Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Pacific Grove public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
18 issues in development with medium priority
Architectural design change at 501 9th Street
The board was set to hold a hearing on changes to a previously approved design at 501 9th Street. Neighbors nearby may care about how the revised home will look and fit the street.
New architectural permit at 112 3rd Street
A new architectural permit for 112 3rd Street was scheduled for a public hearing. The outcome would shape construction on that parcel.
Construction fatigue from continuous demolitions and rebuilds
Neighbors described a year of nonstop construction trucks and one demolition after another, saying it wears the neighborhood down. The board said it can't consider cumulative neighborhood development in individual permit decisions.
CalHOME Reuse Fund Budget Amendment
The council adopted a budget amendment for the CalHOME Reuse fund, which supports affordable housing programs, for fiscal year 2026-27.
City properties off-limits for project parking
Council liaison Tina Rau told the board that no project can use city-owned property for parking while the city decides which of its parcels might become housing sites.
2026-2027 DEI Task Force work plan
Nine of 27 supporting tasks are done halfway through year one. Big items ahead: storm drain funding options, sidewalk policy overhaul, a new financial software system, ADU ordinance updates, and the Lighthouse/Central/Congress four-way stop proposal.
307 Eardley Avenue major remodel
A charming-house makeover with no added square footage — new siding, windows, porch and removal of impervious concrete — won quick, unanimous approval.
Hotel collaboration
The board is forming a subcommittee to meet the hotel's management, introduce the library as a neighbor, and invite the hotel to become a corporate sponsor of the Friends of the Library.
610 Granite Street remodel, ADU conversion, and tree removal
A 1921 cottage gets a sympathetic remodel with a rear addition, a garage converted to an ADU, and a new garage — but a 20-inch coast live oak comes down. A neighbor questioned the number of buildings on the small lot and whether someone is living in the shed.
186 Sloat Avenue deck extension privacy dispute
The owner wants to rebuild and extend a second-story deck for bay views; his next-door neighbor of decades says it stares straight into her sunroom and will add glare from stainless railings. The board approved it as submitted.
Historic Restoration of 124 Caledonia Street
An 1894 Queen Anne house across from Caledonia Park is getting a careful rear remodel and a return from multifamily to single-family use, while its 1905 backyard cottage — possibly the city's original ADU — gets formally recognized. The project was praised as a model of sensitive historic restoration.
Home addition and oak tree removal at 804 Todd Lane
A family wants to add roughly 770 square feet to their two-story home, including a second story over the garage and a small upper deck, removing one of seven mature Coast Live Oaks in the process. Neighbors mostly asked clarifying questions — about a chimney and the deck's use — rather than objecting.
Community engagement and meeting participation
Members noted very few residents attend or speak at task force meetings, especially from the communities the task force serves. Safety fears may keep people silent, prompting ideas like agency presentations to signal 'we hear you.'
Remodel and accessibility addition at 123 12th Street
Owners of a 1926 Tudor Revival home want a code-compliant staircase and dormer so they can age in place. The committee approved it but required the addition match the house's distinctive rolled roof eaves and use wood windows.
Task Force Purpose, Powers, and Duties Review
The task force postponed its own review of what its purpose, powers and duties should be, continuing it to a date uncertain. That means questions about the group's mandate and scope remain unresolved for now.
Preservation vs. livability on tiny Mermaid Avenue lots
Two 1920s-era red cottages on Mermaid Avenue got permission for upstairs bathrooms and safer stairs — changes that required zoning exceptions because the lots are so small. The committee weighed keeping the street's iconic rhythm of gable ends against making the homes livable for aging owners.
Vegetation clearing concerns at 1352 Lighthouse Avenue
Chuck Green of Coast reported heavy limbing and brush piles at the vacant 1352 Lighthouse Avenue property, raising concerns the work was done without permits, and said his letter to city officials went unanswered.
Proposed inclusionary housing ordinance and approval transparency
Commissioner Sweigert wants an ordinance requiring legal guarantees that as-of-right affordable units stay affordable, plus public posting of over-the-counter approvals and coastal permit exemptions. These are proposals for the 2026 goals list, not adopted policy.