire could result in fire
behavior that diverges from the assumptions used in
any analysis. There is no guarantee that wildfire
behavior and specific treatment to avoid such behavior
will follow or prevent wildfire impacts.

10.2.1 Summary of Climate Hazards in
Pacific Grove
Drought
Drought conditions are expected to worsen in Pacific
Grove, potentially leading to water scarcity and stress on natural resources and priority populations. Climate
change will likely result in prolonged dry spells and
increased evaporation that would impact water
availability and quality, affecting both community
health and natural ecosystems.

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Extreme Heat
Extreme heat events are not historically common in
Pacific Grove. With climate change, extreme heat
events, defined as days exceeding 88.7°F in Pacific
Grove, are expected to become more common, posing
health risks to vulnerable populations such as renters, adults 65 years or older, and children. Increased
temperatures can also stress vegetation and wildlife,
leading to habitat shifts and increased plant and animal mortality rates. The County of Monterey’s Department
of Emergency Management operates a webpage with
current emergency information for extreme heat
events, including cooling centers within the region.

Sea Level Rise
Rising sea levels will exacerbate coastal erosion,
flooding, and storm surges, impacting coastal
ecosystems, recreational areas, and critical
infrastructure like wastewater systems. Coastal
properties and natural habitats are at increasing risk of coastal erosion and wave damage. Sea level rise is
discussed in Section 10.4.

Severe Storms and Stormwater Flooding
Increased intensity and frequency of severe storms
may lead to more frequent flooding events,
overwhelming stormwater systems and causing
damage to properties and infrastructure. Coastal areas
are particularly vulnerable to storm surges and wave
action. Flooding is discussed in Section 10.3 Flooding
and Storm Hazards are discussed in Section 10.6.

Wildfire
The frequency and intensity of wildfires are projected
to increase, particularly in the southern forested areas of Pacific Grove. Wildfires pose risks to people and
property, public health due to wildfire smoke, and
infrastructure and service disruptions, such as power
outages. Wildfire is discussed further in Section 10.10.

10.2.2 Climate Vulnerability Assessment
The CCVA analyzes vulnerabilities and priority
populations in the city of Pacific Grove, focusing on
impacts of the various climate hazards. Vulnerable
populations are highly susceptible to drought, wildfire, severe storms and stormwater flooding, sea level rise,
and extreme heat. In Pacific Grove, significant
vulnerable populations include renters, adults 65 years and older, individuals with disabilities, military
veterans, and individuals with cardiovascular disease.

Individuals with chronic health conditions, including
seniors, children, military veterans, and individuals
with disabilities, are typically more sensitive to air and water pollutants and can experience mobility
challenges that limit access to medical care, emergency resources, and evacuation. Renters are also particularly vulnerable to climate related hazards since they
typically have limited control over housing conditions
such as cooling systems, insulation, and home retrofits to protect against hazards such as flood and wildfire. In addition, residents living in overcrowded housing are
more likely to face health and safety concerns and face financial barriers when preparing for and recovering
from climate hazards. Overcrowding rates are low
throughout Pacific Grove, but is higher among renter
households compared to homeowners and is highest in
Del Monte Parke neighborhood, which overlaps with
high wildfire hazard zones.

Buildings infrastructure, and critical services,
especially those located adjacent to the coast, are also vulnerable to climate change impacts. Critical facilities consist of the infrastructure and systems that are
essential to maintain the health and welfare of the
public and that enable the continuous operation of
critical government and business functions. Critical
infrastructure and services include water services,
storm drainage and flood protection, fire services,
emergency services, medical services, utilities and
major utility corridors, public transportation, roadways, and active transportation routes. These assets are
vulnerable to drought, stormwater flooding of
roadways, increased hospital visits due to poor air
quality, and increased energy demand during extreme
heat events. The City’s wastewater infrastructure is
particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal
flooding due to its location within 150 feet of the
shoreline.

CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS,

POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS
GOAL
2 Prevent loss of life, injury, and
property damage from climate
change related hazards.

POLICY 5 Ensure climate adaptation and
hazard plans are designed to identify
and address impacts to the city’s
most vulnerable populations.

Program E Collaborate with local and regional
entities to establish climate resiliency
centers (i.e. cooling centers for extreme
heat events and emergency centers for
climate related emergencies). Ensure
resiliency centers are located in
proximity to areas with high
concentrations of vulnerable
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14 The Pacific Grove General Plan
populations.

Program F Identify areas with concentrations of
vulnerable populations that may be
disproportionately impacted by
climate change and may need
assistance and conduct education on
climate change related impacts.

POLICY 6 Implement water conservation
programs and education to increase
drought resilience and reduce
vulnerability to long-term water
supply shortages.

Program G Upon the next update to the Urban
Water Management, partner with the
California American Water Company
and Monterey County to review
historical droughts and consider
similar droughts in future projections
to better plan for water supply
shortages and support the City’s Local
Water Program.

Program H Where feasible, implement a program
to conduct water/energy nexus studies
to inform the City’s future public
water and electricity rate structure
during times of drought to ensure
under-resourced individuals avoid
inequitable pricing outcomes.

Program I Promote drought-tolerant landscaping
across all public and private
properties.

Program J Identify natural infrastructure that may
be used in adaptation projects to
address climate change hazards.

Where feasible, incorporate natural
features and ecosystem processes, or
the restoration of natural features and
processes when developing climate
hazard implementation plans.

POLICY 7 Where feasible, install shade trees
and cool pavement, expand the
functionality and availability of
cooling centers, and distribute lowcost cooling resources to reduce the impacts of extreme heat and poor
air quality on climate vulnerable
populations.

Program K Where feasible, partner with nearby
jurisdictions to expand the availability
of cooling centers to address a greater
variety of needs as resilience centers
facilitating health, food, medical, and
emergency services during poor air
quality events caused by climate
hazards, including extreme heat events.

Program L Seek funding to develop an Extreme
Heat Plan to plan for and mitigate
extreme heat, such as employing cool
pavement technology and increasing
the urban forest.

Program M Encourage alternatives to air
conditioners such as ceiling fans, air
exchanges, and increased insulation to
reduce high electricity demand during
extreme heat events to increase
reliability of electrical grid.

POLICY 8 Ensure the siting, design, and retrofit
of critical facilities incorporate
climate resilience measures to
protect against current and
projected climate change impacts,
including extreme heat, flooding,
wildfire, and sea level rise.

Program N Assess critical facilities, including
those for first responders and critical
service providers to identify retrofits
needed for long-term climate resilience
such as wildfire, sea level rise,
increased wind/storm events and
stormwater flooding, and increase in
extreme heat events based on the best
available science in climate projections.

Program O Locate new critical facilities outside of
high hazard areas, including high and
very high fire hazard severity zones,
100-year flood zones, and tsunami
inundation zones.

Program P Consider amending the local building
code to require CALGreen Tier 2
Voluntary Standards Section
A5.106.11.2 for cool roofs and Section
A5.106.7.2 for cool walls by the next
California Building Codes (CBC)
update cycle to protect occupants from
extreme heat.

Program Q Consider amending local building code
to require indoor cooling and two-way
air conditioning units in new multifamily buildings, monitoring the California Department of Public Health
guidance regarding indoor cooling
which will inform the next CBC update
cycle.

POLICY 9 Incorporate climate change
projections in future resource
conservation plans and land use
plans, including research and
monitoring plans.

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Program R Adopt a climate action and adaptation
plan that includes climate change
projections and policies and programs
to reduce impacts of climate change
and address climate adaptation.

Program S Conduct citywide outreach on water
conservation programs and education
through print, digital, and in-person
outreach (i.e. flyers, information
booths at City attended events, social
media posts).

POLICY 10 Inform the community of natural
and human-made hazards, climate
change hazards and disaster
preparedness through education
and outreach events.

Program T Conduct community education efforts
via local media coordination, City
sponsored activities and events, and
other methods to reach the broader
community regarding emergency
evacuation, potential hazards, and
mitigation efforts.

Program U Provide online information for
preparing homes and business for
extreme weather events, such as
resources on what to have at home in
an emergency kit.

10.3 FLOODING
The potential for flooding exists whenever excess
surface runoff collects and concentrates. This may
occur because of inadequate storm drainage or because
the natural capacity of a stream or drainage system has been exceeded.

The natural landscape of Pacific Grove peaks near the
city boundary with the Presidio of Monterey and
slopes gently downward north and west toward
Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean. This slope gives
the city a mostly unobstructed natural gravity drainage system. Pacific Grove is on a peninsula without any
significant streams or rivers and no true floodplains.

According to the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps
(FIRMs), most of Pacific Grove has low flood risk, as
shown in Figure 10-7. FEMA FIRMs use historical
data to determine flood hazard, identifying areas of
low, moderate, and high flood risk. In Pacific Grove,
only very small areas directly adjacent from the
coastline are within the 100-year flood plain (one
percent annual chance of flooding). With climate
change anticipated to increase the frequency and
severity of extreme precipitation events, Pacific Grove may experience more frequent and severe flooding.

This could result in temporary disruption of emergency
services and potentially overwhelm wastewater and
storm drainage systems. Several low-lying areas of the
city, including transportation routes near Asilomar
State Beach and Conference Grounds, in particular
portions of Ocean View Boulevard and Sunset Drive
between Esplanade Street and Asilomar Avenue, are
identified as flood prone in the most up to date MultiJurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Although located outside of City limits, the Del Monte Boulevard tunnel in Monterey is an especially critical
transportation route that provides one of two major
access routes into/out of the City and could be prone to flooding. Flooding in these areas still presents an issue when high tides and large surf occurs simultaneously.

In Pacific Grove precipitation changes due to climate
change are expected to increase the risk of flooding in the city, including localized flooding which could cause property damage or cause access issues due to street
closures. The compounding effects of climate change
impacts can lead to greater risks. Storm events after a wildfire can lead to mudslides and debris flows, which
in Monterey County led to a local emergency following
a severe winter storm in 2021.

10.4 SEA LEVEL RISE
Increasing temperatures caused by climate change are
expected to raise global sea levels. Sea level rise
increases the risk of coastal erosion, coastal flooding, and damage to resources and infrastructure. A coastal
hazard modeling assessment was conducted in August
2024 as part of the Local Coastal Program update. The
study analyzed citywide parcel vulnerability using
topographic data and erosion modeling to identify areas that would become at risk for cliff erosion and storm
wave hazards under various sea level rise scenarios.

The study projected significant coastal erosion due to
sea level rise by the year 2100, particularly along the shoreline and bluff at Pacific Grove State Beach. The
Great Tide Pool and Crespi Pond area could retreat up
to 85 and 54 feet respectively. Residential structures
and public amenities in the Asilomar Dunes
Neighborhood, Beach Tract / Fairway Homes
Neighborhood, and Pacific Grove Retreat
Neighborhood could become increasingly vulnerable to
coastal erosion with an increase in frequency and
severity of storm surges, and rising mean water level
due to climate change. The study identified 69 parcels
and 28 built structures to be at risk from coastal wave hazards and 23 parcels with one structure at risk of
coastal erosion. Figure 10-8 shows the sea level rise
projections for Pacific Grove along with coastal erosion risk.

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10.5 DAM FAILURE
The closest operable dam is located southwest of
Pacific Grove outside City boundaries in Monterey
County. The California-American Water Company
(Cal-Am) reconstructed the Forest Lake Reservoir in
1994 to make it more resistant to earthquake and storm
damage that could cause local flooding as well as
constructing the reclamation and recycling system. In
1998 the reservoir was purchased by the Pebble Beach
Community Services District and has since increased
the storage capacity. The Pacific Grove Dam, located
on the eastern side of the city, is still owned by CalAm and is the only reservoir within the city limits. The dam has been considered inoperative since 2003, poses
no significant inundation hazard, and is no longer used for potable water storage. Figure 10-9 shows areas of
the city subject to dam inundation hazard.

10.6 STORM HAZARDS
Winter storms along the Pacific Grove shoreline have
the potential of producing breaking waves exceeding
20 feet in height at the 20-foot depth contour.

Although the offshore reef areas dissipate much of the
storm wave energy, run-up can reach the low-lying
shoreline areas below or at the 20-foot elevation
(including the waterfront parklands and roadways).

Boulders and other debris flung onto the shore are the
primary storm hazards in the area.

Another potential storm hazard results from the
configuration of Monterey Bay. The bay tends to
produce sets of larger waves followed by quiet
periods. These quiet periods may lure the unwary too
close to the shoreline. The City has recognized the
hazard these unexpected large waves pose by posting
warning signs along the shoreline.

Climate change is expected to increase the rate and
severity of storms. Extreme wind and precipitation
events often overwhelm storm drainage systems which
could impact properties and infrastructure due to
localized flooding or downed trees and power lines. A
study of storm damage in the vicinity of Monterey
Harbor from 1910 to 1960 indicates periodic damage
to harbor structures and moored boats, but little loss of life. The winter storms of 1982-83 downed trees,
damaged piers and some seawalls, and flooded part of
the Asilomar area. Although recreational use of the
shoreline has intensified substantially since 1970, the heaviest use is during the summer months when storm
activity is rare. (Most storms occur between October
and April.)
The Pacific Grove Police Department receives
weather warnings directly from the National Weather
Service’s Forecast Office for the San Francisco Bay
Region. A National Weather Service office for the area
is located in the city of Monterey at 21 Grace Hopper
Avenue. Several forecast stations broadcast
information for the coastal counties, including stations at Mount Umunhum in Santa Clara County and the
Monterey Peninsula Airport.

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Figure 10-7 100-Year Flood Zones
Figure 10-7 FEMA Flood Hazard Zones
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18 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Figure 10-8 Sea Level Rise
Figure 10-8 Sea Level Rise
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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 19
Figure 10-9 Dam Inundation Areas
Figure 10-9 Dam Inundation Zones
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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
20 The Pacific Grove General Plan
STORM, FLOODING, and SEA

LEVEL RISE GOALS, POLICIES,

AND PROGRAMS
GOAL
3 Prevent injury, property damage,
and infrastructure loss from
flooding and erosion.

POLICY 11 Upgrade and maintain the city’s
stormwater drainage system to
increase capacity and reduce
flooding to account for projected
precipitation rates due to climate
change.

Program V Strengthen storm drain maintenance to
prevent local flooding during strong
storms.

Program W Require prompt revegetation and/or
construction of newly graded sites to
control erosion.

Program X Encourage projects requiring
development permits incorporate low
impact design to reduce runoff, such
as permeable paving, on-site detention
ponds, and bioswales.

POLICY 12 Enhance the resilience of the city’s
stormwater drainage and
wastewater systems to
accommodate potential impacts
including sea level rise and severe
storm events.

Program Y Adopt, implement, and periodically
update a drainage system master plan
that inventories the city’s stormwater
drainage system, identifies
deficiencies and capacity constraints,
and recommends infrastructure
improvements to address identified
issues. The drainage system master
plan should incorporate future climate
change projections and address
anticipated impacts to the system.

Program Z Update the City’s Sewer System
Master Plan every five to 10 years to
accommodate city growth and address
climate change impacts.

POLICY 13 Ensure new development and
redevelopment projects effectively
mitigate potential risks associated
with sea level rise through the
coastal development permit review
process.

Program AA Encourage development projects to
deposit dredge spoils on Pacific Grove
State Beach to mitigate coastal erosion,
as identified in the MJHMP and CCVA
if the material is suitable for sand
replenishment and is consistent with
environmental protection policies.

Program BB Require removal or relocation of
structures away from sea level rise
hazards, especially those identified in
the CCVA, if public health and safety
risks exist, if essential services can no
longer be maintained, if the structures
are no longer on private property due to
shoreline migration, or if the
development requires new or
augmented shoreline protective devices
that would not otherwise be permitted.

POLICY 14 Coordinate with other local,
regional, state, and federal agencies
to monitor local sea level rise impacts
and plan and implement adaptation
initiatives and restoration or
enhancement of natural ecosystems.

Program CC Develop sea level rise adaptation plans
for assets vulnerable to sea level rise.

Program DD Continue to build community
awareness about sea level rise hazards
and future vulnerabilities.

10.7 AIRCRAFT/AIRPORT

HAZARDS
The Monterey Regional Airport is located
approximately 3.5 miles to the southeast of Pacific
Grove. The Monterey County Airport Land Use
Commission prepared the 2019 Airport Land Use
Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) to promote the safety and
welfare of the communities affected by airport
activities, in which Pacific Grove is within the Airport Influence Area (AIA). Figure 10-10 shows Pacific
Grove in relation to the safety overlay areas. Airplanes fly over Pacific Grove on their approach to land at the Monterey Regional Airport and the Point Pinos
Lighthouse is a landmark in pilot’s visual approach
procedures. Potential hazards arise during certain
weather conditions. The ALUCP establishes safety
measures for jurisdictions within the AIA. For Pacific
Grove this would include a maximum non-residential
intensity of 300 persons per acre, a requirement for 10 percent open land, and various restrictions including
prohibitions on hazards to flight, outdoor stadiums,
structures over 100 feet, and uses involving vulnerable occupants within specified distances from the runway,
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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 21
notices required. Aircraft noise exposure is later
discussed in Section 10.13.2.

AIRCRAFT/AIRPORT HAZARDS

GOALS, POLICIES, AND

PROGRAMS
GOAL
4 Prevent injury, property damage,
and infrastructure loss from
airport hazards.

POLICY 15 Maintain adequate storm warning
communication systems.

POLICY 16 Work with the Monterey Peninsula
Airport District to monitor safety
concerns for Pacific Grove.

POLICY 17 Continue to review development
projects to ensure consistency with
the ALUCP requirements for the
AIA.

10.8 TOXIC AND

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
The generation, storage, disposal, and transportation
of toxic or hazardous wastes in Pacific Grove is not a
significant issue. Household hazardous waste is
accepted and processed by Monterey Regional Waste
Management District at the ReGen Household
Hazardous Waste Facility in the city of Marina, as well as through curbside pickup through the GreenWaste
Recovery services. The City‘s hazardous materials
storage area was previously located at the City
Corporation Yard, at 2100 Sunset Drive, but is now
considered inactive. Pacific Grove Public Works
Department maintains an inventory of materials by
location for pesticides.

There are no permitted hazardous waste facilities in
the city. There are few locations with active hazardous materials identified and a number of inactive sites,
such as sites with previous uses that may have resulted in contamination and hazardous material: including a
prior naval fueling station, and the historic Point Pinos lighthouse. Figure 10-10 shows active and inactive
hazardous material sites in the city.

The City has the following goals, policies, and
programs related to hazardous materials.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

GOALS, POLICIES, AND

PROGRAMS
GOAL Prevent injury, property damage,
and infrastructure loss from
5 hazardous materials exposure.

POLICY 18 Require businesses that
manufacture, store, use, or transport
significant quantities of hazardous
and toxic materials to annually
identify such materials and their
quantities and to notify the Fire
Department of any changes in such
materials or activities.

Program EE Maintain a current inventory of
hazardous and toxic materials by
location, for use by the Fire Department
and the Community Development
Department.

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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
22 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Figure 10-10 Monterey County Airport Land Use Plan Safety Zones Figure 10-10 Airport Safety Zones
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The Pacific Grove General Plan 23
Figure 10-11 Hazardous Materials Sites
Figure 10-11 Hazardous Materials Sites
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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
24 The Pacific Grove General Plan

10.9 AIR AND WATER

POLLUTION
There are no significant air or water quality problems
in Pacific Grove. (Water quality and the City’s
intention to control non-source pollutants are
discussed in Chapter 6 Natural Resources, Sections 6.2
Water Resources and Water Quality and 6.6. Natural
Resources Goals, Policies, and Programs)
The excellent ventilation provided by the weather
patterns generally inhibits the buildup of air pollutants.

Pacific Grove is part of the North Central Coast Air
Basin. According to the California Air Resources
Board air quality standards designation tool, the city is within federal attainment status for ozone and
particulate standards and State attainment for fine
particulate matter (PM2.5). However. the city is
located in a non-attainment area for State ozone and
inhalable particulate standards for coarse particulate
matter (PM10). Attainment means complying with
State and federal ambient air quality standards within
an air basin.

The Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD)
is responsible for conducting air monitoring,
permitting, enforcement, long-range air quality
planning, regulatory development, and education and
public information activities related to air pollution for Monterey County.

There are few industrial sources of air pollution in
Pacific Grove. Sources of air pollutant emissions
relevant to Pacific Grove include passenger and
commercial vehicles, wildfire smoke, , residential
cooking and heating, dry cleaners, and gasoline
dispensers.

The City has the following air and water quality goals, policies, and programs.

AIR AND WATER POLLUTION

GOALS, POLICIES, AND

PROGRAMS
GOAL
6 Promote attainment, and insofar
as possible, improve air quality in
Pacific Grove and the Monterey
Bay area.

POLICY 19 Address State and federal
regulations to keep funding to
maintain attainment.

Program FF Support and participate in regional air
quality planning programs.

POLICY 20 Use the CEQA process to identify
and avoid or mitigate potentially
significant air and water quality
impacts of development.

In doing so, the City will consult with the Monterey
Bay Air Resources District concerning air quality issues associated with specific development proposals.

POLICY 21 Continue to support the efforts of the
Transportation Agency for Monterey
County to implement the Regional
Transportation Plan.

Program GG Ensure that new development, or major
rehabilitation, redevelopment, or
conversion, incorporates the
infrastructure, facilities, and design
standards necessary to encourage and
accommodate public transportation,
ridesharing, and non-automobile travel
modes.

10.10 FIRE HAZARDS
There is potential for both wildland and structural fires to threaten life and property in Pacific Grove. Wildland fires, which result from both human activity and natural causes, occur in forests, brush, or grasslands, but can threaten structures and urban development. Local and
regional wildfires can also generate smoke that can
cause hazardous air quality conditions impacting public health, particularly those with respiratory conditions
such as asthma. Structural fires usually result from
human activity. Substandard structures present the
highest potential for injury, death, or loss of property.

10.10.1 Wildland Fire Hazards
Wildland fires can occur year-round and typically occur most frequently during the annual dry season (May to
October). Wildfires can be naturally occurring or
caused by human activity. The buildup of understory
brush and vegetation (which under natural conditions
would be periodically burned off) creates conditions
conducive to large and intense fires. Variables such as humidity, drought, rainfall, wind velocity, type of
vegetation, and fuel buildup determine the start, spread, and control of wildland fires. Increased temperatures,
decreased precipitation, and prolonged dry spells due to climate change are likely to cause greater fuel loads and fuel dryness, resulting in more frequent and severe
wildfires. These climate patterns are extending the fire season, which historically occurred from May to
October throughout California. Furthermore, fire
suppression and development within the wildland
urban interface, the area of transition between human
development and unoccupied land, has led to increased
fuel load and risk of ignition. Historical wildfires that PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 25
have occurred in proximity to the city are shown in
Figure 10-12.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection (CAL FIRE) is responsible for fire
suppression and prevention within all “State
Responsibility Areas” (SRA). CAL FIRE has
developed a classification of wildland fire hazards for SRAs in proximity to Pacific Grove, all of which are
unincorporated. This classification system categorizes
areas based on their wildfire hazard level. An updated
Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map for the area
was released by CAL FIRE on March 10, 2025. In
order to enhance wildfire resilience and planning
measures, the updated maps were adopted by the City
on July 16, 2025, as recommended. The areas west and
south of Pacific Grove are designated as Moderate,
High, and Very High FHSZs based on the map
retained on file by the City. Federal Responsibility
Areas (FRA) fall under the responsibility of federal
agencies. In and near Pacific Grove this includes the
Presidio of Monterey to the east of city limits, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Southwest Fisheries Science Center on Lighthouse
Avenue, and Naval Reserve Center within the Point
Pinos Lighthouse Reserve.

Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) are zones where
local and regional fire suppression agencies are
responsible for fire protection and prevention.

Monterey City Fire Department is responsible for fire
suppression and prevention in Pacific Grove and the
surrounding cities. According to the most up to date
designations from CAL FIRE, LRAs that are of
highest risk to wildfire are located in the southern
limits of the City. The border of the Del Monte Forest
with Pacific Grove, where development is adjacent to
dense vegetation, has a potential for wildland fires that can endanger people and property. Undeveloped
forested areas directly behind houses in this area are
highly hazardous because of the accumulation of large
amounts of dry brush and dead wood that can become
fuel for a wildland fire. These areas are considered by CAL FIRE to be Moderate to High Fire Hazard
Severity Zones (HFHSZ) and Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Zones (VHFHSZ), based on the most up to
date designations. Figure 10-12 shows wildfire hazard
areas in the city. Figure 10-14 shows existing
development within HFHSZs and VHFHSZs. The
existing uses in these areas are primarily residential, but also contain the existing Forest Hill commercial
corridor, shopping center, and city owned educational
facilities. The General Plan land use designations for
these areas include Low to High Density Residential,
Open Space, Public, Forest Hill Commercial, Group
Quarters, and Country Club Shopping Center.

Several Pacific Grove Unified School District schools
are located within fire hazard severity zones in the
southern part of the city. The School District has
prepared a Districtwide Threat and Risk Assessment
and individual Site Safety Plans for each school to
identify and address safety issues, including fire. These plans evaluate each schools existing fire protection
system and provide evacuation routes and shelter in
place procedures in the event of a fire within the area.

