Annual Report 2005
Land Use
Hotel on Cannery Row Presses Forward |
Technology Supports Traffic Management
Work Aims to Unclog Ryan
Ranch Portal
Managing the development of land within
the City limits takes research and analysis. The effects on traffic,
residential and commercial neighborhoods, as well as the environment, must
be carefully considered. As a result, the City develops policies and
guidelines and works with community members to ensure that orderly and
harmonious physical growth occurs.
Hotel on Cannery Row Presses Forward
An eyesore for years, the empty commercial
parcels along Cannery Row appear ready to welcome a new hotel.
The City recently approved architectural designs for the208-room
Monterey Peninsula Hotel with space for meeting rooms, retail and
restaurants. Development of the area was delayed for a long time due to
financing challenges; yet it remains the City’s highest economic development
priority, as completion will significantly increase the tax base. At City
Focus deadline, construction was set to begin in early 2006.
The Monterey Peninsula Hotel site encompasses three parcels on
Cannery Row.
The bayside parcel is located at 750 Cannery Row between historic Ed
Ricketts’ Biological Laboratory and Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Company. The inland
Cannery Row parcel sits between the Monterey Canning Company building and
Mackerel Jack’s. The third parcel is at the corner of Prescott Avenue and
Wave Street across from the Sardine Factory. The project also includes
opening public access to McAbee Beach.
To view status reports on this and other projects, visit the Web
at
www.monterey.org/updates.html and click on Long-term Development
Projects.
 Technology Supports Traffic
Management Program
Plans are in the works to hook all 56 traffic
signals in the City to the fiber optic network that traverses the community
so they can be managed remotely from a single point. We plan to install
controls at each signal and add them to our internal network to improve
traffic flow, monitor signals more effectively and even deal with special
event traffic backups at the touch
of a button. This is part of our overall circulation strategy that promotes
traffic management within our existing infrastructure instead of relying on
construction and widening projects to relieve congestion issues.
Work Aims to Unclog Ryan Ranch
Portal
 Three cheers for improved ingress and egress
at Ryan Ranch Business Park, which is being brought to the community through
a wide-ranging private-public collaboration.
A well-traversed segment of Highway 68 between Ragsdale Drive and
Highway 218 is being expanded from two to four lanes, and a traffic signal
is going in at Ragsdale and Hwy. 68. Traffic has increased along this main
artery and vehicle lines in and out of the park have grown dramatically over
the years.
To enhance access to the business park, increase traffic flow on
Hwys. 68 and 218 and reduce the risk of accidents, the City has worked
closely with the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) to secure
community partners and design approvals to bring this endeavor to fruition.
As the project crosses state, County, municipal and private jurisdictions,
it has taken some time to pull together funding and to finalize agreements.
Costs have been shared by all agencies involved.
Project preparations began in earnest this summer (2005) and
construction is currently underway. Detours are in place, and we appreciate
your continued patience and understanding over the next several months.
Completion is scheduled for late winter 2005-06.
For updates and questions, call the TAMC hotline at 877.499.6846
(68ragsdale@tamcmonterey.org).
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