Last ditch efforts to gain votes for new hotel in Pacific Grove

The push is on to get Pacific Grove residents to vote yes on Measure X.

Volunteers and even the project’s developer canvassed twelve different neighborhoods.

“It’s going good, we’re getting a good, positive response,” said Michael Crall, developer for Project Bella.

Project Bella would be the only five star hotel in Pacific Grove. It’s on track to have 225 rooms and suites, shops and more.

Voting yes on Measure X would change the zoning for the American Tin Cannery to allow Project Bella to be built there once the struggling tin cannery is torn down.

“Will be a tremendous asset to the city,” said Crall. “The tax revenues alone are going to be between $3 and $4 million dollars to the city.”

Tax revenues city officials said are desperately neededto be able to continue to fund city services.

“The income has been steady, there’s no additional revenue coming into the city,” said Moe Ammar, president of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce. “Unless we generate more income we’re going to be in deeper trouble.”

While there is a lot of support for the project there is also a lot of push back.

“My stand is no because I know the Tinery needs help, we do need something there, but we don’t need a high end hotel,” said one Pacific Grove resident.

It’s a hot button issue. Just recently people were caught on camera stealing vote yes on Measure X signs.

Locals voting no on Measure X told KION the project is moving too fast and has too many questions and uncertainties.

“What price do we have to pay as citizens of Pacific Grove to have this type of a large scale hotel project done?” said Leonard O’Neill, trustee of Unite Here Local 483. “What’s the impact, what do we give up, cause nothings free.”

Some residents say the hotels size will diminish the charm of Pacific Grove. They are concerned about how much traffic it will create in an already congested area, the environmental impacts and water supply for the development.

“Wheredo you get the water when we’re already in a drought,” said O’Neill. “You know, where do you get water suddenly for 220 rooms?”

The developer told KION the project would undergo an environmental review before a final approval, that hotels actually produce less traffic when compared to retail shops and that Project Bella would be a LEED platinum hotel so it will save and recycle significant amounts of water and energy.

The election will take place Tuesday, April 19th. For those people who cannot drive to vote, for the first time the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce will pick people up and drop them off at the nearest polling place.