A May 31, 1987, fire in Del Monte Forest burned 160
acres, destroyed 32 houses, and caused an estimated
$16 million in damage. Monterey County contracts
with the CAL FIRE for fire protection in this part of the Planning Area.

Some areas within the interior of the city also pose a
wildland fire hazard. In Pacific Grove Acres, structural and other fires can set off wildland fires. The forested portions of the Lynn “Rip” Van Winkle Open Space
could pose a fire threat to the schools and housing
across Congress Avenue. Washington Park, and
Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds have a
lower wildfire potential, since they are well-maintained and regularly cleared of fire-prone debris and brush and are broken up by pavements and cleared areas.

The cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel-bythe-Sea participated in the creation of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) to prepare for and
adapt to the increasing impact of wildfires. The CWPP
development was led by the Monterey Fire Department
in response to the federal Healthy Forest Restoration
Act of 2003 and adopted by the Pacific Grove City
Council in 2024. The CWPP contains recommended
actions in order to identify effective, prioritized wildfire mitigation and fuel reduction projects.

10.10.2 Structural Fire Hazards
A large number of structures within the original Retreat are substandard in terms of current State and local fire and building codes. These older buildings were
constructed on small lots with little or no yard space
between them. Many are of single-wall construction,
and nearly all are wood frame. Many have original
electrical wiring and circuits that fail to meet the
electrical demands of large numbers of modern
household appliances. In addition, many older two- and
three-story dwellings throughout the city have been
converted into apartments or rooming houses.

Increasing the number of family units within a building places additional demand on building infrastructure
which increases the fire risk if buildings are not brought up to local code.

A number of wood-frame commercial buildings in the
Downtown lack adequate fire protection. Some of the
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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
26 The Pacific Grove General Plan
masonry buildings have common basements without
fire-wall separations between properties. The lack of
fire walls at property lines and within buildings gives the Downtown the city’s greatest potential for
structural fires.

Lack of water supply and low pressure can seriously
constrain firefighting capabilities. The topography of
the city affects the fire flow water supply as pressure decreases at higher elevation areas. Most of Pacific
Grove has adequate water supply for fire suppression;
areas that have inadequate water supply need to be
upgraded. As of 1994, the areas within the city with
inadequate water supply for normal fire protection
were:
• The 1100 and 1200 blocks of Forest Avenue; The
600 block of Spazier;
• The 600 block of Hillcrest;
• The 300 and 400 blocks of Bishop;
• The area bounded by the 1000 block of Forest,
between Beaumont Avenue and Morse Drive;
• The 1200 block of Adobe Lane; and
• The 600 and 700 blocks of Mermaid Avenue.

A tradition of public safety, 1920
Source: The Pat Hathaway Collection
Although Cal-Am has a water main improvement
program, its priorities are based on customer
complaints and leaks not on firefighting needs.

Therefore, the City will need to include a water main
improvement program in its capital improvement
planning.

The original Retreat and Mermaid Avenue areas are
designated “target hazard areas” because of the density of buildings and type of building construction. In
addition, Mermaid Avenue has inadequate fire flow.

To increase the fire flow, a new water main was
extended from Lovers Point Park 950 feet westerly into
the 700 block of Ocean View Boulevard, and a new
hydrant was installed at the end of this main.

10.11 FIRE PROTECTION
The Pacific Grove Fire Department served the city from
a single, centrally located fire station at 600 Pine
Avenue until 2008. The department then merged with
the Monterey City Fire Department to provide better
services with an increased capability and depth of
service to the greater community. This department, as
of 2024, is staffed by 24 fire engineers and 30
firefighters across six stations. The Pine Avenue Station No.11 primarily serves a geographical area of 2.5 miles, which includes the city of Pacific Grove. All members
of the department have diverse emergency medical and
fire suppression related responsibilities and are able to respond to a wide variety of hazard events. As reported in the 2024 Annual Report for the Monterey Fire
Department, all jurisdictions achieved an Insurance
Services Office (ISO) rating of 2. ISO ratings range
from one to ten (Class 1 being the best and Class 10
being the worst) in terms of a communities fire
protection capabilities.

Pacific Grove has a mutual aid agreement with all fire
agencies in Monterey County. The County
Communications Center in Monterey handles
communications and dispatches units. Monterey Fire
Department submits a report of emergency response
time to the City Manager on a monthly basis. In 2025,
response times average below 5 minutes.

The City has established regulations and standards for
fire protection pursuant to Sections 17922, 17958,
17958.5 and 17958.7 of the California Health and
Safety Code by adopting provisions of the California
Building Code. The City has adopted the 2022 edition
of the California Building Code and regularly updates
their building codes to be consistent with new editions of the California Building Code as they are released,
including changes that further enhance protection from
wildfire hazards. The City has adopted several local
amendments to the California Fire Code, to include
additional fire protection measures including defensible space requirements, hazardous material storage,
burning prohibitions, and fire sprinkler regulations.

Additionally, to ensure adequate fire-fighting
capabilities for developments, minimum water flow
rates are listed in the latest adopted edition of the
California Fire Code, Appendix BB, “Fire-flow
Requirements for Buildings.”
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School children learn fire prevention An ocean rescue
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28 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Figure 10-12 Historical Wildfires 1950 to Present
Figure 10-12 Historical Wildfires
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Figure 10-13 Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Figure 10-13 Wildfire Hazard Zones
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30 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Figure 10-14 Buildings and Roadways Within High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones Figure 10-14 Wildfire Hazard Zones
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FIRE PROTECTION GOALS,

POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS
Policies herein are consistent with the requirements of California Government Code Section 65302(g) and
are based on CAL FIRE’s General Plan Safety
Element Assessment and recommendations from CAL
FIRE and the California State Board of Forestry and
Fire Protection. Rincon did not develop original
policies to mitigate wildfire.

GOAL
7 Prevent loss of life, injury, and
property damage from fires and
wildfire hazards.

POLICY 22 Require new development provide
all necessary water service, fire
hydrants, and fire access, and
minimum flow rates consistent with
Fire Department standards and
City requirements which relate to
the project.

Program HH Require all construction to meet the
applicable current City codes for fire
and life safety.

Program II Whenever feasible, locate new critical
facilities and new essential public
facilities outside fire hazard zones,
such as healthcare facilities,
emergency shelters, fire stations,
emergency command centers, and
emergency communications facilities.

POLICY 23 Coordinate with Cal-Am to ensure
adequate water fire-flow
throughout the city as set in the
City’s Fire Code.

POLICY 24 Promote implementation of
building retrofits to enhance
structural resilience to wildfire and
fire hazards.

Program JJ Review the capacity of the City’s onsite fire suppression systems, including sprinklers and pumps, in all
new construction and update where
feasible.

Program KK Support Cal-Am in monitoring fireflow throughout the city to ensure adequacy. Report any identified
deficiencies to Cal-Am and
collaborate on implementing
infrastructure improvements to
address deficiencies.

Program LL Collaborate with Cal-Am, the
Monterey Peninsula Water
Management District, and Monterey
One Water to identify and secure
additional sources of water to support
fire suppression activities.

Program MM Schedule the improvement of water
mains in the City’s Capital
Improvements Program (CIP).

POLICY 25 Maintain an ongoing fire and life
safety inspection program for all
occupancies.

Program NN Coordinate with the Pacific Grove
Unified School District to support
efforts to update and implement school
Site Safety Plans and Risk Assessments
to address fire risk.

Program OO Partner with the Pacific Grove Unified
School District and associated schools
to incorporate evacuation and safety of
students into citywide emergency
planning efforts.

Program PP Establish regulatory incentives to
encourage property owners to
implement building retrofits, such as
permit streamlining and fee waivers
and reductions,
Program QQ Develop a community education
program to increase awareness of home
hardening and retrofit options to reduce
structural vulnerabilities to wildfire and
fire hazards. This program can include
educational workshops and digital
flyers providing information on
maintaining defensible space, home
retrofits, and other practices for
reducing fire risk.

Program RR Collaborate with the Fire Department to
encourage property owners in
VHFHSZs to participate in the Fire
Department’s defensible space and
home hardening inspection program to
identify wildfire risks. Provide
homeowners and participants with
information on building retrofits to
address safety issues identified during
inspection.

Program SS Collaborate with the County of
Monterey and neighboring jurisdictions
to apply for funding to establish a home
hardening assistance program to
provide subsidies or low/no-interest
loans for low- and moderate-income
households to help cover home
hardening retrofit costs.

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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
32 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Program TT Work with the Fire District to enforce
all existing codes and ordinances
regarding fire protection, building
inspection, and vegetation
management.

POLICY 26 Maintain an ongoing
comprehensive hazard abatement
program that requires property
owners to remove fire hazards,
including vegetation, hazardous
structures and materials, and
debris, pursuant to State and local
requirements.

Program UU Require all properties in the FHSZs to
implement precautionary measures to
create defensible space in compliance
with regulations set forth in Senate
Bill 63 and Assembly Bill 3074.

Program VV Require public properties in MFHSZs,
HFHSZs, and VHFHSZs and private
properties in VHFHSZs maintain fuel
breaks around structures by removing
brush and flammable vegetation
located within 100 feet of the property,
maintain a five-foot ember resistant
zone around structures, continuing
annual brush inspections, maintaining
any tree adjacent to or overhanging
any building free of dead or dying
wood, and maintaining rooves free of
leaves, needles, or other dead
vegetation growth.

POLICY 27 Require new and expanded
development in the wildland urban
interface and High and Very High
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
incorporate fire-resilient design,
defensible space and vegetation
management practices, and
adequate emergency and evacuation
capacity.

Program WW Require all new developments to have
adequate water supply to meet fire
suppression needs and comply with
applicable fire flow requirements.

Program XX Require that all homes have visible
street addresses and signage and
impose parking limitations to ensure
that access roads are not blocked by
parked vehicles.

Program YY Construct additional points of ingress
and egress in single access
neighborhoods and CAL FIRE
subdivisions whenever feasible,
especially those located in VHFHSZs
in the southern part of the city and
modify evacuation routes to minimize
or avoid increasing evacuation times or
emergency access response times in
these neighborhoods.

POLICY 28 Following any future fires,
reevaluate fire prevention policies
and regulations on redevelopment.

Program ZZ Require visible home and street
addressing signage in fire hazard
severity zones to aid in emergency
response.

Program AAA Establish minimum standards for
evacuation and emergency vehicle
access to and from the new or planned
development in HFHSZs and
VHFHSZs, including regulations for
weight and vertical clearance, deadend, one-way, and single-lane conditions.

Program BBB Ensure that, after a large fire,
redevelopment of damaged property
complies with the requirements of
construction in the VHFHSZs and
includes adequate provisions for
emergency access, vegetation
management, and firefighting, in
compliance with California Fire Code.

After a large fire, promptly evaluate
whether existing VHFHSZ
designations are adequate.

POLICY 29 Actively collaborate with regional,
State and federal fire agencies to
coordinate and implement wildfire
mitigation measures and fuel load
modifications reduction zones,
including load clearing, prescribed
burns, fire breaks, livestock grazing,
and public and private road
clearance and other mitigation
activities for areas proximal to the
city.

Program CCC Encourage residents to partake in water
conservation efforts and leak-reporting
by promoting California American
Water (Cal-Am) and the Monterey
Peninsula Water Management District
water waste and leak reporting program
and other water-saving resources.

Program DDD Coordinate with Pacific Gas and
Electric Company to explore feasibility
of the electrical undergrounding of
utility lines with a focus on critical
evacuation roadways and areas with
highest wildfire risk.

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Program EEE Establish and maintain community
fuel breaks and fuel
modification/reduction zones,
including public and private road
clearance in neighborhoods located in
the WUI and VHFHSZs, especially in
the southern portion of the city.

Special conditions may apply in natural areas or where
endangered species occur.

Program FFF Continue to enforce the annual weed
abatement program, defensible space
and vertical clearance standards for
vegetation.

Program GGG Require fuel modification plans for all
new subdivisions in VHFHSZs.

Program HHH Continue and improve current fire
prevention practices, including the
current annual city fuel reduction
program, in close cooperation with the
Public Works Forestry Division.

Program III Partner with the Monterey Fire
Department to update and maintain the
Community Wildfire Prevention Plan
(CWPP) to incorporate updated data
on wildfire hazards and include
appropriate fire hazard reduction
projects in the city.

Program JJJ Establish fire-safe landscaping
requirements standards to increase
wildfire resistance for landscaping.

Program KKK Develop a list of approved fire-safe
plants that can be used in landscaping
in the wildland urban interface, High
and Very High Fire Hazard Severity
Zones.

Program LLL Publish guidelines for strategic
placement of fire-safe plants and
vegetation maintenance to minimize
fire risk.

Program MMM Provide public education programs to
enhance public awareness of fire
safety, including the storage of
flammable materials, use of fireretardant building materials, and vegetation management in the
perimeter of structures.

POLICY 30 Maintain an overall fire ISO rating
of 2 or better.

Program NNN Monitor fire and emergency response
times, staffing levels, facilities, and
equipment.

POLICY 31 Maintain an average response time of
three minutes or less for Priority 1
(emergency) calls.

POLICY 32 Maintain a high level of fire
apparatus performance.

Program OOO Identify and replace aging or
insufficient fire apparatus in the City’s
Capital Improvements Program (CIP).

Program PPP Identify alternative water sources for
firefighting purposes for use during a
disaster scenario.

10.12 POLICE
The Pacific Grove Police Department is located at 580
Pine Avenue, adjacent to City Hall and the Fire
Department. The police facility includes a booking
room, an interviewing room, and three short-term
holding cells.

As of 2025, the department has 22 officers and ten
support professionals. Police are dispatched through the Monterey County Communications Department in
Monterey. In 2024, a total of 1,584 crimes were
reported in Pacific Grove.

Response times for the Police Department are
categorized according to the priority of the response
needed. During the period between July of 2022 to July
of 2025, the department responded to calls of all
priorities in an average of between two and five
minutes.

Patrolling the Monterey Peninsula Recreation Trail

POLICE RESPONSE GOALS,

POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS
GOAL
8 Prevent crime and promote the
protection of people and
property.

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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
34 The Pacific Grove General Plan
POLICY 33 Maintain an adequate level of police
equipment and personnel consistent
with city growth and development.

POLICY 34 Provide minimum response time for
Priority 1 (emergency) calls.

Program QQQ Work with Monterey County
Emergency Communications 911
Dispatch Services to shorten response
times.

POLICY 35 Encourage the use of private patrols
and security personnel in large
residential and commercial
developments to supplement police
services.

Program RRR Monitor response times and report
annually on the results of the
monitoring.

Program SSS Continue to provide neighborhood
security and crime prevention
information and training to
neighborhood groups and
homeowners associations.

Program TTT Develop a community safety program
that addresses youth and gangs.

The police department maintains several community
relations programs: McGruff for crime prevention,
Neighborhood Watch for crime suppression, Citizens
Police Academy classes, local citizen ‘Ride-Along’
Program, and Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(DARE) Program.

10.13 NOISE
Pacific Grove has a number of potentially significant
noise sources. They include traffic on Highway 68 and
major city streets, construction noise, and operations
at the Monterey Peninsula Airport.

10.13.1 Traffic Noise
Existing noise exposure contours for major sources of
traffic noise within the city are shown in Figure 10-15.

The 60, 65, and 70 dBA noise contours are used to
illustrate areas affected by traffic noise. Portions of properties along the section of Highway 68/Forest
Avenue, south of David Avenue, are exposed to the
highest existing and projected traffic noise levels in the city (Figure 10-16). Properties along the remaining
northern portion of Forest Avenue, and the portions of
Lighthouse Avenue and Central Avenue east of Forest
Avenue also have higher levels of traffic noise
exposure (Figure 10-17). Parcels along these arterial
roads, as well as along Sunset drive are exposed to
traffic noise at the 70 dBA level.

10.13.2 Aircraft Noise
Aircraft arriving and leaving the Monterey Regional
Airport, located approximately 3.5 miles to the east of Pacific Grove, generate some noise in Pacific Grove
when aircraft approach to land along the flight path and take off from the airport. The ALUCP calculated noise
contours for the Monterey Regional Airport using 2013
data and a 20-year modeling forecast. The noise
contours are in Community Noise Equivalent Level
(CNEL); an average decibel over a 24-hour period
which weighs the data to account for increased
sensitivity to noise at night. Airport noise standards are established by the State under Title 21, Section 5000 et seq, which states that the maximum noise levels for
persons living near airports shall be less than 65 CNEL.

The ALUCP updated noise contour forecasts for
increased use of the Monterey Regional Airport,
however, the 75 CNEL contour continues to encompass
only Airport property, and the 65 and 70 CNEL noise
exposure contours extends off Airport property
approximately 500 feet to the northwest and
approximately 400 feet southeast. Based on noise
contours prepared by the airport, shown in Figure 10-
15, annual average noise exposure remains less than 60
CNEL within Pacific Grove for existing airport
operations. The ALUCP regulates land use
compatibility based on noise level exposure for areas
exposed to 65 CNEL and higher, which does not
include any land within Pacific Grove. Additionally,
the Airport has an adopted Noise Abatement Program
in order to minimize airport noise to surrounding
communities. Therefore, noise from the Monterey
Regional Airport is not a major issue in Pacific Grove.

10.13.3 Commercial, Industrial and
Stationary Noise Sources
Pacific Grove has very little land available for industrial uses, and no sources of significant stationary noise.

Some periodic noise is generated from construction
activities, which are regulated by the City’s Noise
ordinance which limits noise-generating construction
activities to the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on
Sunday. Noise-generating commercial uses and events
involving amplified noise such as restaurants with
specialty uses, bars, pubs, wine tasting, catering
services and events, may occur periodically. For such
uses, amplified and unamplified music and
entertainment is subject to the regulations and time
restrictions of Title 23 of the Pacific Grove Municipal Code.

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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 35

10.13.4 1994 Community Noise Survey
A community noise survey was conducted in 1994 as part
of the Safety Element update to document noise exposure in areas of the community containing noise-sensitive
land uses: all residential uses, schools, and long-term care medical facilities (such as hospitals and nursing
homes). The community noise survey results indicate
that noise levels within the city of Pacific Grove are
generally typical of a quiet suburban community with
estimated Ldn values ranging from 39-61 dB. Maximum
noise levels are generally caused by local traffic or
intermittent aircraft overflights.

PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
36 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Figure 10-15 2025 and 2031Traffic Noise Contours
Figure 10-15 Existing Noise Contours Figure 10-15 2031 Noise Contours PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 37
Figure 10-16 Traffic Noise Contours Highway 68/ Forest Avenue Figure 10-16 2025 Noise Contours Figure 10-16 2031 Noise Contours PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
38 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Figure 10-17 Traffic Noise Contours Lighthouse Avenue
Figure 10-17 2025 Noise Contours Figure 10-17 2031 Noise Contours PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 39

NOISE GOALS, POLICIES, AND

PROGRAMS
GOAL
9 Protect Pacific Grove residents
from the harmful effects of
excessive noise.

POLICY 36 Review possible noise-producing
uses and mitigate, as necessary.

POLICY 37 Prevent encroachment of
industrial facilities or other
stationary noise sources near
noise-sensitive land uses.

POLICY 38 Prevent the expansion or
intensification of existing noiseproducing commercial/utility uses on adjacent residential
properties.

Recommended allowable noise exposures for noisesensitive land uses are shown in Table 1.

Program UUU Require that new noise-sensitive
uses in proximity to existing noise
sources include receiver-based
mitigation measures.

Program VVV Prevent new noise-sensitive land
uses from locating in areas exposed
to existing or projected future levels
of noise from transportation noise
sources that exceed 60 dB
Ldn/CNEL (70 dB Ldn/CNEL in
playgrounds and parks) unless the
project design includes effective
mitigation measures to reduce noise
in outdoor activity areas and interior
spaces to the levels specified in
Table 1.

Program WWW Mitigate any noise created by new
transportation and roadway
improvement projects so that they
will not exceed the levels specified
in Table 1 within the outdoor
activity areas and interior spaces of
existing noise-sensitive land uses.

Program XXX Mitigate any noise created by new
proposed stationary noise sources so
that they will not exceed the noise
level standards of Table 2 on lands
designated for noise-sensitive uses.

This program does not apply to noise levels
associated with agricultural operations on land
designated or zoned for industrial uses.

Program YYY Review proposed noise-producing
commercial uses in residential areas
through the use permit process and
mitigate potential noise impacts.

Program ZZZ Enforce the most current sections of
the California Vehicle Code relating
to adequate vehicle mufflers and
modified exhaust systems.

Program AAAA Purchase only equipment and
vehicles that comply with noise
level standards consistent with the
best available noise control
technology.

Program BBBB Review and modify as necessary the
City’s noise ordinance.

The ordinance should (1) employ guidelines of the
California Health and Safety Code; (2) be designed
to protect persons from excessive levels of noise that
interfere with sleep, communication, relaxation,
health, or legally permitted use of property, whether
such noise is from existing or future sources; (3)
make it unlawful to create noise that exceeds the
standards of Table 1, as measured at the exterior of
noise-sensitive land uses; (4) contain maximum
allowable levels of interior noise created by exterior
sources; (5) provide for exemptions or modifications
to noise requirements for construction activities,
school functions, property maintenance, heating and
cooling equipment, utility facilities, waste
collection, and other sources; and (6) establish
responsibilities and procedures for noise
measurements, enforcement, abatement, and
variances.

Program CCCC Continue to enforce existing
ordinances relating to inappropriate
and unnecessary noise.

PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
40 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Table 1 Recommended Allowable Noise
Exposure
Transportation
Noise Services
Outdoor
Activity
Areas1
Interior Spaces
Land Use Ldn/CNEL,
dB
Ldn/CNEL,
dB
Leq,
dB2
Residential 603 45 –
Transient
Lodging
603 45 –
Hospitals,
Nursing Homes
603 45 –
Theatres,
Auditoriums,
Music Halls
– – 35
Churches,
Meeting Halls
603 – 40
Office Buildings 603 – 45
Schools,
Libraries,
Museums
– – 45
Playgrounds,
Neighborhood
Parks
70 – –
1 Where the location of outdoor activity areas is unknown, the exterior noise level standard is applied to the property line of the receiving land use.
2 As determined for a typical worst-case hour during periods of use.
3 Where it is not possible to reduce noise in outdoor activity areas to 60 dB Ldn/CNEL or less using a practical
application of the best available noise reduction measures, an exterior noise level of up to 65 dB Ldn/CNEL may be
allowed, provided that available exterior noise level
reduction measures have been implemented and interior
noise levels comply with this table.

Source: Brown-Buntin Associates, Inc.

Table 2 Maximum Allowable Noise Exposure,
Stationary Noise Sources*
Daytime Nighttime
(7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.)
Hourly Leq,
dB
50 45
Maximum
level, dB
70 65
*As determined at the property line of the receiving land use.

When determining the effectiveness of noise mitigation
measures, the standards may be applied on the receptor side of noise barriers or other property line noise mitigation measures.

Source: Brown-Buntin Associates, Inc.

10.14 EMERGENCY

RESPONSE
The most up to date 2022 County of Monterey
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which
includes a jurisdictional specific, Annex I for the
City of Pacific Grove, was developed in accordance
with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA
2000) and followed FEMA’s LHMP guidance. The
LHMP incorporates a process where hazards are
identified and profiled, the people and facilities at
risk are analyzed, and mitigation actions are
developed to reduce or eliminate hazard risk. The
implementation of these mitigation actions, which
include both short and long-term strategies, involve
planning, policy changes, programs, projects, and
other activities
(https://www.countyofmonterey.gov/government/d
epartments-a-h/department-of-emergencymanagement/hazard-mitigation).

Pacific Grove adopted the most up to date County of
Monterey Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation
Plan. The plan for Pacific Grove covers a variety of
hazards, vulnerabilities, and responses specific to
the city, including earthquakes, coastal erosion and
sea level rise, wildfire, drought and water shortage,
storms and hazardous stormwater flooding,
hazardous materials, cyber threats and terrorism
incidents and ocean oil spills, tsunamis,
transportation incidents including aircraft and
highway accidents, and nuclear emergencies.

The plan provides overall organizational and
operational concepts for responding to the various
hazards in the area. This plan is to be used in
conjunction with the City’s Emergency Operations
Plan (EOP). The City’s EOP works in conjunction
with the Monterey County Emergency Operations
Plan to establish emergency response and
communication protocols in coordination with State
and federal agencies and tribal partners
The City uses AlertMontereyCounty to
communicate with residents in the event of an
emergency. This system utilizes the Monterey
County Emergency Communications 911 database
to call and deliver a recorded message to landline
phone numbers. Residents can also sign up to be
alerted via mobile phone or email.

The City identified a potential temporary shelter
location in the event of a disaster to serve as an
evacuation collection point in its 2017 EOP. The
Pacific Grove Community Center located at 515
Junipero Avenue is the designated Temporary
Assistance Center in the event of an emergency to
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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 41
convene and distribute information. The City
identified the Monterey Fairgrounds as the most
likely location to be used for shelter in an
emergency.

Victorian ladies flirting with danger, 1910
Source: The Pat Hathaway Collection

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

GOALS, POLICIES, AND

PROGRAMS
GOAL
10 Provide aid to the community as
needed in the event of natural or
man-made disasters.

POLICY 39 Ensure that City emergency
response procedures are adequate
to deal with natural or man-made
disasters in the community.

Program DDDD Develop and implement public
information programs concerning
disaster response and emergency
preparedness to encourage home
retrofits and educate on current
standards for structure hardening
and defensible space standards.

POLICY 40 Participate in future updates and
test the effectiveness of the
Monterey County MultiJurisdictional Local Hazard
Emergency Mitigation Plan.

POLICY 41 Ensure that individuals and
agencies assigned emergency
responsibilities under the most up
to date Monterey County MultiJurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan prepare
appropriate supporting plans and
related standard operating
procedures.

POLICY 42 Locate new critical facilities
outside of high hazard areas,
including in VHFHSZs, 100-year
flood zones, and tsunami
inundation zones. Maintain a level
of preparedness adequate to
implement all parts of the MultiHazard Emergency Plan.

Program EEEE Periodically review and update
alerting procedures and resources
lists.

POLICY 43 Maintain and enhance the current
level of emergency medical
service to the community in
coordination with Monterey
County Emergency Medical
Services Agency.

Program FFFF Work with the Monterey County
Emergency Communications (911)
reporting system to shorten
response time.

Program GGGG In coordination with Monterey Fire
Department, maintain all line, fulltime fire personnel as certified Emergency Medical/ Defibrillator
Technicians (EMT-D).

POLICY 44 Ensure that training programs
sensitize emergency personnel to
the special needs of persons with
disabilities.

10.15 EMERGENCY

EVACUATION
To comply with AB 747 and AB 1407 (Government
Code Section 65302(g)), the Safety Element
includes a residential emergency evacuation
analysis, included as Appendix B.

The City has identified primary and secondary
evacuation routes and evacuation locations to guide
residents out of an impacted area in a disaster or
hazard event and provide shelter during an
evacuation. The evacuation routes in the city
identified in the regional plan are Highway 68
(primary evacuation route), Lighthouse Avenue, 17
Mile Drive, David Avenue, Forest Avenue Oak
Street, and Hoffman Avenue (Figure 10-18). The
PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
42 The Pacific Grove General Plan
most probable evacuation location identifies is the
Monterey Fairgrounds.

An evacuation capacity analysis was prepared by
Kimley-Horn to identify evacuation routes and their
capacity, safety, and viability under a range of
emergency scenarios (Appendix B) to comply with
AB 747 and 1409 evacuation requirements. The
evacuation capacity scenarios are intended to model
a potential range of different evacuation scenarios,
but not all possible scenarios. Emergency
evacuations can occur due to any number of events
and at any location, beyond those specifically
identified in the appendix report. In addition,
emergency movement is unpredictable, and the
specific conditions of an emergency evacuation
could result in evacuation behavior that diverges
from the assumptions used in the analysis. This
analysis serves only to represent informed estimates
of likely potential evacuation scenario footprints and
capacity constraints based on available data and
does not guarantee that evacuations will follow
modeling that is used for analysis purposes.

Emergency evacuation assessment is an emerging
field, and the legislative requirement does not
specify a standard methodology to follow.

Pacific Grove faces topographical and geographical
constraints that impact evacuation feasibility. There
are dense forested areas and steeply graded slopes in
the city resulting in narrow or curved roadways.

Additionally, during a wildfire event, evacuation
routes including Highway 68 in the southern portion
of the city may become impassible. As evacuation
routes exceed capacity, residents may take smaller
local streets that are more difficult to navigate. The
modeled evacuation scenario as part of the
evacuation analysis identified that David Avenue
and Forest Avenue leading to Lighthouse Avenue
would exceed capacity limits and experience severe
congestion (Figure 10-19).

In compliance with SB 99 (Government Code
Section 65302), the City identified residential
developments with less than two evacuation routes
located within any hazard zone defined in this Safety
Element (Figure 10-20). Residential properties with
a single emergency access/evacuation route are
located in the Del Monte Park, Glen, Seaview, and
Country Club Gate/Forest Grove Neighborhoods.

Some of these residences are located in HFHSZs and
VHFHSZs (Figure 10-21). Limited access affects
residents ability to evacuate efficiently under short
notice emergency conditions such as a wildfire, and
restricts access for emergency responders.

The evacuation capacity analysis informed the
programs and policies to ensure adequate
infrastructure and operations for emergency
evacuation in the city.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION

GOALS, POLICIES, AND

PROGRAMS
GOAL
11 Maintain safe and efficient
emergency access, evacuation
routes and locations.

POLICY 45 Improve emergency access and
evacuation capacity for
neighborhoods that have a single
ingress/egress, prioritizing those
in high risk hazard areas
including HFHSZs and
VHFHSZs.

Program HHHH Review the city’s road network to
identify roadway segments that may
exceed capacity during an
evacuation and identify
opportunities to improve
connectivity between
neighborhoods for improved
evacuation efficiency.

Program IIII Coordinate with Monterey Fire
Department and State Fire Marshall
personnel to provide and maintain
two points of emergency
evacuation, as required by SB 99.

Program JJJJ Implement early evacuations under
high-risk conditions for vulnerable
communities and neighborhoods
with limited egress routes, including
single-access neighborhoods.

Program KKKK In coordination with the Monterey
Fire Department and Pacific Grove
Police Department, identify and
publicize evacuation routes for
individual neighborhoods and
conduct annual evacuation trainings
for residents, with specific emphasis
on evacuation education for
residents living in single-access
neighborhoods and high risk hazard
zones including HFHSZs and
VHFHSZs, coastal hazard areas,
and tsunami inundation zones to
educate residents on their
evacuation zone, nearby emergency
shelters, and plan evacuation routes.

Program LLLL For neighborhoods in HFHSZ and
PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 43
VHFHSZs, and in wildland urban
interface zones, increase evacuation
capacity and efficiency.

Program MMMM Prioritize community
engagement efforts and emergency
preparedness trainings for single
access neighborhoods.

POLICY 46 Ensure well-maintained
evacuation routes that are clear of
obstruction.

Program NNNN Establish traffic control points along
designated evacuation routes with
emergency management personnel
to maintain a greater degree of
evacuation management, ensure
efficiency during an evacuation,
reduce public confusion, and allow
increased operational flexibility
during an evacuation.

Program OOOO Work with the County and adjacent
cities of Seaside and Monterey to
coordinate evacuation efforts and
traffic management.

Program PPPP Employ dynamic message signs and
adaptive traffic signal control
systems that respond to real-time
traffic conditions, giving priority to
evacuation traffic to enhance
evacuation efficiency during
emergencies.

POLICY 47 Coordinate with neighboring
communities and emergency
response personnel under mutual
aid agreements to ensure wellmaintained evacuation routes and plans are established prior to an
evacuation event.

Program QQQQ Work with the County and adjacent
cities of Seaside and Monterey to
coordinate evacuation efforts and
traffic management.

Program RRRR Coordinate with adjacent cities and
Monterey County to synchronize
evacuation efforts and planning, and
to implement improvements to
evacuation capacity.

Program SSSS Coordinate with Monterey-Salinas
Transit and other service providers
to ensure evacuation options for
residents without vehicles.

Program TTTT Maintain mutual aid agreements and
support communications links with
surrounding jurisdictions for
assistance during emergencies.

POLICY 48 Maintain and update the City’s
Evacuation Plan, in conjunction
with the Emergency Operations
Plan updates.

Program UUUU Establish minimum standards for
evacuation in the City’s Emergency
Operations Plan. Alongside updates
to the Emergency Operations Plan,
reassess access evacuation route
capacity throughout the city and
identify and implement necessary
roadway improvements to address
evacuation constraints plans in
place if needed.

Program VVVV In coordination with the Monterey
Fire Department and Pacific Grove
Police Department, identify and
publicize evacuation routes for
individual neighborhoods and
conduct annual evacuation trainings
for residents, with specific emphasis
on evacuation education for
residents living in single-access
neighborhoods and high risk hazard
zones including HFHSZs and
VHFHSZs, coastal hazard areas,
and tsunami inundation zones to
educate residents on their
evacuation zone, nearby emergency
shelters, and plan evacuation routes.

Program WWWW Evaluate evacuation
roadways to identify areas in need of
maintenance or evacuation capacity
improvements to accommodate
emergency access and evacuation
needs. Ensure road surfaces are
resilient to all weather conditions
including severe storms.

Program XXXX Prioritize Capital Improvement
Program (CIP) projects for
evacuation capacity improvements
based on feasibility and benefit.

Program YYYY Require new development to
provide adequate access (ingress,
egress) and a minimum of two
roadways with widths and lengths in
compliance with California
Building Code Chapter 7A
requirements.

Program ZZZZ Review County and State
emergency response plans and
procedures to ensure coordination
with the City’s Emergency
Operations Plan as part of the
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Health and Safety, Chapter 10
44 The Pacific Grove General Plan
periodic update of the City’s plan.

Program AAAAA Include provisions for
vulnerable populations, seniors and
persons with disabilities in
emergency response plans.

Program BBBBBEnsure designated Emergency
Operations Center support facilities
are prepared for use during
emergencies.

PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 45
Figure 10-18 Evacuation Routes
Figure 10-18 Evacuation Routes
PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
46 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Figure 10-19 Evacuation Assessment Scenario Roadway Capacity Source: City of Pacific Grove Evacuation Assessment, Kimley-Horn and Associates, 2025 PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 47
Figure 10-20 Single Access Neighborhoods
Source: City of Pacific Grove Evacuation Assessment, Kimley-Horn and Associates, 2025 PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
48 The Pacific Grove General Plan
Figure 10-21 Single Access Neighborhoods in Fire Hazard Severity Zones Source: City of Pacific Grove Evacuation Assessment, Kimley-Horn and Associates, 2025 PGCC 12-3-25

Health and Safety, Chapter 10
The Pacific Grove General Plan 49
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PGCC 12-3-25

Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance
Amendments, and General Plan Amendments
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
prepared by
City of Pacific Grove
Department of Community Development
300 Forest Avenue, 2nd Floor
Pacific Grove, California 90395
Contact: Joe Sidor, Contract Senior Planner
prepared with the assistance of
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
80 Garden Court, Suite 240
Monterey, California 93940
November 2025
PGCC 12-3-25

2 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)requires that a reporting or monitoring program be adopted for the conditions of project approval that are necessary to mitigate or avoid significant effects on the environment (Public Resources Code 21081.6). This mitigation monitoring and reporting program is intended to track and ensure compliance with adopted mitigation measures during the project implementation phase. For each mitigation measure recommended in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR), specifications are made herein that identify the action required, the monitoring that must occur, and the agency or department responsible for oversight.

PGCC 12-3-25

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Final Environmental Impact Report 3
Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
Air Quality
AQ-3(a) Construction Emissions Reductions
Prior to construction activity and issuance of
grading permits for development facilitated
by the project, the City Building Official shall
confirm that the grading plan, building plans,
and specifications stipulate the following
measures shall be implemented:
▪ All mobile off-road equipment (wheeled
or tracked) used during construction
activities shall meet USEPA Tier 4 Final
standards. Tier 4 certification can be for
the original equipment or equipment that
is retrofitted to meet the Tier 4 Final
standards.
▪ Alternative fuel (natural gas, propane,
electric, etc.) construction equipment
shall be incorporated where available or
necessary to reduce TAC emissions. These
requirements shall be incorporated into
the contract agreement with the
construction contractor. A copy of the
equipment’s certification or model year
specifications shall be available upon
request for all equipment on-site.
▪ Electricity shall be supplied to the site
from the existing power grid to support
the electric construction equipment. If
connection to the grid is determined to be
infeasible for portions of the project, a
non-diesel fueled generator shall be used.

Verify that the grading plan,
building plans, and specifications
stipulate all mobile off-road
equipment (wheeled or tracked)
used during construction activities
shall meet USEPA Tier 4 Final
standards; alternative fuel for
construction equipment shall be
incorporated where available; and
electricity shall be supplied to the
site to support electric
construction equipment.

Prior to
construction
activity and
issuance of grading
permits.

Routinely
throughout
construction.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent
Provide a copy of the equipment’s
certification or model year
specifications on-site.

Prior to
construction
activity and
issuance of grading
permits.

Once.

PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 4 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
AQ-3(b) MBARD Fugitive Dust Reduction Measures
The City shall require the implementation of
the following MBARD fugitive dust reduction
measures, where applicable, to reduce PM10
emissions generated by dust during the
construction phase of development facilitated
by the project:
▪ Water all active construction areas at
least twice daily. Frequency should be
based on the type of operation, soil, and
wind exposure.
▪ Prohibit all grading activities during
periods of high wind (over 15 mph).
▪ Apply chemical soil stabilizers on inactive
construction areas (disturbed lands within
construction projects that are unused for
at least four consecutive days).
▪ Apply non-toxic binders (e.g., latex acrylic
copolymer) to exposed areas after cut and
fill operations and hydro seed area.
▪ Haul trucks shall maintain at least 2'0" of
freeboard.
▪ Cover all trucks hauling dirt, sand, or
loose materials.
▪ Plant tree windbreaks on the windward
perimeter of construction projects if
adjacent to open land.
▪ Plant vegetative ground cover in
disturbed areas as soon as possible.
▪ Cover inactive storage piles.
▪ Install wheel washers at the entrance to
construction sites for all exiting trucks.
▪ Pave all roads on construction sites.

Verify implementation of dust
reduction measures.

During
construction.

Routinely
throughout
construction.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent
Implement fugitive dust reduction
measures as specified in the
measure.

During
construction.

Routinely
throughout
construction.

PGCC 12-3-25

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Final Environmental Impact Report 5
Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
▪ Sweep streets if visible soil material is
carried out from the construction site.
▪ Post a publicly visible sign which specifies
the telephone number and person to
contact regarding dust complaints. This
person shall respond to complaints and
take corrective action within 48 hours.

The phone number of the Monterey Bay
Unified Air Pollution Control District shall
be visible to ensure compliance with Rule
402 (Nuisance).
▪ Limit the area under construction at any
one time.

Biological Resources
BIO-1(a) Special-Status Plant Species Surveys
A City-approved biologist shall complete
surveys for special-status plants in
undeveloped areas at Sites 47, 49, 50, and 55,
and additional parcels A1, A3, and A4 prior to
any vegetation removal, grubbing, or other
construction activity (including staging and
mobilization). The surveys shall be floristic in
nature and shall be seasonally timed to
coincide with the target species. All plant
surveys shall be conducted by a Cityapproved biologist during the blooming season, and during development application
processing yet prior to development permit
approval. All special-status plant species
identified on each site shall be mapped onto a
site-specific aerial photograph or topographic
map with the use of Global Positioning
System unit. Surveys shall be conducted in
accordance with the most current protocols
established by the CDFW, USFWS, and the
Conduct seasonally appropriate
special-status plant species survey
as specified in the measure.

During the
blooming
season appropriate
to the target
special-status plant
species and prior to
development
permit approval.

Seasonally and
prior to
development
permit approval.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
City-approved
biologist
Repeat survey if construction
does not begin within three years.

If special-status plants are not
identified, no further action is
required. If special-status plants
are identified, implement
Mitigation Measures BIO-1(b) and
BIO-1(c).

During the
blooming
season appropriate
to the target
special-status plant
species and prior to
development
permit approval.

Seasonally and
prior to
development
permit approval.

Review survey results report. Once per survey
cycle.

Once per survey
cycle.

PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 6 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
local jurisdictions if said protocols exist. A
report of the survey results shall be
submitted to the City, and the CDFW and/or
USFWS for state or federally listed plants, as
appropriate, for review and/or approval. If
project construction does not occur within
three years of the initial special-status plant
survey, additional floristic surveys shall be
repeated.

If special-status plants are not found during
special-status plant surveys, no further action
is required. If federally- and/or state-listed
individuals and/or CRPR 1B or 2 plant
populations are found during special-status
plant surveys, the Mitigation Measures BIO1(b) and BIO-1(c) shall be implemented.

BIO-1(b) Special-Status Plant Species Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation If federally-listed and/or state-listed
individuals, and/or CRPR 1B or 2 plant
populations are found during special-status
plant surveys [pursuant to Mitigation
Measure BIO-1(a)], and would be directly
impacted by development, then the project
shall be re-designed to avoid impacting listed
plant species or CRPR 1B or 2 populations,
where feasible and compatible with project
design. Rare and listed plant occurrences that
are not within the immediate disturbance
footprint but are located within 50 feet of
disturbance limits shall have bright orange
protective fencing installed at least 30 feet
beyond their extent, or other distance as
approved by a City-approved biologist based
Review locations of identified
special-status plants and redesign
project to avoid impacts to listed
plants or special-status plant
populations, where feasible and
compatible with project
objectives.

During project
design and prior to
development
permit approval.

During project
design and prior
to development
permit approval.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
City-approved
biologist
Install bright orange fencing at
least 30 feet beyond the edge of
any special-status plant
occurrences located within 50
feet of the disturbance area.

Adjust buffer distance if approved
by a City-approved biologist based
on site-specific conditions.

Prior to and during
project
construction.

Prior to and
during project
construction.

PGCC 12-3-25

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Final Environmental Impact Report 7
Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
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Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
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Verification
Comments
on species location in relation to the
construction area and level of disturbance
from construction activities, to protect them
from harm. Prior to initiation of construction
activities the project proponent shall submit a
site plan depicting the location(s) of specialstatus plants and avoidance buffers to the City for review and verification. The Cityapproved biologist(s) shall possess a degree in biology, ecology, botany, or a related field,
and have demonstrated knowledge and
experience with native plant and wildlife
species of the region, their habitats, and
applicable environmental regulations. The
biologist shall have prior experience
conducting pre-construction surveys,
construction monitoring, and implementing
mitigation measures and permit conditions
similar to those required for this project. If
special-status plants can be avoided, no
further action is required. If federally- and/or
state-listed individuals and/or CRPR 1B or 2
plant populations cannot be avoided, then
Mitigation Measure BIO-1(c) shall be
implemented.

If special-status plants can be
avoided, no further action is
required. If avoidance or listed
plants or special-status plant
populations is not feasible,
implement Mitigation Measure
BIO-1(c).

Prior to and during
project
construction.

Prior to and
during project
construction.

BIO-1(c) Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan
If federally- and/or state-listed plants, nonlisted special-status plant populations, sensitive natural communities, or waters of
the US and/or State cannot be avoided and
will be impacted by development, all impacts
shall be mitigated by the implementing entity
at a minimum ratio of 1:1 for occupied
habitat area as a component of habitat
Retain a City-approved biologist
to prepare an HMMP, to be
submitted to the City, that
includes the components
specified and provides mitigation
for impacts at a minimum 1:1
ratio through habitat restoration
or compensatory mitigation.

Prior to issuance of
building permits
and as required by
permitting agencies
(if appropriate).

Once. City of Pacific
Grove;
project
proponent;
City-approved
biologist
PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 8 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
restoration or through compensatory
mitigation. A habitat mitigation and
monitoring plan (HMMP) shall be prepared by
a City-approved biologist and submitted by
the project proponent to the City for review
and verification prior to the issuance of
building permits. The project proponent shall
also obtain all necessary permits from USFWS
and/or CDFW and provide proof of take
authorization, if required, to the City for
verification prior to issuance of any permits
for ground disturbing activities. The HMMP
shall include, at a minimum, the following
components:

1. Description of the project/impact site
(i.e., location, responsible parties, areas
to be impacted by habitat type).

2. Goal(s) of the compensatory mitigation
project (type[s] and area[s]) of habitat to
be established, restored, enhanced,
and/or preserved; specific functions and
values of habitat type[s] to be
established, restored, enhanced, and/or
preserved).

3. Description of the proposed
compensatory mitigation site (location
and size, ownership status, existing
functions, and values).

4. Implementation plan for the
compensatory mitigation site (rationale
for expecting implementation success,
responsible parties, schedule, site
preparation, planting plan).

5. Maintenance activities during the
monitoring period, including weed
Obtain all necessary permits for
impacts to biological resources
and provide proof of take
authorization to the City, if
required.

Prior to ground
disturbing
activities.

Once.

Implement restoration or
compensatory mitigation in
accordance with the approved
HMMP, including maintenance,
monitoring, reporting, and
corrective actions as needed to
achieve success criteria.

During
restoration/mitigati
on implementation
and continuing until
HMMP success
criteria are met, or
for the duration
specified by
permitting
agencies.

Conduct
monitoring
quarterly during
the first year, and
annually
thereafter for the
duration of the
HMMP; perform
additional
monitoring and
corrective actions
as needed if
success criteria
are not met.

Submit a final monitoring report
to the City documenting
compliance with the HMMP,
monitoring results, and
confirmation of whether success
criteria have been met.

Within 30 days of
completing the
monitoring period
(or as otherwise
specified in the
approved HMMP).

Once, at the
conclusion of the
monitoring
program.

PGCC 12-3-25

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Final Environmental Impact Report 9
Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
removal as appropriate (activities,
responsible parties, schedule).

6. Monitoring plan for the compensatory
mitigation site, including no less than
quarterly monitoring for the first year
(performance standards, target functions
and values, target acreages to be
established, restored, enhanced, and/or
preserved, annual monitoring reports).

7. Success criteria based on the goals and
measurable objectives; said criteria to be,
at a minimum, at least 80 percent survival
of container plants and 30 percent
relative cover by vegetation type or other
industry standards as determined by a
qualified restoration specialist.

8. An adaptive management program and
remedial measures to address any
shortcomings in meeting success criteria.

9. Notification of completion of
compensatory mitigation and agency
confirmation.

10. Contingency measures (initiating
procedures, alternative locations for
contingency compensatory mitigation,
funding mechanism).

11. All nursery plants used in restoration shall
be inspected for sudden oak death.

Within 30 days of completion of monitoring, a
final monitoring report shall be submitted to
the City for review and verification,
documenting compliance with the HMMP and
achievement of success criteria.

PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 10 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
BIO-1(d) Worker Environmental Awareness Program
Prior to initiation of construction activities at
Site 49, 42, 43, 47, 50, 55, and additional
parcels A1, A3, and A4 (including staging and
mobilization), the project proponent for
development shall arrange for all personnel
associated with project construction for the
applicable phase to attend Worker
Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP)
training, conducted by a City-approved
biologist, to aid workers in recognizing
special-status biological resources that may
occur in the construction area. The specifics
of this WEAP shall include identification of
the sensitive species and habitats, a
description of the regulatory status and
general ecological characteristics of sensitive
resources, and review of the limits of
construction and mitigation measures
required to reduce impacts to biological
resources within the work area. A fact sheet
conveying this information shall also be
prepared for distribution to all contractors,
their employers, and other personnel
involved with construction. All employees
shall sign a form provided by the trainer
indicating they have attended the WEAP
training and understand the information
presented to them. The form shall be
submitted to the City to document
compliance prior to the initiation of ground
disturbing activities, and as new personnel
are added to the construction site.

Ensure that all construction
personnel for the applicable
phase attend a WEAP training
conducted by a City-approved
biologist.

Prior to the
initiation of
construction
activities at Sites
49, 42, 43, 47, 50,
55, and Parcels A1,
A3, and A4.

Verify attendance
at training
sessions, including
as new personnel
are added;
confirm with
signed forms.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
City-approved
biologist
Distribute a WEAP fact sheet to all
contractors, subcontractors, and
construction personnel. Each
participant must sign a form
confirming attendance and
understanding of the training
content.

At each training
session, prior to
initiation of
construction and as
new personnel are
added.

Once and as
personnel are
added to the site.

Submit signed forms to the City
documenting WEAP compliance.

Prior to any ground
disturbing activities
and updated as
new personnel are
added.

City to review and
confirm receipt of
forms; maintain
forms on file.

PGCC 12-3-25

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Final Environmental Impact Report 11
Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
BIO-1(e) Northern California Legless Lizard Avoidance and Minimization A pre-construction clearance survey shall be
conducted in undeveloped areas of Sites 47,
49, 50, and 55, and additional parcels A1, A3,
and A4 for Northern California legless lizard
by a City-approved biologist within 48 hours
prior to the start of construction (including
staging and mobilization). The survey shall
cover the entire disturbance footprint within
suitable habitats with moist loose soil, plus a
minimum 100-foot buffer, where permissible,
and should identify all special-status wildlife
species observed on the project site. During
the pre-construction survey the biologist shall
inspect under logs, leaf litter, or other
suitable refuge. If Northern California legless
lizards are identified, individuals shall be
relocated by a biologist to suitable cover with
loose soils a minimum of 500 feet from the
project site, as accessible. A written report
demonstrating compliance with the preconstruction clearance survey requirement, including a description of all individuals
identified and relocated during the survey,
shall be submitted to the City for review and
verification prior to the start of construction.

A City-approved biologist
conducts a pre-construction
clearance survey.

Within 48 hours
prior to the start of
construction
(including staging
and mobilization) at
Sites 47, 49, 50, 55,
and Parcels A1, A3,
and A4.

Confirm survey
completion. If
construction start
is delayed beyond
the 48-hour
window, repeat
the survey.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
City-approved
biologist
If any Northern California legless
lizards are found, the biologist
shall relocate individuals to
suitable habitat at least 500 feet
away from the project site, if
accessible.

During preconstruction
clearance survey.

Document each
relocation as
needed during
survey.

Submit a written report to the
City documenting the survey
results and any relocations for
review and verification.

Before the initiation
of construction
activities.

City reviews and
verifies report
prior to
construction
activities.

BIO-1(f) Pre-Construction Bat Surveys and Maternity Roost Avoidance Prior to project activities at Sites 47, 49, 50,
and 55, and additional parcels A1, A3, and A4,
a qualified, City-approved bat specialist shall
conduct a habitat assessment to determine if
bat roosting habitat occurs in or near the
project area. Bat specialists shall be
knowledgeable in bat ecology and
▪ City-approved bat specialist
conducts a habitat
assessment to determine if
bat roosting habitat exists
within or near the project
area.

Before any project
activities at Sites
47, 49, 50, 55, and
Parcels A1, A3, and
A4.

City to review
habitat
assessment
summary.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
City-approved
biologist
PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 12 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
identification, and shall have demonstrated
experience conducting pre-construction
surveys, monitoring construction activities,
and implementing mitigation measures for
bats on projects similar in scope and setting.

If it is determined that the project area may
contain or occur within 100 feet of potential
day roosting habitat or 300 feet of potential
maternity roosting habitat, a qualified bat
specialist shall conduct a focused bat
emergence survey within these areas at least
30 days prior to construction or vegetation
removal (plus a 100-foot buffer as access
allows). The survey shall be conducted at
least 1 hour before sunset and up to 3 hours
after sunset, at a minimum. Acoustic
recognition technology (such as SonoBat
software or similar technology) shall be used
during the survey to maximize detection of
bats. The qualified bat specialist shall identify
and demarcate habitat (i.e., trees or
structures) containing daytime and/or
nighttime roosts, and any maternity roosts.

Survey results, including negative findings,
shall be provided to the City within 30 days of
completion of the survey.

Depending on the survey results, a qualified
bat specialist shall identify potentially
significant effects of the project on bats and
determine which measures below are
necessary to reduce impacts to a less-thansignificant level. A report of the survey results and proposed minimization measures shall be
submitted to the City for review and
If potential roosting habitat is
found within 100 feet (day roosts)
or 300 feet (maternity roosts),
conduct a focused bat emergence
survey using acoustic technology,
at least 1 hour before to 3 hours
after sunset. Document survey
results and include
recommendations.

At least 30 days
before construction
or vegetation
removal.

City to review
survey results and
recommendations
If maternity roosts are identified,
schedule work outside of the
maternity season (Oct 1–Feb 28);
if work must occur during the
maternity season, have a bat
specialist conduct inspections of
trees within 300 feet of project
area for roosts.

At least 7 days prior
to tree removal
within 300 feet of
an identified
maternity roost,
and prior to
construction in
those areas.

City to review
inspection results
within 7 days of
survey.

If trees with potential roosting
habitat must be removed,
implement phased/tree-nudging
or two-day removal protocols
under direction of the bat
specialist.

During tree
removal activities.

Bat specialist to
monitor
compliance and
document
procedures.
▪ If structures with potential
roosting habitat must be
altered/removed, conduct
surveys at least 14 days prior
to demolition and implement
humane exclusion, if needed.

Prior to demolition
of structures;
monitoring during
demolition.

Bat specialist to
confirm eviction
success.

If large roosts are found, consult
with CDFW and install bat boxes
as determined through
consultation.

Upon detection of
large roosts.

City to verify
consultation
occurred and
mitigation
implemented.

PGCC 12-3-25

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Final Environmental Impact Report 13
Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
verification. Measures to avoid and minimize
impacts to bats may include the following:
▪ If maternity roosts are observed, work
shall be scheduled between October 1
and February 28, outside of the maternity
roosting season when young bats are
present but are ready to fly out of the
roost (March 1 to September 30). If tree
removal is required during the maternity
roosting season, trees potentially
supporting an active maternity roost shall
be closely inspected by a qualified bat
specialist to determine the presence or
absence of roosting bats. Inspection of
each tree shall occur no more than 7 days
prior to tree disturbance, and inspection
results, including negative findings, shall
be provided to the City within 7 days of
completion of the inspection. Trees
determined to be supporting maternity
roosts shall be left in place until the end
of the maternity season. Work shall not
occur within 300 feet of or directly under
or adjacent to an active maternity roost,
and the non-disturbance buffer shall only
be reduced at the discretion of a qualified
bat specialist based on species location in
relation to the construction area and level
of disturbance from construction
activities. The minimum buffer shall not
be less than 50 feet. Work shall not occur
between 30 minutes before sunset and 30
minutes after sunrise.
▪ If the removal of a tree containing
potential roosting habitat for leaf dwelling
bat species is required, the tree shall be
pushed down using heavy machinery
Submit survey results report
(including negative findings) to
the City.

Within 30 days of
survey completion.

City reviews
report for
adequacy.

Submit a monitoring report for
any activity involving roost
removal or
avoidance/minimization
measures.

Within 7 days of
activity affecting
roost habitat.

City reviews
report for
compliance
confirmation.

PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 14 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
rather than felling with a chainsaw. To
ensure the optimum warning for any
roosting bats that may be present, the
tree shall be gently nudged two or three
times, with a pause of approximately 30
seconds between each nudge to allow
bats to become active. The tree shall then
be pushed to the ground slowly and
remain in place until it is inspected by a
qualified bat specialist. If it is determined
that the removed tree contains a bat
roost, the tree shall not be immediately
bucked or mulched. A period of at least 24
to 48 hours shall elapse prior to such
operations to allow bats to escape.
▪ If the removal of a tree containing
potential roosting habitat for trunk or
crevice dwelling bat species is required,
the tree shall be removed under the
direction of a City-approved bat specialist
using a two-step tree removal process
conducted over two consecutive days. On
the first day, the tree’s non-habitat
branches shall be trimmed using handheld
equipment only (no heavy machinery),
such as chainsaws. The noise and
vibration disturbance, together with the
visible alteration of the tree, is effective in
causing bats that emerge nightly to feed
to not return to the roost. The remainder
of the tree shall be removed on the
second day.
▪ If the alteration or removal of structures
(i.e., buildings) containing potential
roosting habitat for bats is required, a
qualified bat specialist shall conduct a
survey of all structures no more than 14
PGCC 12-3-25

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Final Environmental Impact Report 15
Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
days prior to demolition. If no signs of bat
roosting activity are observed, no further
actions shall be required. If bats or signs
of bat roosting activity are observed, a
City-approved bat specialist shall prepare
specific recommendations for and the
project proponent shall implement the
recommended methods of humane
eviction such as partial dismantling to
allow bats to abandon the roost, or
installation of one-way doors. Removal of
structures containing potential roosting
habitat shall be monitored for compliance
with the recommended methods and
success of eviction by a City-approved bat
specialist. If bats are not successfully
evicted, the bat specialist shall stop work,
reassess exclusion methods, and
demolition may not continue until bats
have been successfully evicted.
▪ If a roost is observed being used by many
bats (large hibernaculum), bat boxes shall
be installed near the project site. The
number of bat boxes installed shall
depend on the size of the hibernaculum
and shall be determined through
consultation with CDFW.

A monitoring report shall be submitted to the
City within seven days of activities requiring
potential roost removal. The report shall
include a summary of dates of monitoring,
methods used, findings (including species
observed, if known, and roost activity), and
confirmation of compliance with applicable
avoidance and minimization measures.

PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 16 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
BIO-1(g) Monarch Butterfly Avoidance and Minimization
Project construction activities at Sites 42 and
43, including equipment staging, grading, and
construction, shall be avoided during the
monarch butterfly overwintering season
between October 15 through March 15, if
practicable. In the event project construction
activities cannot be avoided during the
overwintering season, the project proponent
shall retain a City-approved biologist to
conduct a survey for roosting monarch
butterflies within seven days prior to
initiation of construction activities to
determine their presence/absence.

If no monarch butterflies are observed during
pre-construction surveys, no further actions
are necessary. In the event construction
pauses for a period of 7 days or more, if
construction is planned to restart during the
monarch butterfly overwintering season
(October 15 through March 15), the project
proponent shall retain a City-approved
biologist to conduct a new survey in
accordance with the requirements of this
mitigation measure.

If construction activities occur during the
overwintering season and monarch
butterflies are present, the City-approved
biologist shall establish a protective buffer,
ranging from 100 to 300 feet from the
roosting site in which monarch butterflies are
aggregating based on species location in
relation to the construction area and level of
disturbance from construction activities. The
buffer shall be delineated on site by the
biologist with flagging or staking visible by
Schedule construction activities at
Sites 42 and 43 outside of the
monarch butterfly overwintering
season (October 15-March 15), if
practicable.
▪ During project
scheduling;
prior to October

15..
▪ Project
proponent to
verify
construction
schedule
avoids
overwintering
season, where
practicable.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
City-approved
biologist
If construction during the
overwintering season cannot be
avoided, retain a City-approved
biologist to conduct a preconstruction survey for roosting monarch butterflies. If
construction pauses for 7 days or
more and resumes during the
overwintering season, retain a
City-approved to conduct a new
survey.

Within 7 days prior
to the start of
construction. Prior
to resuming
construction after a
pause of 7 days or
more during
October 15 to
March 15.

Biologist to
document survey
results.

If monarch butterflies are
present, establish a protective
buffer of 100 to 300 feet from the
roosting site under the direction
of the biologist. Ensure no work
occurs within the protective
buffer.

Prior to initiation of
construction.
activities near
roosts.

Biologist to
delineate buffer.

If work within the buffer is
necessary, have the biologist
present on site to monitor
activities and stop work if
disturbance to aggregated
monarch butterflies occurs. Allow
biologist discretion to adjust
Monitor during any
work within
established buffers.

Buffer adjustments
can occur anytime
during
construction.

Biologist to
monitor and
document buffer
adjustments.

PGCC 12-3-25

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Final Environmental Impact Report 17
Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
construction personnel. The construction
contractor shall ensure no construction
occurs within the protective buffer, including
staging of equipment or stopping or idling in
the buffer, during the overwintering season.

In the event construction activities, or other
use of equipment, is needed to work within
the buffer, the City-approved biologist shall
be present on site to monitor construction
activities and determine if the work is
disturbing the aggregated butterflies (e.g.,
aggregations begin to disperse in response to
noise or vibration from construction). If the
biologist determines the work is disturbing
the butterflies at any time, the biologist shall
stop work within the protective buffer. The
biologist shall have the authority to direct
construction activities and can reinitiate
construction activities when the butterflies no
longer show signs of being disturbed. In
addition, due to the regular movement of the
butterflies and locations of the aggregations,
the biologist shall have the discretion to
adjust the protective buffers within the 100-
to 300-foot required buffer range, as
necessary, based on species location in
relation to the construction area and level of
disturbance from construction activities.
buffer size based on butterfly
location and disturbance level.

Verify implementation of butterfly
avoidance and minimization
measures.

During construction
activities at Sites 42
and 43.

Routinely
throughout
construction.

BIO-1(h) Nesting Bird Avoidance
Ground disturbance and vegetation removal
activities shall be restricted to the nonbreeding season for birds (September 16 to January 31), when feasible. For ground
disturbance and vegetation-removal activities
occurring during the bird nesting season
Schedule ground disturbance and
vegetation removal activities
during the non-breeding season
(September 16 to January 31),
when feasible.

Prior to initiation of
construction and
during project
scheduling.

Once, as feasible
by project
proponent.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
City-approved
biologist
PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 18 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
(February 1 to September 15), general preconstruction nesting bird surveys shall be conducted by a City-approved biologist not
more than seven days prior to construction
activities involving ground clearing,
vegetation removal/trimming, or building
demolition. The surveys shall include the
disturbance area plus a 200-foot buffer
around the site, where feasible, and a 500-
foot buffer for raptors. If active nests are
located, an appropriate avoidance buffer shall
be established within which no work activity
would be allowed that would impact these
nests. The avoidance buffer shall be
established by the City-approved biologist on
a case-by-case basis based on the species and
site conditions. In no case shall the buffer be
smaller than 50 feet for non-raptor bird
species, or 200 feet for raptor species. Larger
buffers may be required depending on the
status of the nest and the construction
activities occurring near the nest. The buffer
area(s) shall be closed to all construction
personnel and equipment until juveniles have
fledged and until the nest is inactive. A Cityapproved biologist shall confirm that breeding/nesting is completed and young
have fledged the nest prior to removal of the
buffer. If there are delays in on-site activities
for more than 14 days during the breeding
season, an additional survey shall be required
prior to the start of work. A report of the
survey results and any proposed avoidance
buffers shall be submitted to the City for
review and verification prior to the initiation
of construction activities.

If ground disturbance, vegetation
removal, or building demolition
occurs during the breeding season
(February 1 to September 15), the
project proponent shall retain a
City-approved biologist to
conduct a general preconstruction nesting bird survey.

Biologist establishes buffers
around active nests and no work
within buffers can occur until
breeding/nesting is complete and
young have fledged.

Survey no more
than 7 days prior to
construction
activities; buffer
establishment and
nest monitoring as
needed during
construction.

Biologist conducts
survey(s), and
establishes buffers
and monitors
nests, as needed.

If construction is delayed for more
than 14 days during the breeding
season, conduct a new nesting
bird survey prior to resuming
work.

Prior to resuming
work after a delay
of more than 14
days.

Biologist resurveys asneeded.

Submit a report to the City
documenting survey results and
any proposed avoidance buffers.

Prior to initiating
construction
activities.

City to review
survey report(s).

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Comments
BIO-1(i) Invasive Weed Prevention
For individual development projects where
activity would occur in undeveloped areas at
Sites 47, 49, 50, and 55, and additional
parcels A3 and A4, landscape plans approved
by the City Community Development
Department as part of a development permit
applications shall not include noxious,
invasive, and/or non-native plant species that
are recognized on the federal Noxious Weed
List, California Noxious Weeds List, and/or
California Invasive Plant Council Moderate
and High Risk Lists. During construction the
project proponent shall:
▪ Limit site access and parking, equipment
storage and stationary construction
activities to the designated staging areas
to the maximum extent feasible.
▪ Prior to staging equipment on-site, clean
all equipment caked with mud, soils, or
debris from off-site sources or previous
project sites to avoid introducing or
spreading invasive exotic plant species.

When feasible, remove invasive exotic
plants from the individual project site. All
equipment used on the premises should
be cleaned prior to leaving the site for
other projects.
▪ All disturbed areas requiring hydroseeded
stabilization shall utilize a mix of locally
native species, as feasible, upon
completion of work in those areas.
▪ In areas where construction is ongoing,
hydroseeding shall occur where no
construction activities have occurred
within six weeks since ground disturbing
activities ceased.

Implement invasive weed
prevention measures as specified
in the measure.

Measures must be
adhered to
throughout
construction.

City to verify
compliance during
construction.

Project
proponent
Submit a compliance
report documenting
implementation of invasive weed
prevention measures.

Within 30 days of
project completion.

City to review and
verify compliance
report.

Review compliance report. After project
completion.

Once. City of Pacific
Grove
PGCC 12-3-25

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Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 20 Mitigation Measure/
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Comments
▪ If exotic species invade these areas prior
to hydroseeding, weed removal shall
occur in consultation with a City-approved
biologist and the City.

Within 30 days of project completion, a
report shall be submitted to the City for
review and verification documenting
compliance with the invasive weed
prevention measures above.

BIO-3(a) Jurisdictional Delineation
Prior to issuance of grading permits, a Cityapproved biologist shall complete a jurisdictional delineation of wetland features
at Site 49 and additional parcels A3 and A4.

The jurisdictional delineation shall determine
the extent of the jurisdiction for CDFW,
USACE, and/or RWQCB, and shall be
conducted in accordance with the
requirements set forth by each agency. The
result shall be a preliminary jurisdictional
delineation report that shall be submitted to
the city. The delineation shall be used to
inform design development in a manner that
avoids impacts to jurisdictional waters to the
maximum extent practicable. If jurisdictional
waters are identified within 100 feet of
proposed limits of work, Mitigation Measure
BIO-3(b) shall be required. If jurisdictional
waters are identified within proposed limits
of work and cannot be avoided, Mitigation
Measure BIO-1(c) shall be required. The
project proponent shall also be required to
apply for and obtain applicable federal and
State permits for impacting jurisdictional
waters, and shall implement all conditions of
such permit(s).
▪ Retain a City-approved
biologist to complete
a jurisdictional delineation to
identify any wetlands or
waters regulated
by CDFW, USACE, or RWQCB
at Site 49 and Parcels A3 and
A4.

Before issuance of
grading permits for
Site 49 and Parcels
A3 and A4.

City to verify
delineation
completed by a
qualified biologist.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
City-approved
biologist
Prepare delineation in accordance
with agency guidelines and
submit report to the City to
inform project design and
avoidance of impacts.

Prior to issuance of
grading permits.

City to review
delineation
report.

If impacts are unavoidable, obtain
all required permits from relevant
agencies and follow all permit
conditions during construction.

Prior to and during
construction, as
required by
permitting
agencies.

As required by
permitting
agencies.

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Verification
Comments
BIO-3(b) Waters and Wetlands Impact Avoidance and Minimization To avoid and/or minimize potential indirect
impacts to jurisdictional waters and water
quality, the City shall require following BMPs
to be implemented by the project proponent
during construction within 100 feet of
jurisdictional areas at Site 49 and additional
parcels A3 and A4:
▪ Any material/spoils generated from
project activities shall be located away
from jurisdictional areas or special-status
habitat and protected from storm water
run-off using temporary perimeter
sediment barriers such as berms, silt
fences, fiber rolls (non- monofilament),
covers, sand/gravel bags, and straw bale
barriers, as appropriate.
▪ All vehicles and equipment shall be in
good working condition and free of leaks.

The contractor shall prevent oil,
petroleum products, or any other
pollutants from contaminating the soil or
entering a watercourse (dry or
otherwise). When vehicles or equipment
are stationary, mats or drip pans shall be
placed below vehicles to contain fluid
leaks.
▪ All re-fueling, cleaning, and maintenance
of equipment shall occur at least 100 feet
from jurisdictional areas.
▪ Materials shall be stored on impervious
surfaces or plastic ground covers to
prevent any spills or leakage from
contaminating the ground and generally
at least 50 feet from the top of bank.
▪ Prevent the discharge of silt or pollutants
off the site when working adjacent to
Implement waters and wetlands
impact avoidance and
minimization measures as
specified in the measure.

Throughout
construction.

City or designated
environmental
representative to
conduct routine
inspections during
construction.

City of Pacific
Grove; Project
proponent
Submit a compliance report to the
City documenting implementation
of BMPs and adherence to
the NPDES Permit.

Within 30 days of
project completion.

City to review
compliance report
for verification.

PGCC 12-3-25

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Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 22 Mitigation Measure/
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Comments
jurisdictional areas. Install BMPs (i.e., silt
barriers, sand bags, straw bales) as
appropriate.
▪ Any spillage of material shall be stopped if
it can be done safely. The contaminated
area shall be cleaned and any
contaminated materials properly
disposed. For all spills, the project
foreman or designated environmental
representative shall be notified.
▪ Work during times of precipitation shall
be avoided to the maximum extent
possible.

Within 30 days of completion, a report shall
be submitted to the City for review and
verification, documenting compliance with
the above measures and the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Permit.

Cultural Resources
CUL-2(a) Archaeological Resources Assessment and Protection For specific development projects involving
ground disturbance on identified housing
sites, in upzoning areas, or on additional
parcels, the project proponent shall retain a
City-approved consultant to conduct a
preliminary review to determine the need for
a formal archaeological assessment. The
preliminary review shall include a review of
available information regarding previous
disturbance, the presence of fill, and previous
cultural resources studies on file with the
City. If it can be determined that all proposed
ground disturbance will occur in documented
non-native fill or that the project site has
Retain a City-approved
consultant to conduct
a preliminary archaeological
review. If the site is fully disturbed
or in non-native fill with no prior
findings, no further action is
required.

Prior to
construction.

Once. City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
City-approved
archaeologist
If native soils may be impacted
and no prior study exists,
complete archaeological
assessment, including a records
search, site survey, and a
technical report with findings and
recommendations.

Prior to
construction.

Once, as needed.

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Initial
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Verification
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Compliance
Verification
Comments
been previously disturbed and subject to
cultural resources review with negative
findings, no further review will be required. If
preliminary review suggests the project may
impact native soils that have not been
previously subject to cultural resources study,
the project proponent shall retain a Cityapproved archaeologist to prepare an archaeological resources assessment. The
archaeological assessment shall be conducted
by a qualified archaeologist who meets the
Secretary of the Interior’s PQS in prehistoric
or historic archaeology (NPS 2025).

Archaeological assessments shall include a
records search at the Northwest Information
Center, pedestrian survey of the individual
development site, and preparation of a
technical report to be submitted to the City
for review and approval. The archaeological
assessment shall include recommendations
for additional study or mitigation, if
necessary, which may include, but would not
be limited to: subsurface testing, designing
and implementing a worker environmental
awareness program, construction monitoring
by a qualified archaeologist, avoidance of
sites, or preservation in place. Recommended
mitigation measures shall be consistent with
CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.4(b)(3).

Submitted archaeological
assessment to the City for review
and approval.

Prior to
construction.

Once.

PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 24 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
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Requirements
Responsible
Agency
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Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
CUL-2(b) Inadvertent Discovery of Archaeological Resources If evidence of any prehistoric or historic-era
subsurface archaeological features or
deposits are discovered during constructionrelated earthmoving activities (e.g., ceramics, trash scatters, lithic scatters), all grounddisturbing activity within a minimum of 50 feet shall be halted until a qualified
archaeologist can assess the significance of
the find. The work exclusion area may be
reduced or expanded as directed by the
qualified archaeologist. If the archaeologist
determines that the find does not meet the
CRHR standards of significance for cultural
resources, construction may proceed. If the
archaeologist determines that further
information is needed to evaluate
significance, a testing plan shall be prepared
and implemented. If the find is determined to
be significant by the qualified archaeologist
(i.e., because the find is determined to
constitute either an historical resource or a
unique archaeological resource), the
archaeologist shall work with the City to avoid
disturbance to the resources. If complete
avoidance is not feasible in light of project
design, economics, logistics, and/or other
factors, the archaeologist shall recommend
additional measures such as the preparation
and implementation of a data recovery plan.

All cultural resources work shall follow
accepted professional standards in recording
any find including submittal of standard
Department of Parks and Recreation Primary
Record forms and location information to the
Northwest Information Center. If the find is a
prehistoric archaeological site, the culturally
Stop work within 50 feet of
any archaeological materials
discovered during construction.

Throughout
construction, as
needed.

Ongoing. City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
qualified
archaeologist
Retain a qualified archaeologist to
implement discovery and
recovery measures as specified in
the measure.

Upon discovery and
prior to resuming
construction.

Ongoing.

Review data recovery plan. Once. Once.

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Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
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affiliated California Native American tribe
shall be notified and afforded the opportunity
to monitor mitigative treatment. During
evaluation or mitigative treatment, ground
disturbance and construction work may
continue in other parts of the project area
that are distant enough from the find not to
impact it, as determined appropriate by the
qualified archaeologist.

Geology and Soils
GEO-9 Paleontological Resources Analysis
The City of Pacific Grove shall require the
following specific requirements for projects
that could disturb geologic units with high
paleontological sensitivity (i.e., Quaternary
alluvial fan deposits or Quaternary marine
terrace deposits), including Sites 3, 6, 7, 10-
19, 20-22, 24-28, 30-37, 42-46, 51, 52, 57, A2,
A7, A9, and A11:

1. Prior to initial ground disturbance, the
project applicant shall retain a Qualified
Professional Paleontologist, as defined by
the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
(SVP 2010), to conduct a paleontological
resources assessment (PRA), which may
be part of a future project-specific
environmental review document or a
stand-alone report. The PRA shall
determine the potential for the project to
impact paleontologically sensitive
sediments and the paleontological
resources that may be contained therein.

The PRA shall be reviewed by the City to
ensure the project’s compliance with this
mitigation measure, SVP Guidelines, and
MGMC Chapter 23.76.

Review PRA. Prior to
construction.

Once. City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent;
qualified
paleontologist
For projects on sites with high
paleontological sensitivity, the
project proponent must conduct a
paleontological resources analysis
as specified in the measure.

Prior to
construction.

Once.

Monitor for paleontological
resources, as needed.

Monitoring to occur
as needed
throughout
construction.

Ongoing, as
needed.

Submit PRA to City of Pacific
Grove.

Prior to
construction.

Once.

PGCC 12-3-25

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Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 26 Mitigation Measure/
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Responsible
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Verification
Initial
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Verification
Date
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Verification
Comments

2. If the PRA identifies no potential impacts
to paleontological resources, then no
further paleontological mitigation would
be required. If the project could have a
significant impact on paleontological
resources, the PRA shall outline mitigation
measures to reduce impacts by ensuring
that all scientifically significant
paleontological resources potentially
encountered during construction are
collected and preserved in a
paleontological repository meeting SVP
(2010) standards. These measures would
be overseen by a Qualified Professional
Paleontologist and may include, but
would not be limited to: training of
construction personnel, paleontological
monitoring, and procedures for an
unanticipated paleontological resource
discovery.

If construction personnel training is required,
the Qualified Professional Paleontologist or
their designee shall conduct a paleontological
Worker Environmental Awareness Program
(WEAP) training for construction personnel
regarding the appearance of fossils and the
procedures for notifying paleontological staff
should fossils be discovered by construction
personnel.

Paleontological monitoring would be required
for excavations, grading, trenching, or
boring/drilling greater than 2 feet in diameter
that occurs within previously undisturbed
sediments with high paleontological
sensitivity. Paleontological monitoring shall
be conducted by an individual meeting the
PGCC 12-3-25

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Comments
SVP (2010) definition of a Paleontological
Resources Monitor. The Qualified
Professional Paleontologist may recommend
that monitoring be reduced in frequency or
ceased entirely based on geologic
observations. Such decisions shall be subject
to review and approval by the City. Upon
completion of ground-disturbing activities (or
laboratory preparation and curation of fossils,
if necessary), the Qualified Professional
Paleontologist shall prepare a final report
describing the results of the paleontological
monitoring efforts. The report shall include a
summary of the field and laboratory methods
employed; an overview of project geology;
and, if fossils were discovered, an analysis of
the fossils, including physical description,
taxonomic identification, and scientific
significance. The report shall be submitted to
the City and, if fossil curation occurred, the
designated scientific institution.

In the event of a fossil discovery by the
paleontological monitor or construction
personnel, all construction activity within 50
feet of the find shall cease, and the Qualified
Professional Paleontologist shall evaluate the
find. If the fossil(s) is (are) not scientifically
significant, then construction activity may
resume. If it is determined that the fossil(s) is
(are) scientifically significant, then they shall
be salvaged, prepared to a curation-ready
condition, and curated in a paleontological
repository per SVP (2010) standards.

PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 28 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
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Responsible
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Verification
Initial
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Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
GHG-1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions
Development facilitated by the proposed
project shall incorporate GHG emissions
reduction actions to demonstrate consistency
with the 2022 Scoping Plan for residential and
mixed-use developments. Specifically,
individual projects shall incorporate the
following actions, which shall be verified by
the City prior to issuing a building permit for
an individual project:
a) Future mixed use residential and
commercial developments shall be
designed to support all-electric buildings
and electric appliances. Natural gas
connections and activation shall be
permitted when alternative renewable
energy sources are demonstrably
infeasible for a permitted use. Compliance
shall be verified by City staff on building
plans prior to granting building permits.
b) Provide EV charging infrastructure that, at
minimum, meets California Green
Building Standards Code Tier 2 voluntary
measures at the time of project approval.
c) Project proponents shall coordinate with
Monterey-Salinas Transit to incorporate
public transit into project features, where
feasible. Project features could include
bus stop passes for residents of future
housing units, participation in the vanpool
program, and installation of new bus
stops where appropriate.

Verify that the project includes
the GHG reduction measures as
specified in the measure.

Prior to issuance of
building permits for
residential or
mixed-use projects.

Once. City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent
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Verification
Comments
Noise
NOI-1(a) Measures to Reduce Construction Noise
To minimize noise during construction
facilitated by the project, the City of Pacific
Grove shall require construction contractors
to implement as many of the following
measures for construction activities
conducted within the City as feasible.

Construction plans submitted to the City shall
include construction noise analysis and
identify these measures on demolition,
grading, and construction plans submitted to
the City. The City of Pacific Grove Building
Division shall verify that grading, demolition,
and/or construction plans submitted to the
City include these notations prior to issuance
of demolition, grading and/or building
permits.

Mufflers. During excavation and grading
construction phases, all construction
equipment, fixed or mobile, shall be operated
with closed engine doors and shall be
equipped with properly operating and
maintained mufflers consistent with
manufacturers’ standards.

Stationary Equipment. All stationary
construction equipment shall be placed so
that emitted noise is directed away from the
nearest sensitive receivers.

Equipment Staging Areas. Equipment staging
shall be located in areas that will create the
greatest distance feasible between
construction-related noise sources and noisesensitive receivers.

Verify measures in construction
plans and verify compliance.

Before and during
construction.

Routinely
throughout
construction.

City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent
Include feasible noise-reduction
measures in demolition, grading,
and construction plans submitted
to the City.

Prior to submittal
of plans to City.

Once.

PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 30 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
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Initial
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Verification
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Compliance
Verification
Comments
Smart Back-up Alarms. Mobile construction
equipment shall have smart back-up alarms
that automatically adjust the sound level of
the alarm in response to ambient noise levels.

Alternatively, back-up alarms shall be
disabled and replaced with human spotters to
ensure safety when mobile construction
equipment is moving in the reverse direction
in compliance with applicable safety laws and
regulations.

Electrically-Powered Tools and Facilities.

Electrical power shall be used to run air
compressors and similar power tools and to
power any temporary structures, such as
construction trailers or caretaker facilities.

Noise Disturbance Coordinator. The project
applicant shall designate a “noise disturbance
coordinator” responsible for responding to
any local complaints about construction
noise. The disturbance coordinator shall
determine the cause of any noise complaint
and shall require that reasonable measures
be implemented to correct the problem. A
telephone number for the disturbance
coordinator and the City shall be posted at
the construction site.

Temporary Noise Barriers. Erect temporary
noise barriers when construction noise is
predicted to exceed the acceptable standards
(e.g., 80 dBA Leq at residential receivers,
schools or other sensitive receptors during
the daytime) or when the anticipated
construction duration is greater than is typical
(e.g., two years or greater) and there are
sensitive receptors within 500 feet of the
construction site. Temporary noise barriers
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shall be constructed with solid materials (e.g.,
wood) with a density of at least 1.5 pounds
per square foot with no gaps from the ground
to the top of the barrier. If a sound blanket is
used, barriers shall be constructed with solid
material with a density of at least 1 pound per
square foot with no gaps from the ground to
the top of the barrier and be lined on the
construction side with acoustical blanket,
curtain or equivalent absorptive material
rated sound transmission class 32 or higher.

NOI-1(b) Evaluate and Reduce Stationary Operational Noise The City shall require applicants of
development projects facilitated by the
project and located within 50 feet of noisesensitive uses (including but not limited to residences, schools, and medical care
facilities) to evaluate potential on-site
operational noise impacts on nearby noisesensitive uses. The project applicant shall be required to implement stationary operational
noise reduction measures if noise generated
by operation of the project is anticipated to
exceed the following noise levels established
by the City’s General Plan Health and Safety
Element:
▪ An hourly Leq of 50 dB or greater
between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
▪ An hourly Leq of 45 dB or greater
between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
▪ A maximum sound level of 70 dB or
greater between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
▪ A maximum sound level of 65 dB or
greater between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
▪ Examples of measures to reduce on-site
noise include, but are not limited to,
Verify noise reduction measures
in project plans.

Prior to issuance of
building permits.

Once. City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent For development projects within
50 feet of noise-sensitive uses,
evaluate potential operational
noise impacts.

Prior to the
issuance of building
permits.

Once.

If noise is expected to exceed the
City’s thresholds,
implement noise reduction
measures as specified in the
measure.

Routinely
throughout
construction as
needed, pursuant
to the City’s
daytime and
nighttime noise
thresholds.

Throughout
construction.

PGCC 12-3-25

City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 32 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
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Compliance
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Initial
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Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
operational restrictions, selection of quiet
equipment, equipment setbacks,
enclosures, silencers, and/or acoustical
louvers. Measures to reduce stationary
operational noise shall be submitted to
the City prior to issuance of building
permits. Projects that are not anticipated
to exceed the above noise levels shall not
be required to implement stationary
operational noise reduction measures.

NOI-2 Measures to Reduce Construction Vibration
Prior to issuance of a building permit for
development facilitated by the project
requiring any of the following activities, the
project applicant shall prepare a groundborne
noise and vibration analysis to assess and
mitigate potential noise and vibration impacts
related to these construction activities.
▪ Pile driving during construction within 135
feet of fragile structures such as historical
resources
▪ Pile driving during construction within 100
feet of non-engineered timber and
masonry buildings (e.g., most residential
buildings)
▪ Pile driving during construction within 75
feet of engineered concrete and masonry
(no plaster)
▪ Use of a vibratory roller within 40 feet of
fragile historical resources or 25 feet of
any other structure
▪ Use of a dozer or other large earthmoving
equipment within 20 feet for a fragile
historical structure or 15 feet of any other
structure
Prepare groundborne noise and
vibration analysis.

Prior to the
issuance of building
permits.

Once. City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent
Verify implementation of
vibration reduction measures as
specified in the measure.

Routinely
throughout
construction.

Routinely as
needed.

Conduct construction vibration
monitoring as necessary.

During
construction.

Ongoing during
construction.

PGCC 12-3-25

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Final Environmental Impact Report 33
Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
This noise and vibration analysis shall be
conducted by a qualified and experienced
acoustical consultant or engineer. The
groundborne noise and vibration analysis
shall include measures to ensure that
vibration levels shall not exceed FTA
architectural damage thresholds (e.g., 0.12
in/sec PPV for fragile or historical resources,

0.2 in/sec PPV for non-engineered timber and
masonry buildings, and 0.3 in/sec PPV for
engineered concrete and masonry). If
vibration levels would exceed this threshold,
alternative uses such as drilling piles as
opposed to pile driving, static rollers as
opposed to vibratory rollers, and lower
horsepower earthmoving equipment shall be
used. If necessary, construction vibration
monitoring shall be conducted to verify FTA
vibration thresholds are not exceeded.

Utilities and Service Systems
UTIL-2 Water Supply Verification
Sufficient water supply availability must be
verified for all projects under the City of
Pacific Grove Housing Element Update,
Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General
Plan Amendments. The City shall not issue
any building permits for development
projects requiring potable water until a Water
Verification Report has been issued by the
Monterey Peninsula Water Management
District (MPWMD) confirming sufficient water
supply is available for the project. Project
applicants shall submit a detailed accounting
of all project water demands to MPWMD, for
consideration in issuing a Water Verification
Report. Projects meeting the definition of a
Confirm that sufficient water
supply is available for each
development project.

Prior to the
issuance of building
permits.

Once. City of Pacific
Grove; project
proponent
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City of Pacific Grove
Housing Element Update, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Plan Amendments 34 Mitigation Measure/
Condition of Approval Action Required Timing
Monitoring
Requirements
Responsible
Agency
Compliance
Verification
Initial
Compliance
Verification
Date
Compliance
Verification
Comments
“Project” under California Water Code (CWC)
Section 10912 must be evaluated in a Water
Supply Assessment (WSA) in accordance with
CWC Section 10910(f), subject to review and
approval by MPWMD. Projects that are not
subject to CWC Section 10912 must be
evaluated in a Residential Water Release
Form & Water Permit Application, subject to
review and approval by MPWMD. Water
Verification Reports issued by MPWMD shall
be informed by project-specific demand
information provided in the respective WSA
or Residential Water Release Form & Water
Permit Application. The Water Verification
Report shall identify whether the proposed
project requires additional water credits to
meet project demands, in addition to any
existing water credits that may be associated
with the project site(s).

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Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Final Environmental Impact Report 35
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ORDINANCE NO. 25-___

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE AMENDING CHAPTERS 23.08 (DEFINITIONS), 23.24 (R-3 DISTRICTS), 23.26 (R-3- P.G.R. DISTRICT), 23.28 (R-4 DISTRICT), 23.31 (COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS), 23.52 (R-3-M DISTRICTS), 23.64 (GENERAL PROVISIONS AND EXCEPTIONS), 23.70 (COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PERMIT REVIEW AUTHORITIES AND PROCEDURES), 23.79 (DENSITY BONUS REGULATIONS), AND

23.81 (REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES) OF TITLE 23 (ZONING) OF THE PACIFIC GROVE MUNICIPAL CODE AND AMENDING

THE PACIFIC GROVE ZONING MAP
Whereas, on August 17, 2022, the City Council by motion and unanimous vote (7 - 0) authorized and directed City staff to initiate a focused general plan update to meet the minimum requirements in connection with the 2023-2031 6th Cycle Housing Element Update which includes the proposed amendments to the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map; and Whereas, the 2023-2031 Pacific Grove Housing Element (“Housing Element”) includes an opportunity sites inventory that designates specific densities and zoning classifications for certain parcels as needed to meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) and further establishes policies and programs necessary to implement requirements of State housing law; and
Whereas, amendments to the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map are required to implement Housing Element Programs including upzoning sites in the Downtown Commercial and Forest Hill Commercial Districts and rezoning sites in the Dennett, Sinex, and Grove Acre District, the City has considered the proposed Zoning amendments through two dedicated study sessions of the Planning Commission; and
Whereas, the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map amendments were prepared in accordance with applicable statutory requirements taking into account public comment and consistency with the City’s General Plan and related City policies; and Whereas, in accordance with Government Code Section 21676 the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance were submitted to the Airport Land Use Commission for a determination of consistency with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for Monterey Regional Airport; and Whereas, on November 13, 2025, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing and adopted Resolution No. 25 - ____ recommending that the City Council certify the Final EIR, adopt amendments to the City’s General Plan, Land Use Map, Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map, and make CEQA Findings of Fact and adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations, and adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; and Whereas, the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for the project which includes the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map amendments was certified by the City Council of the City of Pacific Grove on December 3, 2025, as set forth in Resolution No. 25 - ____; and Whereas, pursuant to Government Code Sections 65090, 65091, 65355, and 65856, on November 20, 2025, at least 10 days before the public hearing date, notice of the hearing before the City Council was published in the Monterey County Weekly and Monterey Herald, posted at City Hall, mailed to affected owners of the subject real property and property owners within 300’ PGCC 12-3-25

of the subject real property, posted on-site at each affected property, posted on the City’s Community Development Department and Housing Element webpages, and emailed to a list of interested parties; and
Whereas, the ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council on December 3, 2025; and
Whereas, the City Clerk caused a summary of the ordinance to be published in the Monterey County Weekly on December ____, 2025; and
Whereas, the City Council held a second reading of the ordinance at a regular meeting of the Council held on _______________, _____; and
Whereas, all other legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

The Pacific Grove City Council considered the Environmental Impact Report, Planning Commission and City Council resolutions, agenda reports, written and oral testimony, and administrative record as a whole, and hereby finds as follows:

A. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference each as an integral part of this Ordinance. All Attachments hereto are hereby incorporated by reference.

B. The proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map are consistent with the General Plan and, if applicable, the certified local coastal program.

C. The proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the city.

D. The proposed amendments are internally consistent with other applicable provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.

E. The sites are physically suitable (including ability to meet requested zoning regulations, access, provision of utilities, compatibility with adjoining land uses, and absence of physical constraints) for the requested zoning designations and anticipated land uses.

SECTION 2. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS.

Chapters 23.08 (Definitions), 23.24 (R-3 Districts), 23.26 (R-3-P.G.R. District), 23.28 (R-4 District), 23.31 (Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts), 23.52 ( R-3-M Districts), 23.64 (General Provisions and Exceptions), 23.70 (Community Development Permit Review Authorities and Procedures), 23.79 (Density Bonus Regulations), and 23.81 (Reasonable Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities) of Title 23 (Zoning) of the Pacific Grove Municipal Code is hereby amended as set forth in Attachment A.

SECTION 3. ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS.

The Pacific Grove Zoning Map is hereby amended as depicted in Attachment B and described as follows:

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A. Reclassified from R-2-B-3 to R-3: 611 Dennett Street (Assessor’s Parcel Number [APN] 006-572-012); 637 Dennett Street (APN 006-572-011); 659 Dennett Street (APN 006-572-009); 679 Dennett Street (APN 006-572-008); 1110 Sinex Avenue (APN 006- 572-015); 1114 Sinex Avenue (APN 006-572-016); 1120 Sinex Avenue (APN 006-572- 006); 1126 Sinex Avenue (APN 006-572-007); 702 Grove Acre Avenue (APN 006-572- 001); 706 Grove Acre Avenue (APN 006-572-002); 708 Grove Acre Avenue (APN 006- 572-003); 710 Grove Acre Avenue (APN 006-572-004); 720 Grove Acre Avenue (APN 006-572-013); and 726 Grove Acre Avenue (APN (006-572-014).

B. Reclassified from R-2 to R-3: 915 Sunset Drive (APN 007-101-007).

SECTION 4. SEVERABILITY.

If any section, subsection, phrase or clause of this ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this and each section, subsection, phrase or clause thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, phrase or clauses be declared unconstitutional on their face or as applied.

SECTION 5. PUBLICATION.

The City Clerk is hereby directed to certify the passage of this Ordinance by the City Council of the City of Pacific Grove, California and cause the same to be published in accordance with State law.

SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effective thirty (30) days after its adoption and shall be published and posted as required by law.
*****

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE THIS ____ day of _______________, 2025, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

APPROVED:
____________________________
NICK SMITH, Mayor
ATTEST:

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_________________________________
SANDRA KANDELL, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________________
BRIAN A. PIERIK, City Attorney
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ATTACHMENT A

ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS
(to be inserted)
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ATTACHMENT B

DEPICTION OF ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS
(to be inserted)
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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Title 23 ZONING

Title 23
ZONING1
Chapters:

23.04 Purpose and Effect of Zoning Regulations

23.08 Definitions

23.12 Districts

23.16 R-1 District and R-1-B Combined Districts

23.20 R-2 District and R-2-B-3 Combined District

23.24 R-3 Districts

23.26 R-3-P.G.R. District

23.28 R-4 District

23.29 Condominium and Community Housing Conversions

23.30 M-H Districts

23.31 Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts

23.32 C-1-T Zone Condominiums

23.33 Repealed

23.34 Limited Downtown Commercial (C-D)(C-1-T) Uses

23.36 Repealed

23.40 Repealed

23.42 O District

23.43 Initiative Restriction of Use of George Washington Park

23.44 U Districts

23.45 Initiative Ordinance Enacting Regulations for Multiple Unit Developments Involving Condominiums, Planned Unit Developments and Timeshares

23.52 R-3-M Districts

23.56 R-H District

23.57 R-3-P.G.B. District

23.58 Repealed

23.60 Planned Unit Development – PUD

23.64 General Provisions and Exceptions

23.68 Nonconforming Uses and Buildings

23.70 Community Development Permit Review Authorities and Procedures

23.72 Permit Application Filing and Processing

23.73 Permit Implementation, Time Limits, and Extensions

23.74 Appeals and Call-Ups

23.76 Historic Preservation

23.77 Environmental Impact Reports

23.78 Sale of Residential Buildings

23.79 Density Bonus Regulations

23.80 Accessory Dwelling Units

23.81 Reasonable Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities

23.82 Interpretations of Permitted Use Lists

23.84 Legislative Amendments

23.86 Public Meeting and Hearing Procedures

23.88 Enforcement

23.90 Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan

23.92 Cannabis Businesses
1 For statutory provisions, see California Government Code § 65800 et seq.

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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Title 23 ZONING

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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.08 DEFINITIONS

Chapter 23.08

DEFINITIONS
Sections:

23.08.010    Purpose.

23.08.020    Definitions.

23.08.010 Purpose.

This chapter provides definitions of terms and phrases used in this title that are technical or specialized, or that may not reflect common usage. If any of the definitions in this chapter conflict with definitions in other provisions of the Pacific Grove Municipal Code, these definitions shall control for the purposes of this title. If a word is not defined in this chapter, or in other provisions of this title, the most common dictionary definition is presumed to be correct. [Ord. 13-003 § 5, 2013].

23.08.020 Definitions.

A. Definitions.
“Accessory building” means a subordinate building the use of which is incidental to that of the main building on the same lot, and as further defined by PGMC 23.64.180. “Accessory use” means a use incidental and accessory to the principal use of real property or a building located on the same building site, or for which a use permit has been issued pursuant to PGMC

23.64.185.
“Adult-oriented sales” means the sale, for any form of consideration, of one or more of the following:
(1) Books, magazines, periodicals, or other printed matter, photographs, drawings, motion pictures, slides, films, tapes, video cassettes, records, or other visual or audio representations that are characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of sexual activities or anatomical areas;
(2) Instruments, devices, or paraphernalia that are designed to be used in connection with sexual activities; or
(3) Goods that are replicas of or that simulate anatomical areas, or goods that are designed to be placed on or in anatomical areas or used in conjunction with sexual activities. “Agreement of sale” means any agreement or written instrument which provides that title to any property shall thereafter be transferred from one owner to another owner, including a lease with option to buy. “Alcoholic beverage” means any beverage meeting the definition of Section 23004 of the California Business and Professions Code (CBPC).
“Alley” means any public right-of-way for vehicular and pedestrian traffic which is 16 feet or less in width.

An alley shall not be considered a street in determining corner lots, required yard setbacks, or street frontages.

Ambulance Service. See “Medical Service.”
“Amplified music, entertainment, or speech” means electronic amplification of recorded music, live music, live entertainment, or of persons speaking at meetings or events. See “Entertainment, live.” Animal Hospital. See “Animal Keeping/Training Facility or Veterinary Service.” Animal Keeping/Training Facility or Veterinary Service.

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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.08 DEFINITIONS

(1) Veterinary Clinic, Animal Hospital. Office and indoor medical treatment facilities used by veterinarians, including large- and small-animal veterinary clinics and animal hospitals. (2) Kennel, Animal Boarding and Training. A commercial facility for the grooming, keeping, boarding or maintaining of four or more dogs, or four or more cats, or a combination thereof, except for dogs or cats for sale in pet shops or in animal hospitals. Includes pet day care and pet training. “Antenna” means an apparatus designed for the purpose of emitting or receiving radiofrequency (RF) radiation, to be operated or operating from a fixed location pursuant to Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) authorization, for the transmission or reception of writing, signs, signals, data, images, pictures, and sounds of all kinds. For purposes of this definition, the term “antenna” does not include an unintentional radiator, mobile station, or device authorized under 47 CFR Subpart G, as may be amended.
“Apartment house” means a building or portion thereof used and designated as a nontransient residence for three or more families living independently of each other and doing their own cooking in said building.

This shall not be deemed to include cottage courts, auto courts, motels, hotels, or other buildings, used or intended to be used for the accommodation of transient automobile travelers or other transient guests. An apartment house shall not include any timeshare project as defined in Section 11003.5 of the Business and Professions Code, added by Chapter 601 of the Statutes of 1980. “Appurtenance” means the visible, functional, or ornamental objects accessory to, and part of, buildings or structures. Examples include, but are not limited to, mechanical equipment, chimneys, air conditioner units, elevator and stairway penthouses, church spires and steeples, cupolas, etc.

Automobile Court, Cottage Court, or Motor Lodge. See “Lodging.” “Automobile/vehicle repair” means all activities involving automobile and vehicle repair, including: top, body, and upholstery repair; auto glass installation; body painting; general repair, rebuilding or reconditioning of engines, motor vehicles, or trailers; and collision service including body or frame. “Automobile/vehicle sales and rental” means a retail establishment selling or renting new or used automobiles, light trucks, boats, campers, mobile homes, and/or motorcycles. Vehicles for sale may be displayed outdoors or indoors. May also include repair services and the sales of parts and accessories that are incidental to the primary use. Does not include service stations (see “Automobile/vehicle service station”).
“Automobile/vehicle service station” means a building and/or lot with pumps and storage tanks where motor vehicle fuels, lubricating oil, grease, or accessories for motor vehicles are dispensed, sold, or offered for retail sale only. May also include car washing and repair services incidental to the primary use.

B. Definitions.
“Bank or financial service” means banks and financial institutions including: banks and trust companies; credit unions; lending and thrift institutions; brokerage firms; title companies; and vehicle finance leasing agencies.
“Bar/tavern/nightclub” means a drinking establishment where food service is not required. See “Drinking establishment.”
“Base station” has the same meaning as the term used in 47 CFR Section 1.6100(b)(1), as may be amended.

Bed and Breakfast Inn. See “Lodging.”
“Block” means the properties on both sides of a street and lying between the two nearest intersecting streets or city boundary.

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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.08 DEFINITIONS

Boardinghouse. See “Roominghouse.”
“Bona fide public eating place” means an eating establishment meeting the provisions of Section 23038 of the California Business and Professions Code (CBPC). See “Eating establishment.” “Brew pub” means an eating establishment at which beer is manufactured in limited quantities for on-site and off-site sales, distribution, and consumption, and is combined with a general restaurant, pub, or sports bar. See “Eating establishment.”
“Building” means any structure having a roof supported by columns or by walls and designed for the shelter or housing of any person, animal, or personal property. “Building coverage” means the portion of a site which is covered by the fully enclosed portion of all buildings larger than 120 square feet, as well as by open carports. Building coverage is expressed as a percentage. In determining building coverage, the following shall not be counted: eaves and/or cantilevered portions of buildings, decks, open porches, and open stairways and landings. “Building site” means a lot or parcel of land, in one ownership, and occupied or to be occupied by a main building and accessory buildings, or by a dwelling group and its accessory buildings, together with such open spaces as are required by the terms of this title, and having its principal frontage on a street, road or highway.
“Business support service” means an establishment within a building that provides services to other businesses. Examples of these services include: computer-related services (rental, repair), mailing and mail box services. Does not include printing and copying (see “Printing or creative service”) or the sales, storage, or rental of heavy equipment.
“Buyer” means any person, co-partnership, association, corporation, fiduciary, or other legal or business entity which intends to sign an agreement or instrument which on its face appears to be legally binding or is intended to be legally binding, subject to specified conditions. Such agreement or instrument shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, a deposit receipt, seller’s instructions, contract of sale, exercise of option to buy, or executed deed when there is no prior written agreement. “By-right” or “use by-right” means that the land use or development is permitted without discretionary review or public hearing, as defined and governed by Government Code Sections 65583.2(i), as may be amended.

C. Definitions.
“Catering and events” means a business that prepares food either for an on-site event or for consumption off-premises.
“Chief planner” is deemed a reference to the community development director or designee.

Clinic or Lab. See “Medical service.”
Coffee House. See “Restaurant, specialty.”
“Commercial recreation facility, indoor” means uses that include all indoor commercial recreation and amusement facilities including: bowling alleys, indoor sports arenas, indoor sports facilities, dance halls, video arcades, and billiard parlors. Does not include movie theaters (see “Theater or auditorium”). “Commercial recreation facility, outdoor” means uses that include outdoor commercial amusement facilities including: golf driving ranges, outdoor stadiums, racing facilities, music arenas, amusement parks, miniature golf establishments, water slides, and batting cages.

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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.08 DEFINITIONS

“Commercial uses” means, in addition to the common definitions of the term, any sale or whole- sale of personal property, whether new or used, except for sales which may be permitted by Chapter 11.10 PGMC.
“Community development director” is deemed a reference to the director of the Pacific Grove community development department or designee.
“Community garden” means an area where neighbors, residents, and members of the public have the opportunity to contribute and manage the cultivation of plants. “Concealed facility” means a wireless telecommunications facility that is integrated as an architectural feature of an existing supporting structure or any new wireless telecommunications facility that is camouflaged or concealed so that the presence of the facility is either: (1) virtually imperceptible to the casual observer, such as an antenna behind louvers on a building, or inside a steeple or similar structure; or (2) camouflaged so as to blend in with its surroundings to such an extent that, to a casual observer, it does not appear to be a wireless telecommunications facility. To qualify as a concealed facility, the facility in question must match the character of its surroundings and the type of item that it is mimicking in size, scale, shape, dimensions, color, materials, function, and other attributes as closely as possible. The elements that make a facility a concealed facility are concealment elements. “Concealment element” means any design feature, including but not limited to painting, landscaping, shielding requirements and restrictions on location, proportions, or physical dimensions in relation to the surrounding area or supporting structures that are intended to and do make a wireless telecommunications facility or its supporting structure less visible or obtrusive to the casual observer. “Construction and other large-scale equipment sales and rental” means retail establishments selling or renting construction, farm, or other heavy equipment. Examples of heavy equipment include cranes, earth moving equipment, tractors, motorized farming equipment, heavy trucks, tools and machinery, and refrigeration equipment.
“Consumer-end antennas” means antennas which are either: subject to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Over-the-Air-Receiving Devices Rule (47 CFR Section 1.4000) placed at an end user’s premises location used solely for the purpose of the provision of services to that end user; or solely for amateur radio communications.
“Contract construction, no outdoor storage” means an establishment providing contract construction related services such as building construction, general contractors, and subcontractors as defined in the Business and Professions Code of the state of California with no outdoor storage. Examples of these uses include: cabinet and carpenter shops; concrete and masonry; drywall; electrical; flooring; glass and glassing; heating and air conditioning; insulation; landscaping; painting; plumbing and fire sprinkler; roofing; swimming pool installation; and similar builder and contractor businesses. “Contract construction, outdoor storage” means an establishment providing contract construction related services such as building construction, general contractors, and subcontractors as defined in the Business and Professions Code of the state of California, with outdoor storage of large equipment, vehicles, and/or materials commonly used in the establishment’s type of business. Examples of these uses include: cabinet and carpenter shops; concrete and masonry; drywall; electrical; flooring; glass and glassing; heating and air conditioning; insulation; landscaping; painting; plumbing and fire sprinkler; roofing; swimming pool installation; and similar builder and contractor businesses.

Coverage. See “Building coverage” and “Site coverage.”
D. Definitions.
“Deer fence” means fencing used specifically to prevent the passage of deer.

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“Development” means the division of a parcel of land into two or more parcels; the construction, reconstruction, conversion, structural alteration, relocation, or enlargement of any structure; any mining, excavation, landfill, or land disturbance; or any use or extension of the use of land. “Discretionary development” means a development application that, by code, is required to be considered by a review authority that has the discretion to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application. “District” means a portion of the city within which certain uses of land and buildings are permitted or prohibited and within which certain yards and other open spaces are required and certain height limits are established for buildings, all as set forth and specified in this title. “Drinking establishment” means an establishment where the primary activity is the on-site service and consumption of alcoholic beverages. The limited service of food may or may not be included. “Duplex” means a building designed for or occupied exclusively by two families living independently of each other.
“Dwelling group” means a group of two or more detached or semidetached one-family, two-family, or multiple dwellings occupying a parcel of land, in one ownership and having any yard or court in common.

This shall not be deemed to include cottage courts, auto courts, motels, hotels, or other buildings used or intended to be used for the accommodation of transient automobile travelers or other transient guests. A dwelling group shall not include any timeshare project as defined in Section 1103.5 of the Business and Professions Code as added by Chapter 601 of Statutes of 1980.

E. Definitions.
“Eating establishment” means a business primarily engaged in preparing and serving food and/or beverages for consumption on or off the premises.
“Emergency shelter” means housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons that is limited to occupancy of six months or less by a homeless person. No individual or household may be denied emergency shelter because of an inability to pay.
“Employee Housing” means any portion of any housing accommodation, or property upon which a housing accommodation is located as defined in the California Employee Housing Act, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Entertainment, live” means a musical, theatrical, dance, or comedy performance by one or more persons. Dancing by patrons or guests is considered live entertainment. Does not include adult live entertainment (see “Entertainment, live (adult)”), but shall include belly dancing and hula dancing (see “Entertainment, live (belly dancing/hula)”).
“Entertainment, live (adult)” means live entertainment by one or more persons characterized by an emphasis on the display of anatomical areas, or the performance of physical human body activity that depicts or relates to sexual activities, whether or not anatomical areas are covered. Does not include belly or hula dancing (see “Entertainment, live (belly dancing/hula)”). “Entertainment, live (belly dancing/hula)” means a dance marked by sinuous movements of the hips, belly, arms and hands.
“Equipment/appliance rental and repair” means a service establishment that may offer a wide variety of household and business equipment, furniture, and materials for rental. Also includes repair service for business equipment and furnishings, household yard equipment and appliances, and audio, video and computer machines.

Existing Grade. See “Grade.”
F. Definitions.

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“Family” means an individual or two or more persons living together as a single household in a dwelling unit. Family shall not be construed to include a fraternity, sorority, club, or other group of persons occupying a hotel, lodging house, or institution of any kind.

Family Day Care Home.
(1) “Small family day care” means a day care facility in a single residence where an occupant of the residence provides family day care for eight or fewer clients, including adult clients, and children under the age of 10 years who reside in the home.
(2) “Large family day care” means a day care facility in a single residence where an occupant of the residence provides family day care for nine to 14 clients, inclusive, including adult clients, and children under the age of 10 years who reside in the home. “Farmers market” means a business established and operated at a specific time, oftentimes on the same day each week, which consists of individual vendors, mostly local farmers, where fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, nuts, other produce, and sometimes prepared foods and beverages and other wares are sold directly to the public. Such business may be conducted within or outside a building. “Fence” means any vertical structure, not integral to any building, used as a barrier to define boundaries, to prevent the passage of people and animals, and/or screen off or enclose a portion of property, not including structures, or portions of structures, designed to support a roof, awning, or other horizontal structure, such as the wall of a building. Wing walls or other extensions of a building wall that do not support the building shall be included in the definition of a fence for purposes of this title.

Finished Grade. See “Grade.”
Fitness Studio. See “Health/fitness studio.”
“Flea market” means a business established and operated at a specific time, oftentimes on the same day of the week, which consists of a group of coordinated vendors selling wares directly to the public. Such business may be conducted within or outside a building.

Funeral Home. See “Mortuary or funeral home.”
G. Definitions.
“Garage space” means a covered parking space of not less than nine by 20 feet. “Garden structures” includes arbors, trellises, pergolas, arches, and other similar open structures that are primarily designed to support the growth of plants or to provide shade and shelter in a garden or yard.

Garden structures do not include accessory buildings, gazebos with a solid roof and floor, cisterns, hot tubs, fountains, walls, fences, hedges, and other similar features. The area of a garden structure area is calculated from the structure’s largest horizontal dimensions.

Grade.
(1) “Existing grade” means the surface of the ground as it exists prior to disturbance in preparation for a project regulated by the Pacific Grove Municipal Code. (2) “Natural grade” means the elevation of the ground in its natural state, before grading, excavation, or filling.
(3) “Finished grade” means the final elevation of the ground level after grading, excavation, or filling. “Gross floor area” means the total enclosed areas of all floors of buildings greater than 120 square feet, plus carports, where the ceiling is at least seven feet tall. In calculating gross floor area, buildings shall be PGCC 12-3-25

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measured to the outside surface of exterior walls, and carports to the outside surfaces of supporting posts. Gross floor area is expressed in square feet.
(1) In determining gross floor area, the following shall be counted:
(A) Covered and fully enclosed porches, regardless of whether conditioned/unconditioned; and (B) Mezzanines, hallways, breezeways, and corridors.
(2) In determining gross floor area, the following shall not be counted:
(A) Accessory structures less than or equal to 120 square feet; (B) Covered open, or partially open, porches;
(C) Those portions of cellars/basements where the ceiling is not more than two feet above finish grade at any point;
(D) Eaves and/or cantilevered portions of buildings;
(E) Garden structures.
(3) In determining gross floor area, the following provisions shall also apply:
(A) Areas with an interior finished height that is greater than 16 feet shall be counted twice, with the exception of interior stairways that are no wider than eight feet. (B) If required covered parking is not provided, the allowed gross floor area shall be reduced by the equivalent square footage.
“Group quarters” means residential living arrangements, other than the usual house, apartment or mobile home, in which two or more unrelated persons share living quarters and cooking facilities. Included are “institutional” group quarters, such as orphanages, and “noninstitutional” group quarters, such as dormitories, and large boarding houses. This definition does not include residential care facilities.

H. Definitions.
“Health/fitness studio” means a fitness center, gymnasium, or health and athletic club, which may include any of the following: dancing studios or academies; indoor tennis, handball, or racquetball; yoga studios; martial arts studios; sauna, spa or hot tub facilities; and other indoor sports activities. “Height” means the vertical distance from any point on the top of a structure (minus allowable vertical appurtenances) to a line connecting grades directly below it. The lowest grade (finished, natural, or existing) shall be used in applying this definition. In zones where multifamily residential and multifamily mixed-use buildings are allowed, the allowable height shall include up to half of the vertical height of sloped roofs (i.e., half of the distance between lowest eave and the highest point within roof volume above the highest floor).
“Home business” means a use of a type customarily carried on entirely within a dwelling, which business shall be carried on by only the inhabitants of the dwelling for gain, but incidentally and secondarily to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes, and which does not, either by noise, attraction of customers, exterior architectural changes or signs of any kind, give any hint to the surrounding neighborhood that the dwelling is being used for other than dwelling purposes.

Hospital. See “Medical service.”
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Hotel. See “Lodging.”
“Household” means a family jointly occupying a single dwelling unit, including the joint use of and responsibility for common areas, and sharing housekeeping activities and responsibilities such as meal, chores, maintenance, and expenses.

I. Definitions.
“Impervious surface” means a surface artificially constructed so that it prevents or largely inhibits the infiltration of rainwater or runoff into the natural soils or underlying geologic materials. “Industrial, light” means a manufacturing or processing facility that is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented (i.e., produced for end users rather than as intermediates for use by other industries).

Light industries require only a small amount of raw materials, area, and power. The value of the goods is typically low, the number of products is high, and/or they are easy to transport. Light industry typically causes relatively little or no pollution or environmental impacts. Examples of light industries include the manufacture, assembly, or processing of clothes, shoes, furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances, food, and other similarly intensive activities without harmful levels of lead or chemical wastes.

Also includes dry cleaning plants and auto towing and storage yards. “Integral group quarters facilities” means one or more residential housing units within which an integral use occurs that operates in combination with a group quarters facility, which may or may not be located on the same or contiguous parcels of land.
“Integral use” means one or more licensed or unlicensed residential housing units under the control and management of the same owner, operator, management company or licensee, or any affiliate, as a group quarters facility, in which occupants are entitled to receive care, services or amenities of the group quarters facility. Examples include, but are not limited to, the provision of housing in one residential housing unit and treatment, meals, or any other service or services to those occupants in the group quarters facility or facilities, or by assigning staff or a consultant or consultants to provide services or amenities available in the group quarters facility to the occupants of the residential housing units.

J. Definitions.
“Junkyard” means the use of more than 200 square feet of the area of any lot or the use of any portion of that half of any lot, which half adjoins any street, for the storage of junk, including scrap metals or other scrap materials, or for the dismantling or “wrecking” of automobiles or other vehicles or machinery, whether for sale or storage.

K. Definitions.

Kennel, Animal Boarding and Training. See “Animal Keeping/Training Facility or Veterinary Service.” L. Definitions.

Large Family Day Care. See “Family Day Care Home.”
“Laundry or dry cleaning service” means establishments offering on-site laundry services (may be selfserve or wash/fold/press services) and dry cleaning drop-off and pick-up store fronts. For dry cleaning plants, see “Industrial, light.”
Lodging.
(1) “Bed and breakfast inn” means the use of a residential property for commercial lodging purposes, where there are at least eight rooms available to guests and where the principal buildings were constructed at least 75 years prior to the date of application for the use.

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(2) “Hotel” means any building or portion thereof containing six or more guest rooms used, designed or intended to be used, let or hired out to be occupied by transients, and having one principal entryway or entrance, a lobby, or other public room.
(3) “Motel” means any building or portion thereof containing six or more guest rooms used, designed or intended to be used, let or hired out to be occupied by transients, and having dwelling units or guest rooms some or all of which have a separate entrance leading directly from the outside of the building.
(4) “Automobile court, cottage court, or motor lodge” means an establishment designed for or used primarily for the accommodation of transient automobile travelers or other transient guests and having dwelling units or guest rooms some or all of which have a separate entrance leading directly from the outside of the building.
“Low barrier” shall have the meaning set forth in California Government Code Section 65660(a), as it may be amended from time to time.
“Low barrier navigation center” means a housing-first, low-barrier, service-enriched shelter focused on moving people into permanent housing that provides temporary living facilities while case managers connect individuals experiencing homelessness to income, public benefits, health services, shelter, and housing.

M. Definitions.
“Main building” means a building in which is conducted the principal use on the lot on which it is situated.

In any “R” district any dwelling shall be deemed to be a main building on the lot on which the same is situated.

Medical Office. See “Medical Service.”
Medical Service.
(1) “Ambulance service” means a facility where ambulance vehicle and crews not based at a hospital or fire department stand by for emergency calls.
(2) “Clinic or lab” means a facility other than a hospital where medical, dental, mental health, surgical and other personal health services are provided on an outpatient basis. Examples of these uses include: medical offices with five or more licensed practitioners and/or medical specialties; outpatient care facilities; urgent care facilities; and other allied health services. These facilities may also include incidental medical laboratories and testing facilities. Counseling services by other than medical doctors or psychiatrists are included under “Offices, business and professional.” (3) “Medical office” means a facility other than a hospital where medical, dental, mental health, surgical, and/or other personal health care services are provided on an outpatient basis, and that accommodates no more than four licensed primary practitioners within an individual office suite. A facility with five or more licensed practitioners is classified under “Medical service – clinic or lab.” (4) “Hospital” means a facility engaged primarily in providing diagnostic services, and extensive medical treatment, including surgical and other hospital services. These establishments have an organized medical staff, inpatient beds, and equipment facilities to provide complete health care. May include on-site accessory clinics and laboratories, accessory retail uses, on-site ambulance dispatch facilities, and meal service.
“Meeting facility, public or private” means a facility for public or private meetings, including churches and other religious facilities, Grange halls, union halls, and meeting halls for clubs, fraternal organizations, and other membership organizations. Also includes functionally related internal facilities such as kitchens, multi-purpose rooms, and storage. Does not include commercial entertainment facilities (see “Commercial PGCC 12-3-25

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recreation facility”) or conference and meeting rooms accessory and incidental to another primary use, such as office space or a hotel/motel.
“Micro-brewery” means a small-scale brewery operation that is solely dedicated to the production of specialty beers, but may include beer tasting under specified conditions pursuant to Section 23357.3 of the California Business and Professions Code (CBPC). If combined with a general restaurant, pub, or sports bar, see “Brew pub.”
“Mobile home” means a vehicle other than a motor vehicle used as semipermanent housing designed for human habitation and containing a minimum of 400 square feet of floor space. “Mobile home park” means an area of land not less than five acres in size containing facilities to accommodate semipermanent mobile homes.
“Mortuary or funeral home” means a funeral home or parlor where the deceased are prepared for burial or cremation and funeral services may be conducted. Does not include on-site cremation.

Motel. See “Lodging.”
N. Definitions.

Natural Grade. See “Grade.”
“Nonconforming use” means a use which was legal when it was created, but because of subsequent changes in regulations no longer conforms with the regulations for the district in which it is situated.

O. Definitions.
“Offices, business and professional” means premises available for the transaction of general business and services including professional, management, legal, social, or government offices, but excluding retail, artisan, and manufacturing uses. Does not include medical offices. See “Medical services – medical office” or “Bank or financial service.”
“Open yard” means a required open space other than a garage space, which open space is unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except by eaves, uncovered porches or decks not more than three feet above finished grade, swimming pools, walkways, tennis courts, putting greens, or similar recreational uses, and landscaped with suitable living plant material. The area must be rectangular or composed of a series of rectangles, each having a minimum width of not less than 10 feet. Further, the yard shall not have a slope of more than five percent.
“Owner” means any person, co-partnership, association, corporation, fiduciary, or other legal or business entity having legal or equitable title or any interest in any residential property, or any realtor, real estate broker, or agent representing said owner.

P. Definitions.
“Parapet” means a portion of a wall, that extends above the roofline at the edge of a roof. “Park, playground (public)” means outdoor sports grounds, indoor sports structures within a park area, playgrounds, tot lots, passive park areas, and other areas of use to the general public for recreation or outdoor diversions, not including commercial recreation facilities (see “Commercial recreation facility”), community gardens (see “Community garden”), or community centers (see “Public or quasi-public facility”).
"Parking, covered" means a structure, building or portion of a building having a solid roof which may be open or enclosed by walls or doors, used to shelter a parking space.

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“Parking aisle” means the vehicular access route to allow for safe movement and effective traffic flow through a parking facility to and from parking spaces.
“Parking facility” means parking lots or structures operated by the city or private entity providing parking with or without a fee. Does not include towing, impound and storage facilities, which are defined under “Industrial, light.”
“Parking lifts” means a mechanical system that lifts or lowers a parked vehicle to make space available for another parked vehicle above or below it.
“Parking, shared” means a public or private parking area used jointly by two or more uses. “Parking space” means an area not less than nine feet wide by 20 feet deep designated for parking a single vehicle.
“Parking space, compact” means a space not less than eight feet by 16 feet. “Parking space, tandem” means two or more vehicles that are parked on a driveway or in any other location on a lot, arranged one behind the other.
“Personal service” means establishments providing nonmedical services to individuals as a primary use.

Examples of these include barber and beauty shops, including body, skin, and nail care; therapeutic massage certified under California Business and Professions Code Section 4612; garment repair and alteration; locksmiths; and shoe repair shops and shoeshine parlors. These uses may also include accessory retail sales of products related to the services provided. “Personal service, restricted” means establishments providing nonmedical services to individuals, such as noncertified therapeutic massage, tattooing and body art parlors, or bath houses.

Pet Grooming. See “Animal Keeping/Training Facility or Veterinary Service.” Pet Training. See “Animal Keeping/Training Facility or Veterinary Service.” “Printing or creative service” means an establishment within a building that provides the following services to individuals or businesses: creative or graphic arts; copying and print shops, including blueprinting; photographic or camera shops and studios; and sign painting or manufacture. “Pub” means an eating establishment where the primary activity is split between the service of food and the service of alcoholic beverages. Pubs are regularly, and in a bona fide manner (as defined by California Business and Professions Code Section 23038), kept open for the service of meals, and maintain suitable kitchen facilities connected therewith. Includes “sports bars.” See “Eating establishment.”
“Public or quasi-public facility” means public, semi-public, and private preschools, elementary schools, high schools, civic buildings, community centers and other community buildings and uses, and governmental buildings, museums, fire houses, post offices, police stations, libraries, and essential services, any of which may have additional requirements for such use set forth herein. “Public utility” means installations, facilities or means for furnishing to the public electricity, gas, steam, communications, water, drainage, sewage disposal, or flood control, irrespective of whether such facilities or means are underground or above ground, indoor or outdoor. Utilities may be owned and operated by any person, firm, corporation, municipal department, or board, duly appointed by state or municipal regulations. “Utility” or “utilities” as used herein may also refer to such persons, firms, corporations, departments or boards. Does not include “wireless telecommunications facility.” R. Definitions.

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“Radio or television station” means a building serving a broadcasting organization, consisting of one or more transmitters or receivers used for radio communications or telecommunications.

Recycling Facility.
(1) “Processor” means a state-certified receiver of redeemable recyclable materials providing either collection, storage, separation, distribution, or primary reprocessing of recycled materials. (2) “Retail certified” means a state-certified recycler providing convenient locations for consumers to redeem beverage containers.
(3) “Wholesale certified” means a state-certified recycler providing both consumer redemption of beverage containers and collection of redeemable containers from other certified recyclers. “Research and development facility” means a facility for scientific research, which could include the design, development and testing of electrical, electronic, magnetic, optical, computer and telecommunications components in advance of product manufacturing, and the assembly of related products from parts produced off site, where the manufacturing activity is secondary to the research and development activities. Includes pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology research and development.

Also includes research laboratories, defined as facilities for testing, experimenting, analysis, and/or research. Examples of research and development facilities include medical labs, soils and materials testing labs, and forensic labs.
“Residential care” means residential care facilities for alcoholism recovery, mentally disabled, handicapped, elderly, and dependent and neglected children (including residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) as licensed by the State Department of Social Services). State-licensed residential care facilities for six or fewer persons, excluding the facility operator and staff, shall be considered a family use subject only to the same regulations as apply to other residential dwellings of the same type in the same zone.
“Residential property” means all real property, whether improved or unimproved, which is or, by virtue of the zoning thereon, may be used for residential purposes. “Restaurant, drive-in/drive-through” means an eating establishment which (1) prepares food intended for consumption in vehicles that may or may not be parked on the site; or (2) provides for the ordering of food while the customers are seated in vehicles. Does not include drive-in/drive-through restaurants that are required by contractual or other arrangement to offer standardized menus, ingredients, food preparation, employee uniforms, interior decor, signage, or exterior design. See “Eating establishment.” “Restaurant, fast food” means an eating establishment that specializes in short order or quick service; serves food or beverage products primarily in paper, plastic or other disposable containers; and delivers food or beverage products in such a manner that customers may remove such products from the restaurant for consumption. Does not include formula fast food restaurants that are required by contractual or other arrangement to offer standardized menus, ingredients, food preparation, employee uniforms, interior decor, signage, or exterior design. See “Eating establishment.” “Restaurant, formula general” means an eating establishment that falls under the definition of a general restaurant, and that is required by contractual or other arrangement to offer standardized menus, ingredients, food preparation, employee uniforms, interior decor, signage, or exterior design. See “Eating establishment.”
“Restaurant, general” means an eating establishment where the primary activity is the on-site preparation and service of meals for consumption on the premises using nondisposable dishes and utensils. These include establishments where customers are served from an interior walk-up counter and establishments where customers are served food at their tables, and may include limited takeout. General restaurants are regularly, and in a bona fide manner (as defined by California Business and Professions Code PGCC 12-3-25

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Section 23038), kept open for the service of meals, and maintain suitable kitchen facilities connected therewith. See “Eating establishment.”
“Restaurant, specialty” means an eating establishment where the primary activity is selling one or more of the following specialty food or beverage products for on- or off-premises consumption: coffee, tea, juice, smoothies, ice cream, frozen yogurt, cookies, or similar specialty food or beverage. A specialty restaurant offers seating, and includes, but is not limited to, coffee and tea houses, juice bars, and ice cream/frozen yogurt shops. Such an establishment may include limited service of preprepared foods including but not limited to salads, soups, and sandwiches. A specialty restaurant does not require a full kitchen, and does not include formula specialty restaurants that are required by contractual or other arrangement to offer standardized menus, ingredients, food preparation, employee uniforms, interior decor, signage, or exterior design. See “Eating establishment.”
“Retail, general” means a retail business selling merchandise directly to the end consumer. Examples of these stores and lines of merchandise include:

Apparel and accessories Food and grocery, including
convenience markets with
accessory catering for
consumption off-premises,
produce markets,
delicatessens, bakeries,
candy shops, and cheese
shops
Antiques Furniture, including home and
office furniture
Art supplies and art galleries,
including framing shops
Hardware and garden supply,
including plant nurseries
Auctioneers Hobbies and craft shops,
including stationery stores,
toy stores, yarn shops, and
other miscellaneous hobbies
and crafts
Bicycle sales, service, and
rental
Jewelry stores
Books, new and used Luggage and leather goods
Computers and electronic
equipment
Magazine stores and
newsstands
Cameras and photographic
supplies
Music stores, including
instruments and records,
tapes, compact discs, audio
and video
Drug stores Optical stores
Department stores Sporting goods stores,
including exercise equipment
Electronics and appliances Watch and clock sales and
service
Florists Variety stores
“Retail, outdoor storage display” means a retail business where customers are encouraged to examine and/or experience merchandise in its typical configuration and/or manner of use. Examples include garden shops, plant nurseries, and stone or monument yards. “Retail, restricted” means a retail business with one of the following specialties: gunsmiths and smoke, cigar, and tobacco shops.

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“Roominghouse” means a dwelling other than a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast inn, or apartment house, and accommodating a nontransient occupancy, where lodging and/or meals for three or more persons are provided for compensation.

S. Definitions.
“School, specialty” means a school that provides education and/or training, including vocational training, in limited subjects including: art; business, secretarial and vocational skills; drama; driver education; including courses by mail or on-line; language; music; professional (law, medicine, etc.); and seminaries/religious ministry training facilities. See also “Public or quasi-public facility.” Does not include family day care facilities (see “Family day care home”). “Second unit” means a second unit as defined in PGMC 23.80.020. “Shared housing building” means a residential or mixed-use structure, with five or more shared housing units and one or more common kitchens and dining areas designed for permanent residence of more than 30 days by its tenants as defined by Government Code Section 65915 (o)(7)(A)(i), as it may be amended from time to time.
"Single-Room Occupancy” or “SRO” means housing consisting of single-room dwelling units that serve as the primary residence for their occupants.
“Site coverage” means the sum of building coverage plus areas covered by impervious surfaces. Site coverage is expressed as a percentage.
(1) In determining site coverage, the following shall be counted:
(A) Sand-set bricks and/or pavers, paving and/or flagstones, asphalt, concrete, mortared brick and stone, and decomposed granite;
(B) Open porches; and
(C) All accessory structures not already counted towards building coverage. (2) In determining site coverage, the following shall not be counted:
(A) Four hundred square feet of any driveway, except for portions that serve as required parking space(s) or which occupy a required side yard;
(B) Sixty square feet of walkway, stoop, landing, stairway and/or steps in the front yard on building sites which are 50 feet or more in width;
(C) Turf block driveways and walkways, unless covered; and eaves and/or cantilevered portions of buildings.
“Site Inventory” 6Housing Element update process, which includes a list of parcels with their size, general plan and zoning designations, existing uses, the development capacity of the parcel, and the determination of how the parcel may meet the housing unit need by income-level. “Site Width”
Small Family Day Care. See “Family day care home.”
Sports Bar. See “Pub.”
“Storage, self-storage facility” means a structure containing individual compartments, stalls, or lockers rented as individual storage spaces and characterized by low parking demand.

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“Supporting structure” means any structure, other than a wireless tower, capable of supporting, or supporting, a base station. An existing supporting structure is a structure in place at the time an application is filed; a replacement support structure is a structure that replaces an existing structure, which structure must be removed; a new support structure is a structure that is not in place at the time an application is filed, and that will be constructed as part of the placement of the base station. “Supportive housing” means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by the target population, and that is linked to an on-site or off-site service that assists the supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community. “Target population” means persons with low incomes who have one or more disabilities, including mental illness, HIV or AIDS, substance abuse, or other chronic health condition, or individuals eligible for services provided pursuant to the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code) and may include, among other populations, adults, emancipated minors, families with children, elderly persons, young adults aging out of the foster care system, individuals exiting from institutional settings, veterans, and homeless people. Supportive housing is a residential use subject only to the same requirements as apply to other residential dwellings of the same type in the same zone.

T. Definitions.
“Taxi service” means a facility where multiple taxis and/or limousines are stored until dispatched. May also include dispatch services, but does not include dispatch services that have no on-site vehicle storage, which are instead included under “Offices, business and professional.” “Temporary wireless telecommunications facilities” means a wireless telecommunications facility intended or used to provide wireless services on a temporary or emergency basis, such as a large-scale special event in which more users than usual gather in a confined location or when a disaster requires additional service capabilities. Temporary wireless telecommunications facilities include, without limitation, cells on wheels (COW), sites on wheels (SOW), cells on light trucks (COLTs), or other similar wireless telecommunications facilities: (1) that will be in place for no more than 60 days (or such other longer time as the city may allow in light of the event or emergency); (2) for which required notice is provided to the FAA; (3) that do not require marking or lighting under FAA regulations; (4) that will be less than 100 feet in height; and (5) that will either involve no excavation or involve excavation only as required to safely anchor the facility, where the depth of previous disturbance exceeds the proposed construction depth (excluding footings and other anchoring mechanisms) by at least two feet. “Theater or auditorium” means a facility for group entertainment, other than sporting events. Examples of these include: civic theaters, facilities for live theater and concerts, and movie theaters.

Transient. Any building or portion thereof used or designed for accommodations of persons or families staying for a period of less than 30 days, or used, designed to be used, let, or rented on a daily or weekly basis, or advertising accommodations for transient travelers, shall be deemed to be “transient.” “Transit center” means a sheltered waiting area located where public transportation routes converge.

Transit centers serve as hubs to allow transit riders from various locations to assemble at a central point to take advantage of express trips or other route-to-route transfers. “Transitional housing” means buildings configured as rental housing developments, but operated under program requirements that mandate the termination of assistance and recirculation of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at a predetermined future point in time that shall be no less than six months from the beginning of the assistance. Transitional housing is a residential use subject only to the same requirements as apply to other residential dwellings of the same type in the same zone.

U. Definitions.

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“Use” means the purpose for which land or premises of a building thereon is designed, arranged or intended or for which it is or may be occupied or maintained.

V. Definitions.

Value, Market Value. The community development director’s determination of value shall be deemed prima facie correct. Any person aggrieved by such determination may appeal to the planning commission within 15 days of such determination. The appellant and the owner of the property shall have 10 days’ written notice of the date the planning commission will hear the appeal.

Veterinary Clinic. See “Animal Keeping/Training Facility or Veterinary Service.” “Visually insignificant” means an exterior building modification that does not noticeably alter the character or architectural style of the structure as viewed from a public street.

W. Definitions.
“Warehousing, wholesaling and distribution” means an establishment engaged in wholesale storage within a building, and selling merchandise to retailers; contractors, industrial, commercial, institutional, farm, or professional business users; other wholesalers, or acting as agents or brokers in buying merchandise for or selling merchandise to such persons or companies. Examples of these establishments include:

Agents, merchandise or
commodity brokers, and
commission merchants
Trucking and general
warehousing
Assemblers, buyers and
associations engaged in the
cooperative marketing of farm
products
Stores primarily selling
electrical, plumbing, heating
and air conditioning supplies
and equipment
Frozen food lockers Wholesale bakeries
Merchant wholesalers Wholesale trade, durable and
nondurable
Miscellaneous retail and
wholesale commercial uses,
stores or storage and service
establishments
“Wine bar” means a drinking establishment where the primary activity is the tasting and drinking of wine.

Food must be available during all hours of operation, but may be limited to snacks, appetizers, small plates, or other similar offerings. A full kitchen is not required. See “Drinking establishment.” “Wine tasting room” means a drinking establishment where wine and related products are offered for retail sale, and where on-site consumption of wine may be tasted for a fee, or without charge. Food service is not required. See “Drinking establishment.”
“Wireless eligible facilities request” has the same meaning as eligible facilities requests under 47 CFR Section 1.6100(3), as may be amended.
“Wireless telecommunications facility” means all elements of a facility at a fixed location used in connection with the provision of any FCC-licensed or authorized wireless service to the public, including the base station and tower, if any, but excluding any supporting structure to which the base station is attached or within which it is enclosed; provided, that the term does not include the following, which facilities shall remain subject to other provisions of the PGMC applicable to similar structures:
(1) Facilities entirely enclosed within an existing building outside of the rights-of-way, where no modification to the exterior of the building is required; PGCC 12-3-25

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Chapter 23.08 DEFINITIONS

(2) Facilities attached to the exterior of a building (including the roof), which would constitute an accessory use of the building permitted under this code, and where the wireless telecommunications facility located on the exterior is less than three cubic feet in size; (3) Customer-end antennas; or
(4) Wireless telecommunications facilities owned and operated by the city for its use, or by any governmental agency for its own or public safety uses.
“Wireless tower” means any structure built for the sole or primary purpose of supporting any FCClicensed or authorized antennas and their associated facilities.

Y. Definitions.
“Yard” means an open space other than a court on the same lot with a building, which open space is unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except as otherwise permitted in PGMC

23.64.150 to 23.64.180, inclusive. [Ord. 21-008 § 2, 2021; Ord. 20-001 § 2 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 16-005 § 3, 2016; Ord. 13-008 § 2, 2013; Ord. 13-003 § 5, 2013].

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Chapter 23.24 R-3 DISTRICTS

Chapter 23.24
R-3 DISTRICTS
Sections:

23.24.010    Generally.

23.24.020    Uses permitted.

23.24.030    Building height limit.

23.24.040    Building site area required.

23.24.050    Allowed building coverage.

23.24.051    Allowed site coverage.

23.24.060    Yards required.

23.24.070    Garbage areas.

23.24.010 Generally.

The regulations found in this chapter shall apply to all R-3 districts and shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 23.64 PGMC. [Ord. 20-016 § 2, 2020; Ord. 382 N.S., 1962; Ord. 210 N.S. § 11-133(1)(a), 1952].

23.24.020 Uses permitted.

The following uses shall be permitted in the R-3 district:
(a) Single- or two-family dwellings;
(b) Second units as permitted by Chapter 23.80 PGMC;
(c) Low-barrier navigation centers;
(d) Transitional and supportive housing.
(e) Employee housing.
(f) Multiple dwellings, apartment houses and dwelling groups; (g) Rooming or boarding houses, subject to first securing a use permit (except for employee ; (h) Accessory uses and buildings normally incidental to any in this section; (i) Single-Room Occupancies (SROs) subject to first securing a use permit; (j) State-licensed residential care facilities for seven or more persons, subject to first securing a use permit. [Ord. 20-016 § 2, 2020; Ord. 16-005 § 4, 2016; Ord. 03-08 §§ 4, 5, 2003; Ord. 811 N.S., 1974; Ord. 795 N.S., 1974; Ord. 720 N.S. §§ 9, 10, 1972; Ord. 532 N.S. § 5, 1966; Ord. 453 N.S., 1964; Ord. 382 N.S., 1962; Ord. 210 N.S. § 11-133(1)(a), 1952].

23.24.030 Building height limit.

The maximum height of main buildings shall be 30 feet. [Ord. 20-016 § 2, 2020; Ord. 00-18 § 6, 2000; Ord. 1141 N.S. § 3, 1979; Ord. 720 N.S. § 3, 1972; Ord. 210 N.S. § 11-133(1)(b), 1952].

23.24.040 Building site area required.

For each building, or group of buildings, a minimum of 4,000 square feet and minimum width of 40 feet shall be required on interior lots. A minimum of 6,000 square feet and a minimum width of 60 feet shall be required on corner lots. In the subdivisions designated as additions to Pacific Grove Retreat and in the Pacific Grove Retreat, where the lot sizes, as legally subdivided, are 30 by 60 feet, the minimum lot size shall be 3,600 square feet, with the lot lines along the lines of said subdivisions. Nothing contained herein shall authorize such smaller minimum lot sizes for any future subdivisions.

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For each family unit in any building or group of buildings, a minimum of 1,500 square feet of land area shall be required. [Ord. 20-016 § 2, 2020; Ord. 1260 N.S. § 2, 1981; Ord. 720 N.S. § 1, 1972; Ord. 210 N.S. § 11-133(1)(c), 1952].

23.24.050 Allowed building coverage.

Maximum building coverage on all sites is 50 percent. [Ord. 12-003 § 5, 2012; Ord. 1193 N.S. § 2, 1980; Ord. 720 N.S. § 8, 1972; Ord. 593 N.S., 1968; Ord. 210 N.S. § 11-133(1)(d), 1952].

23.24.051 Allowed site coverage.

Maximum site coverage on all sites is 60 percent. [Ord. 12-003 § 5, 2012].

23.24.060 Yards required.
(a) Front Yards. The minimum required front yard shall be 12 feet. Driveways shall not occupy more than 40 percent of the street frontage, and on a corner lot, the combined coverage on all frontages shall not exceed 25 percent of the total street frontage. Fifty percent of the front yard area shall be landscaped.

Such areas shall not be surfaced, covered, enclosed or treated in such a manner as to make it impossible or impractical to establish and maintain landscaping and gardening thereon. The area must be rectangular or composed of a series of rectangles not less than 10 feet in width. (b) Side Yards. Side yards shall be 10 percent of lot width with a minimum requirement of three feet and a maximum of 10 feet; provided, however, on corner lots, the side yard abutting the street shall be 20 percent of the width of the lot, but need not exceed 10 feet. (c) Rear Yards. Rear yards, excluding , shall have the following minimums:
(1) One-story building: five feet.
(2) Two-story building: eight feet.
(3) Three-story building: 10 feet.
(4) Where a rear yard fronts on a street, the minimum rear yard shall be 12 feet. (d) Special Yards and Distances Between Buildings.
(1) Distance between any buildings, which shall be free from the encroachment of overhanging eaves, shall be a minimum of eight feet. For buildings of three stories, the minimum shall be increased to 10 feet and for buildings of four stories or more the minimums shall be increased to 12 feet.
(2) Side yards providing access to single-row dwelling group: minimum 12 feet. (3) Inner court providing access to double-row dwelling group: minimum 20 feet. (e) Open Yard. Open yard required shall be 200 square feet per unit for all construction of five units or more.
(f) Decks, Porches and Parking Spaces. Decks and open porches over three feet above grade may project or extend four feet over a required yard area, but not closer than three feet to the property line and no closer to other buildings than the minimums set forth in subsection (d) of this section. Parking spaces in excess of the required space for each family unit may project into the rear yard area set forth in subsection (c) of this section. [Ord. 720 N.S. § 6, 1972; Ord. 593 N.S., 1968; Ord. 532 N.S. § 6, 1966; Ord. 478 N.S., 1964; Ord. 382 N.S., 1962; Ord. 210 N.S. § 11-133(1)(e), 1952].

23.24.070 Garbage areas.

Where there are three or more units, garbage areas for holding of garbage or refuse shall be constructed with a concrete floor and curb. The area shall be enclosed by a view-obscuring wall or fence designed in harmony with the building design. The enclosure shall be not less than five feet in height and equipped PGCC 12-3-25

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Chapter 23.24 R-3 DISTRICTS

with a self-closing gate or door. Trash area shall have access to a driveway or public way. [Ord. 720 N.S. § 14, 1972].

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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.26 R-3-P.G.R. DISTRICT

Chapter 23.26
R-3-P.G.R. DISTRICT1
Sections:

23.26.010    Generally.

23.26.020    Permitted uses.

23.26.030    Building site area required.

23.26.040    Building height limit.

23.26.050    Allowed building coverage.

23.26.051    Allowed site coverage.

23.26.060    Allowed gross floor area.

23.26.070    Yard requirements.

23.26.080    Garbage/recycling areas.

23.26.090    Off-street parking.

23.26.010 Generally.

The regulations in this chapter shall apply in the R-3-P.G.R. district and shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 23.64 PGMC unless the provisions of this chapter are in conflict with said Chapter 23.64 PGMC, in which event the provisions of this chapter shall prevail. [Ord. 98-05 § 1, 1998].

23.26.020 Permitted uses.
(a) All of the uses permitted and prescribed for the R-3 district at PGMC 23.24.020 shall apply in the R-3- P.G.R. district.
(b) In addition, bed and breakfast inns are permitted, subject to first securing a use permit.

The city council shall have the authority to set forth, by resolution, standards for bed and breakfast inns including, but not necessarily limited to: the number of visitors who may be accommodated; the amount and the type of signing to be provided; the length of permissible stay; the type of cooking and dining facilities to be provided; the amount of parking to be provided; and any similar standard necessary to protect the neighborhood from unreasonable changes in character. Provided however, that in no case shall the number of rooms be less than eight, excluding the primary residence of the owner or manager.

The setting of such standards shall in no way limit the authority or the ability of the planning commission to impose such conditions as may be deemed appropriate upon any use permit granted for bed and breakfast use. [Ord. 98-05 § 1, 1998].

23.26.030 Building site area required.
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, building site area shall be as set out in PGMC 23.24.040.
(b) The minimum land area for each unit other than bed and breakfast units shall be 2,200 square feet. (c) Any parcel which has the following characteristics shall constitute a separate building site for future building purposes:
(1) It has, prior to March 15, 1986, been designated on the assessor’s map as a separate parcel. (2) It has at least 1,800 square feet, but not more than 3,600 square feet, and is not part of a larger building site.
(3) It has been unimproved with any building or structure for a minimum of five years immediately preceding March 15, 1986.
(4) It has access to a public street.

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Chapter 23.26 R-3-P.G.R. DISTRICT

(5) Its transfer will not create additional aspects of nonconformity to this title. (d) Development of parcels qualifying as building site pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall, at a minimum, be subject to the following:
(1) A use permit shall be first secured in each case.
(2) Architectural review board approval shall be required. (3) Any construction shall conform to the requirements with respect to separate parcels in the R-3- P.G.R. district; however, in considering a use permit application the planning commission is authorized to prescribe requirements other than those prescribed by PGMC 23.26.670 where it finds that the qualification of PGMC 23.72.090 apply to the land, building or use. [Ord. 98-05 § 1, 1998].

23.26.040 Building height limit.

The maximum height of main buildings shall be 30 feet; provided, the maximum height of the top plate shall be no more than 24 feet. [Ord. 00-18 § 7, 2000; Ord. 98-05 § 1, 1998].

23.26.050 Allowed building coverage.

Maximum building coverage on all sites is 50 percent. [Ord. 12-003 § 6, 2012; Ord. 98-05 § 1, 1998].

23.26.051 Allowed site coverage.

Maximum site coverage on all sites is 60 percent. [Ord. 12-003 § 6, 2012].

23.26.060 Allowed gross floor area.

Maximum gross floor area is as follows:

Table 23.26.060 – Maximum Gross Floor Area*
Lot Size Floor Area
1,000 833
1,100 917
1,200 1,000
1,300 1,083
1,400 1,167
1,500 1,250
1,600 1,333
1,700 1,417
1,800 1,500
1,900 1,556
2,000 1,611
2,100 1,667
2,200 1,722
2,300 1,778
2,400 1,833
2,500 1,889
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2,600 1,944
2,700 2,000
2,800 2,044
2,900 2,089
3,000 2,133
3,100 2,178
3,200 2,222
3,300 2,267
3,400 2,311
3,500 2,356
3,600 2,400
3,700 2,433
3,800 2,467
3,900 2,500
4,000 2,533
4,100 2,567
4,200 2,600
4,300 2,633
4,400 2,667
4,500 2,700
4,600 2,733
4,700 2,767
4,800 2,800
4,900 2,833
5,000 2,867
5,100 2,900
5,200 2,933
5,300 2,967
5,400 3,000
5,500 3,017
5,600 3,033
5,700 3,050
5,800 3,066
5,900 3,083
Lot Size Floor Area
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Chapter 23.26 R-3-P.G.R. DISTRICT

6,000 3,099
6,100 3,116
6,200 3,132
6,300 3,149
6,400 3,165
6,500 3,182
6,600 3,198
6,700 3,215
6,800 3,231
6,900 3,248
7,000 3,264
7,100 3,281
7,200 3,297
7,300 3,314
7,400 3,330
7,500 3,347
7,600 3,363
7,700 3,380
7,800 3,396
7,900 3,413
8,000 3,429
8,100 3,446
8,200 3,462
8,300 3,479
8,400 3,495
8,500 3,512
8,600 3,528
8,700 3,545
8,800 3,561
8,900 3,578
9,000 3,594
10,000 3,759
11,000 3,924
12,000 4,089
Lot Size Floor Area
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Chapter 23.26 R-3-P.G.R. DISTRICT

13,000 4,254
14,000 4,419
15,000 4,584
16,000 4,749
17,000 4,914
18,000 5,079
19,000 5,244
20,000 5,409
21,000 5,574
22,000 5,739
23,000 5,904
24,000 6,069
25,000 6,234
26,000 6,399
27,000 6,564
28,000 6,729
Lot Size Floor Area
* Note: For every 1,000 square feet above 28,000, add 165 square feet of floor area. [Ord. 12-003 § 6, 2012; Ord. 98-05 § 1, 1998].

23.26.070 Yard requirements.
(a) The minimum front yard shall be eight feet; however, to encourage architectural variety in footprint and massing, the front yard may be reduced to no less than four feet for up to 50 percent of the front of the building.
(b) The minimum side yards shall be 10 percent of lot width, and 20 percent of lot width for side yards abutting the street on corner lots; provided, that the minimum allowable side yard shall be three feet, and the maximum required side yard shall be 10 feet.

Exception: With a use permit, the total of side yards may be 20 percent of lot width with a minimum three feet required on each side, maximum required on either side 10 feet. (c) Rear yards shall have the following minimums:
(1) One story building: five feet.
(2) Two story building: eight feet.
(3) Three story building: 10 feet.
(4) Where a rear yard abuts a street: 12 feet.
(d) Open Yard. Open yard required shall be 200 square feet per unit for all construction of five units or more.

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(e) Decks and Porches. Decks and open porches over three feet above grade may project or extend four feet over a required yard area, but not closer than three feet to the property line. [Ord. 98-05 § 1, 1998].

23.26.080 Garbage/recycling areas.

Where there are three or more units, garbage/recycling areas for holding of garbage or recyclable materials shall be provided. The garbage/recycling area shall be enclosed by a view-obscuring wall or fence designed in harmony with the building design. The enclosure shall be not less than five feet in height and equipped with a self-closing gate or door. Garbage/recycling area shall have access to a driveway or public way. Placement and design of the garbage/recycling areas shall be approved by the public works director and the architectural review board prior to issuance of a building permit.

Garbage/recycling areas shall be maintained in a sanitary condition, free of graffiti and in good repair. [Ord. 98-05 § 1, 1998].

23.26.090 Off-street parking.

Storage or parking space to be provided, and driveway requirements, shall be as follows:
(a) Single-family dwellings:

Lot Size Off-Street Parking Required
To and including 2,700
square feet
None
Larger than 2,700
square feet
One covered and one uncovered*
* A driveway at least 20 feet in length may serve as a required uncovered space. (b) Multifamily Units. One and one-half spaces/unit having less than two bedrooms; two spaces for all other units. Mechanical parking lifts may be used, and individual units may utilize tandem parking. (c) The distance from a property line to the garage or carport opening shall be a minimum of 20 feet; provided, that a shorter driveway may be approved through the use permit process. (d) Driveway width shall not exceed 40 percent of lot width; provided, that a greater width may be permitted subject to obtaining a use permit. [Ord. 21-008 § 3, 2021; Ord. 98-05 § 1, 1998]. 1 Editor’s Note: Prior ordinance history includes Ord. 1166 and part of Ord. 1331.

PGCC 12-3-25

Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.28 R-4 DISTRICT

Chapter 23.28
R-4 DISTRICT
Sections:

23.28.010    Generally.

23.28.020    Uses permitted.

23.28.030    Building height limit – Site area – Lot coverage – Yards.

23.28.010 Generally.

The regulations found in this chapter shall apply in all R-4 districts and shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 23.64 PGMC. [Ord. 20-016 § 3, 2020; Ord. 382 N.S., 1962; Ord. 210 N.S. § 11-133.1(1), 1952].

23.28.020 Uses permitted.

The following uses shall be permitted in the R-4 district:
(a) Single- or two-family dwellings;
(b) Second units as permitted by Chapter 23.80 PGMC;
(c) Low-barrier navigation centers;
(d) Transitional and supportive housing;
(e) Employee housing.
(f) Multiple dwellings, apartment houses;
(g) Rooming or boarding houses, subject to first securing a use permit; (h) Dwelling groups;
(i) Professional uses allowed are: accountants, advertisers, appraisers, architects, assayers, attorneys, beauty shops, building designers, chiropractors, chiropodists, clinical laboratories, collection agencies, contractors (no warehousing of material), dental laboratories, detective agencies, dentists, geologists, insurance adjusters, interior decorator services (no display rooms, retail sales, and no warehousing of materials), insurance offices, land surveyors, medical doctors, medical laboratories, oculists, opticians, optometrists, osteopaths, physical therapists, podiatrists, private detectives, professional engineers, psychologists, real estate offices, secretary services and telephone answering services, subject to first securing a use permit;
(j) Community centers, social halls, lodges, clubs and rest homes, subject to first securing a use permit in each case;
(k) Accessory uses and buildings normally incidental to any of the above; (l) Professional uses in other categories than described in subsection (f) of this section, which are found by the community development director to be similar in nature, as regards size, activity, and impact, as the professions listed in said subsection (f) of this section, subject to first securing a use permit in each case;
(m) Bed and breakfast inns, subject to first securing a use permit. Standards adopted by resolution of the council for bed and breakfast inn use in the R-3-P.G.R. district shall apply as well to that use in the R-4 district. The setting of such standards shall in no way limit the authority or ability of the planning commission to impose such conditions as may be deemed appropriate upon any use permit granted; PGCC 12-3-25

Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.28 R-4 DISTRICT

(n) Single-Room Occupancies (SROs), subject to first securing a use permit; (o) State-licensed residential care facilities for seven or more persons, subject to first securing a use permit. [Ord. 20-016 § 3, 2020; Ord. 16-005 § 5, 2016; Ord. 03-08 §§ 6, 7, 2003; Ord. 1418 N.S. § 3, 1984; Ord. 1417 N.S., 1984; Ord. 1307 N.S. § 1, 1982; Ord. 936 N.S. § 1, 1977; Ord. 811 N.S., 1974; Ord. 795 N.S., 1974; Ord. 720 N.S. §§ 11, 12, 1972; Ord. 532 N.S. § 7, 1966; Ord. 506 N.S., 1965; Ord. 382 N.S., 1962; Ord. 210 N.S. § 11-133.1(1), 1952].

23.28.030 Building height limit – Site area – Lot coverage – Yards.

Regulations for building height limit, building site area required, percentage of lot coverage, and yards required shall be those regulations set forth in PGMC 23.24.030 through 23.24.070. [Ord. 382 N.S., 1962; Ord. 210 N.S. § 11-133.1(1)(b), 1952].

PGCC 12-3-25

Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.31 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS

Chapter 23.31

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
Sections:

23.31.010    Purpose.

23.31.020    Commercial and industrial zoning districts.

23.31.025    C-V-ATC zoning district – American Tin Cannery zoning.

23.31.030    Commercial and industrial zoning districts allowable land uses and permit requirements.

23.31.040    Commercial and industrial zoning districts development standards.

23.31.010 Purpose.

This chapter lists the commercial and industrial zoning districts as established by PGMC 23.12.010 and establishes the development standards and types of land uses permitted in each commercial and industrial zoning district. [Ord. 13-003 § 2, 2013].

23.31.020 Commercial and industrial zoning districts.
(a) Light Commercial (C-1). The C-1 zoning district provides for neighborhood scale and locally oriented retail, service, office uses, as well as residential uses. (b) Light Commercial and Hotel (C-1-T). The C-1-T zoning district was enacted by citizen initiative, and the standards of the district are included in the applicable sections of this chapter without modification from the initiative.
(1) Intent of District. The intent of the C-1-T district as described by the initiative is as follows:
(A) It is the intent of the people of the city of Pacific Grove in enacting the ordinance codified in this chapter to establish a zone district in the city’s downtown area where hotel use is permitted, as are all other uses listed in the C-1 district of this code, as said district may be from time to time amended by the council. The people have determined that the area of downtown defined by subsection (b)(2) of this section is appropriate for hotel development. Further, except as modified by this chapter, all provisions of the motel/hotel regulation ballot measure enacted by the people at the June 3, 1986, special municipal election, as set out at Chapter 23.52 PGMC, shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.
(B) It is also the intent of the people of the city of Pacific Grove in enacting the ordinance codified in this chapter to provide for an exception to the strict regulations governing condominium development at Chapter 23.45 PGMC, said section enacted by the people at an election held in the city on November 2, 1982. The people have determined that the area of the downtown defined in subsection (b)(2) of this section is appropriate for condominium development in a manner less restrictive than defined by regulations set out in Chapter 23.45 PGMC. Further, except as modified by this chapter, the provisions of Chapter 23.45 PGMC shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.
(2) Boundaries of District. The C-1-T district shall be that area defined by the block bounded by Lighthouse Avenue, Grand Avenue, Central Avenue and Fountain Avenue. (3) Amendment. No provision of the C-1-T zoning district shall be repealed or amended except by a vote of the people.
(c) Downtown Commercial (C-D). The C-D zoning district is intended to provide for a range of uses including retail, restaurants, services, entertainment, and upper floor residential, and other compatible uses which enhance the vitality and character of the city’s historic commercial core.

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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.31 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS

(d) Forest Hill Commercial (C-FH). The C-FH zoning district serves as an entrance to the city, offering a variety of commercial and service uses, as well as residential uses, while respecting nearby residential uses.
(e) Heavy Commercial (C-2). The C-2 zoning district is applied to areas of the city that are appropriate for limited residential uses, service commercial and light manufacturing uses, which may involve outdoor storage or activity areas.
(f) Visitor Commercial (C-V). The C-V zoning district is applied to areas of the city appropriate for retail sales, commercial services, and institutional uses oriented to tourism. (g) Restricted Industrial (I). The I zoning district is applied to areas of the city that are appropriate for limited commercial uses, service commercial and light manufacturing uses, which may involve outdoor storage or activity areas. [Ord. 13-003 § 2, 2013].

23.31.025 C-V-ATC zoning district – American Tin Cannery zoning. (a) Boundaries of District. The C-V-ATC zoning district shall apply to the American Tin Cannery site that is comprised of Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 006-231-001, 006-234-004, and 006-234-005 and that segment of Sloat Avenue that is continuous to the American Tin Cannery site. (b) Uses Permitted. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Pacific Grove Municipal Code, the following uses shall be permitted in the C-V-ATC zoning district:
(1) Hotels and any accessory uses, such as restaurants, bars and lounges, meeting and event facilities, spa and fitness facilities, parking, and buildings, spaces, and structures incidental to such uses, subject to first securing a use permit.
(2) All uses that are permitted in the C-V zoning district and additional uses permitted by subsequent amendment to the zoning ordinance.
(c) Development Standards. Development standards in the C-V-ATC zoning district, including floor area coverage, density, setbacks and height limits shall be in accordance with the applicable standards set forth in the local Coastal Program Land Use Plan, as updated or amended, or if no such standards are provided in the local coastal Program Land Use Plan, as updated or amended, in accordance with the standards set forth in the use permit or other required permit for a use allowed in the C-V-ATC zoning district.
(d) Except as modified by this section, all provisions of the motel/hotel regulation ballot measure enacted by the people at the June 3, 1986, special election, as set out at Chapter 23.52 PGMC, shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect. [Ord. 16-009A § 1, 2016].

23.31.030 Commercial and industrial zoning districts allowable land uses and permit requirements.

Key to Zoning District Symbols
C-1 Light Commercial C-FH Forest Hill
Commercial
I Restricted Industrial
C-1-T Light Commercial
and Hotel
C-2 Heavy Commercial
C-D Downtown
Commercial
C-V Visitor Commercial
P = Permitted use; counter review and determination required (see PGMC 23.70.020) UP = Use permit required (see PGMC

23.70.080)
AUP = Administrative use permit required (see PGMC 23.70.030) -- = Use not allowed PGCC 12-3-25

Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.31 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS

Table 23.31.030 Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements Use
Specific
Use
Regulation
s (PGMC) C-11
C-1-
T
1 C-D1 C-FH1 C-2 C-V1
I
Industry, Manufacturing and Processing
Contract
construction – no
outdoor storage
P2 P2-- P2 P3,4 P2 P3
Contract
construction –
outdoor storage
-- -- -- -- P3,4 UP UP
Construction, largescale equipment
sales and rental
-- -- -- -- P3,4 UP UP
Industrial, light   UP UP -- UP AUP3,4 UP AUP3,4
Recycling facility   UP UP -- UP UP UP UP
Research and
development facility
AUP2 AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Storage – selfstorage facility  -- -- -- --  AUP3 AUP2 AUP3 Warehousing,
wholesaling and
distribution
-- -- -- -- P3 P2 P3
Recreation, Education and Public Assembly
Commercial
recreation facility –
indoor (≤ 10,000 sf)

7.08, 7.12,

23.64.035
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 P3
Commercial
recreation facility –
outdoor
AUP2 AUP
2 -- --  AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Community garden   AUP5 AUP
5 AUP5 AUP5 AUP5 AUP5--
Health/fitness
studio (≤ 10,000 sf)
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 P3
Meeting facility,
public or private (≤
10,000 sf)
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P P3
Park, playground
(public)
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 P3
Public or quasipublic facility (≤
10,000 sf)
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 P3
School, specialty (≤
10,000 sf)
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2--
Theater or
auditorium (≤
10,000 sf)
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 P3
Residential
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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.31 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS

Accessory building
or structure

P P P P P -- UP
Condominium   UP UP6 UP UP UP -- UP
Duplex   P P P P P -- UP
Dwelling group   UP UP UP UP UP -- UP
Emergency
shelters9
--  --  P P P -- P9
Employee housing
for 6 or fewer
persons12

P P P P P UP
Home business 23.16 P P P P P -- UP
Large family day
care home

UP UP UP UP UP -- --
Low barrier
navigation centers
P9 P9 P9-- P9
Mixed-use
(residential above
or behind
commercial)
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3-- --
Mobile home park   -- -- -- -- UP -- UP
Multifamily dwelling
7 or fewer units 23.28.020 P P P P P -- UP
8 or more units 23.28.020 P UP P P UP -- UP
Residential care
Housing 6 or fewer
persons
P10 P10 P10 P10 P10--
10 UP10
Housing 7 or more
persons

UP UP UP UP UP -- UP
Rooming and
boarding house14

UP UP UP UP UP -- UP
Second unit 23.80 P P P P P -- UP
Single-family
dwelling

P P P P P -- UP
Single-Room
Occupancy

P P P P P -- UP
Transitional or
supportive housing
P P P P P -- UP11
Retail Sales
Automobile/vehicle
sales and rental
AUP2 AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Automobile/vehicle
service station
AUP2 AUP
2 -- AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Bar/tavern/nightclub   -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Use
Specific
Use
Regulation
s (PGMC) C-11
C-1-
T
1 C-D1 C-FH1 C-2 C-V1
I
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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.31 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS

Brew pub with food
service

23.64.290  AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2--
Farmers market   UP UP UP UP UP UP --
Flea market   UP UP UP UP UP UP --
Micro-brewery 23.64.290 -- -- -- UP UP UP UP
Pub or sports bar
with food service

23.64.290  AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2--
Restaurant, general and formula general
w/ no alcohol sales 23.64.134 P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2--
w/ alcohol sales 23.64.134,

23.64.290
AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2--
Restaurant, specialty (not formula)
w/ no alcohol sales 23.64.134;
if formula,
see also

23.64.115
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2--
w/ beer and wine
sales only

23.64.134,

23.64.290;
if formula,
see also

23.64.115
AUP2 AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2--
Restaurant, fast
food (not formula) –
w/ no alcohol sales

23.64.134;
if formula,
see also

23.64.115
AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2--
Restaurant, drivein/drive-through (not
formula) – w/ no
alcohol sales

23.64.134;
if formula,
see also

23.64.115
-- -- -- UP -- -- --
Retail – general,
except the
following:

P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 UP
Adult-oriented sales   UP7 UP7-- UP7-- -- --
Alcoholic beverage
sales
UP UP UP UP UP AUP2--
Auction houses   P -- -- P P P P
Automobile rental   P -- -- P P P P
Bail bonds   P -- -- P P P P
Blood, plasma,
tissue donation

P -- -- P P P P
Body piercing/tattoo
parlor

P -- -- P P P P
Check cashing
stores
-- -- -- P P P P
Use
Specific
Use
Regulation
s (PGMC) C-11
C-1-
T
1 C-D1 C-FH1 C-2 C-V1
I
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Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.31 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS

Dollar/99 cent
stores
-- -- -- P P P P
Electric cigarette/evapor  P -- -- P P P P
Gold and silver
exchange stores

P -- -- P P P P
Kennels or pet
boarding**

P -- -- P P P P
Pawn shops   P -- -- P P P P
Recreational
vehicle sales

P -- -- P P P P
Meeting halls or
places of assembly

P -- -- P P P P
Tire sales and
repair

P -- -- P P P P
Businesses from
which minors
excluded by law or
owner

UP UP UP UP UP UP --
Floor area over
10,000 sf
AUP2 AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Operating between
12:00 a.m. and 7:00
a.m.

UP UP UP UP UP UP UP
Outdoor storage or
displays
AUP AUP AUP AUP AUP1 AUP AUP1
Retail – restricted   UP UP -- UP UP UP UP
Wine bar 23.64.290 AUP2 AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Wine tasting room 23.64.290 AUP2 AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Services
Animal
keeping/training
facilities or
veterinary service
AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Automobile/vehicle
repair
AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Bank or financial
service, except the
following:

P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 P3
Floor area over
10,000 sf at street
level
AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
w/ drive-through   UP UP -- UP UP  UP  UP
Business support
service
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 P3
Car wash and
detailing
AUP2 AUP
2 -- AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Use
Specific
Use
Regulation
s (PGMC) C-11
C-1-
T
1 C-D1 C-FH1 C-2 C-V1
I
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Chapter 23.31 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS

Catering and events 23.64.290  AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 UP UP UP
Equipment/applianc
e rental and repair
AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Laundry or dry
cleaning service
AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Lodging
Bed and breakfast
inn –w/ beer and
wine sales only

23.64.290  AUP2
AUP
2 AUP2 AUP2 AUP3 AUP2 AUP3
Hotel or motel 23.64.290 -- UP8-- -- -- -- --
Medical service
Ambulance service   UP UP -- UP UP UP UP
Clinic or lab    P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 P3
Medical office   P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 P3
Hospital   UP UP -- -- UP UP UP
Mortuary or funeral
home

UP UP -- UP UP UP UP
Office, business or
professional
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 UP UP
Personal service 7.06 P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 UP
Personal service –
restricted

UP UP UP UP UP UP UP
Printing or creative
service
P2 P2 P2 P2 P3 P2 P3
Transportation and Infrastructure
Parking facility   UP UP UP UP UP UP UP
Public utility   UP UP UP UP UP UP UP
Radio or television
station

UP UP UP UP UP UP UP
Taxi service 7.16 UP UP UP UP UP UP UP
Transit center   UP UP UP UP UP UP UP
Wireless
telecommunication
facility

UP UP UP UP UP UP UP
Temporary wireless
telecommunications
facility

CRD CRD CRD CRD CRD CRD CRD
Wireless eligible
facilities request

AUP AUP AUP AUP AUP AUP AUP
Use
Specific
Use
Regulation
s (PGMC) C-11
C-1-
T
1 C-D1 C-FH1 C-2 C-V1
I
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Chapter 23.31 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS

End Notes:

1. No merchandise, tools, machinery, equipment, or materials shall be stored or displayed outside of a building, except as specifically permitted for retail uses under an administrative use permit. Temporary administrative use permits, good for not over 30 days, may be granted, pursuant to PGMC 23.70.030(b)(7), for temporary outdoor sales events of new merchandise by merchants holding use permits or otherwise qualified to operate within the applicable district; provided, that such outdoor sales are operated in conjunction with their established retail operations, and for Christmas tree sales, or other sales on private property, connected with festivals or holidays.

2. The permit type specified in this table applies to any new or enlarged commercial use which totals 10,000 square feet or less of interior floor space. An administrative use permit is required for any new or enlarged commercial use which results in either the use of more than one structure on a building site or a total of more than 10,000 square feet of interior floor space. A use permit is required where any new or enlarged commercial use exceeds 25,000 square feet in interior floor space.

3. A use permit is required for any new building or addition which adds more than 25,000 square feet of interior floor space or which results in a building having more than 40 feet in height.

4. Such uses may be granted subject to a use permit, when conducted within a building or enclosed by a fence, subject to architectural approval by the appropriate review authority for design and landscaping pursuant to Chapter 23.70 PGMC; and provided, that said fence and landscaping shall be of sufficient height and screening capacity to prevent the view thereof from any adjacent street or sidewalk.

5. Community gardens on vacant lots may be permitted by administrative use permit, pursuant to PGMC 23.70.030(b)(7), and shall be reviewable every six months and subject to such conditions as the administrative use permit may prescribe. The application shall be accompanied by a written agreement by the owner to grant the city a lien for any cost incurred by the city in restoring such property to its condition prior to such use, in the event the owner fails to make such restoration after such use ceases.

6. Condominium use shall be allowed, subject to first securing a use permit in each case, and subject to the building height, site coverage, and yard requirements of this chapter. The provisions of Chapter 23.45 PGMC shall not apply to development of condominiums in the C-1-T district. The council shall, by ordinance, establish standards, conditions and other regulations to govern the development of condominiums in the C-1-T district. Until and unless such standards, conditions and other regulations are in place, no application for such development shall be accepted or processed. Such standards, conditions and regulations established by the council shall be in addition to and harmonious with state law governing condominium development. See also PGMC

23.31.020(b)(1)(B).

7. Adult-oriented sales may comprise no more than 25 percent of floor area or stock-in-trade of a general retail business, must be located in the rear of the general retail business, and must not be visible from the exterior of the general retail business.

8. Hotel uses shall be allowed, subject to first securing a use permit in each case, and subject to the building height, site coverage, and yard requirements of this chapter. All other regulations and conditions of approval shall be as provided by use permit approved pursuant to this title. Said regulations and conditions shall include, without limitation, provisions for architectural review, land area per unit, neighborhood compatibility, landscaping, parking, traffic and accessory buildings. Required parking, if any, may be located on or off site, the location to be designated by the use permit. See also PGMC 23.31.020(b)(1)(A).

9. Outside the coastal zone only. In addition to the requirements of PGMC 23.31.040, emergency shelters shall be subject to the following standards:
a. Maximum of 25 beds.
b. Off-street parking shall be provided at a rate of one space per each staff person on duty. c. On-site management shall be provided at all times the shelter is open. A management and security plan shall be prepared in consultation with the city manager or his or her designee which shall describe hours of operation; staffing; house rules and occupant screening procedures; on- or off-site services to be provided; security measures to ensure the safety of the occupants of the shelter and surrounding areas; and communications protocols to ensure effective coordination between shelter management, adjacent property owners and residents, and public safety personnel. d. No emergency shelter shall be established closer than 300 feet from another emergency shelter, measured from the nearest property line.
e. Waiting and intake areas shall be screened from view from the public right-of-way.

10. Permitted subject to the same standards as apply to other residential dwellings of the same type in the same zone.

11. Transitional and supportive housing developments shall be subject to the parking requirements of PGMC 23.64.190, with the exception of developments located within a one-half (0.5) mile distance of a transit stop where no off-street parking shall be required.

12. Rooming houses or boarding houses accommodating employee housing shall be subject to Employee Housing Act. See permitted uses and standards under employee housing.

PGCC 12-3-25

Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.31 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS

**When not associated with a veterinary clinic.
[Ord. 20-001 § 2 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 16-005 § 6, 2016; Ord. 15-013 § 4, 2015; Ord. 13-003 § 2, 2013].

23.31.040 Commercial and industrial zoning districts development standards.

Table 23.31.040 Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts Development Standards C-17 C-1-T C-D7 C-FH1,7 C-27 C-V I
Building Placement Requirements
Setbacks1,2,3,4
Front, min.
(max.)6
0’ 0' 0' 0'
(20')
0' 0' 0'
Side (min.),
except:
0’ 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Residential/
Mixed-use
10’ 0’ 5’ 10' 0’ 0’ 0’
Adjacent to
residential
zone
5’ 5' 5' 5' 5' 10' 10'
Rear (min.),
except:
0’ 0' 0' 10' 0' 0' 0'
Adjacent to
residential
zone
5’ 5' 5' 10' 5' 10' 10'
Building Form Requirements
Building height
(max.)4
45’ 40' with max.
site coverage
of 75%; 30'
with max. site
coverage of
90%
40' 35' 40' 40' with
max. site
coverage
of 75%;
30' with
max. site
coverage
of 90%
40'
Site coverage
(max.)
90% 75 – 90%,
depending on
building height
100% 75% 90% 75 – 90%,
depending
on building
height
90%
Stepbacks for portion of building above 25 feet
Front, min 8’5 0’ 0’ 8’ 0’ -- --
Side, min 0’ 0’ 0’ 0’ 0’ -- --
Rear, min6 30’ 0’ 10’ 30’ 0’ -- --
Density Requirements
Dwelling units
per net acre
Max. 30 units
per acre.

For Coastal
Zones – Max.
allowed by
the general
plan
residential
land use
category to
the site, up to
30 units per
net acre.

Max. allowed
by the general
plan
residential
land use
category
nearest to the
site, up to 30
units per net
acre.

Max. of 45
units per acre;
with a
minimum
density
requirement of
30 units per
acre.

Max. of 45
units per
acre; with a
minimum
density
requirement
of 30 units
per acre.

Max. 30 units
per acre.

For Coastal
Zones –
Max. allowed
by the
general plan
residential
land use 30
units per net
acre.

N/A Max.
allowed by
the GP
residential
land use
category
nearest to
the site,
up to 30
units per
net acre.6
Floor area
ratio
Max. allowed by the general plan
Lot Requirements
PGCC 12-3-25

Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.31 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS

Lot area for
new parcels
(min.)
2,000 sf
Other Requirements
Landscaping See PGMC 23.64.195
Parking See PGMC 23.64.190
Signs For C-D district see Chapter 20.05 PGMC. For all other districts see Chapter 20.04 PGMC End Notes:

1. For mixed-use residential/commercial development where residential ground-floor street frontage is allowed and constructed, the setback standards in PGMC 23.31.50 shall apply.

2. Cornices, eaves, and other horizontal projections may be allowed, consistent with PGMC 23.64.150 and 23.64.160.

3. Along Central, Lighthouse, and Forest Avenues, commercial ground-floor street frontage standards in PGMC 23.31.050 also apply.

4. Chimneys and other vertical projections may be allowed, consistent with PGMC 23.64.120.

5. In C-1 and C-FH districts, front stepbacks requirements shall not apply for up to 30 feet of a building’s width.

6. Rear stepback requirements shall not apply within 70 feet of front property line, while rear setback requirements shall continue to apply.

7. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65583.2(h)(2)s on sites within C-1, C-2, C-D and C-FH districts, identified in the 6 for lower-income households, a minimum of 50 percent of the total floor area shall be residential.

The 6site:

Sites within the C-1, C-2, C-FH and C-D that are identified for lower-income housing units include the following:

Site No. Address APN(s)
8 601 Lighthouse Ave. 006294017000, 006294015000
9 525, 531 Lighthouse Ave. 006284015000, 006284001000, 006284002000 18 95 Central Ave. 6238005000
20 2749 Forest Hill Blvd. 007651013000, 007651017000
21 1146, 1152 Forest Ave. 7651022000, 7651014000
22 1125, 1129, 1133, 1137 Forest Ave. 006713031000, 006713032000, 006713027000, 006713026000 26 1157 Forest Ave. 6713023000
27 1193 Forest Ave. 6713019000
29 1124, 1140 Forest Ave. 7641009000, 7641008000
30 1160 Forest Ave. 7651019000
31 1180 Forest Ave. 7611031000
33 1219 Forest Ave. 6725023000
48 2184 Sunset Dr. 7091025000
49 17 Mile Dr. 7091026000
55 801 Sunset Dr. 7101036000
[Ord. 17-009 § 3, 2017; Ord. 13-003 § 2, 2013].

PGCC 12-3-25

Pacific Grove Municipal Code
Chapter 23.52 R-3-M DISTRICTS

Chapter 23.52
R-3-M DISTRICTS
Sections:

23.52.010    Regulations generally.

23.52.020    Uses permitted.

23.52.030    Regulations for R-3-M uses.

23.52.035    Special regulations for motels and hotels built prior to 1986.

23.52.040    Statement of intent.

23.52.050    Other provisions.

23.52.060    Amendment.

23.52.010 Regulations generally.

Effective the date of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this section by the city council or by the voters of the city of Pacific Grove, the regulations of the ordinance codified in this section shall apply in the R-3-M district in lieu of any ordinance or resolution to the contrary:
(a) The R-3-M district is defined as those areas so designated on the official zoning map of the city of Pacific Grove referred to in PGMC 23.12.020. Said districts may be classified by the city council to R-1, R -H, or R-2, where already developed as such, but no new R-3-M districts shall be created. (b) Motel and hotel uses shall be restricted to the R-3-M district, including any uses accessory or ancillary to a motel. The ordinance codified in this section shall also apply to any use described in PGMC

23.52.020 proposed for the construction or expansion in any R-3-M district, including uses accessory or ancillary to such use. [Ord. 1536 N.S. § 2, 1986].

23.52.020 Uses permitted.

The following uses are permitted in the R-3-M districts:
(a) Any use permitted in the R-3 district, subject to obtaining a use permit for any use for which such is required in an R-3 district;
(b) Motels, subject to first securing a use permit in each case; (c) Hotels, subject to first securing a use permit in each case; (d) Adult communities, retirement homes and rest homes, subject to first securing a use permit in each case. [Ord. 575 N.S., 1967; Ord. 453 N.S., 1964; Ord. 263 N.S., 1955; Ord. 210 N.S. § 11-139(1)(a), 1952].

23.52.030 Regulations for R-3-M uses.
(a) A minimum of 2,500 square feet of land shall be required for each family unit and each motel or hotel unit. For other uses described in PGMC 23.52.020(d), the planning commission and/or city council shall determine the amount of land area per occupied unit by judging its similarity to a family unit or motel unit in actual use and impact. For example, a rest home affording separate apartments and parking facilities would be judged a family unit; a hotel which offers amenities identical or substantially similar to a motel would be judged a motel. In no event shall less than 2,000 square feet per occupied unit be allowed, for any PGMC 23.52.020(d) use.
(b) A minimum setback of 20 feet shall be required for all structures in a R-3-M development which abut R -1, R-H, or R-2 property, including streets abutting same. The setback shall be 10 feet for commercial or R-3-M. Eave projections may extend up to three feet into any required yard, but in no case may be closer than three feet to any property line.

PGCC 12-3-25