How we got here
- Fova 911
- May 8
- 2 min read
Updated: May 10
When local nursery owner Ken Griggs bought the Vintage Airfield in 2020, he was clear about his intentions:
"He ruled out developing any housing on the site. “Nobody wants houses there,” Griggs says. “For once in Carmel Valley, we are going to do something that’s not controversial."
The property is now in escrow to be sold to developer Patrick Orosco, who is seeking approval for the construction of 90 houses on the site. To do it, he is using California's Builder's Remedy law, a provision designed to fast-track affordable housing when a county misses a filing deadline. His project currently includes between 11 and 20 low income rentals depending on several versions. Financing has not been secured, and it remains unclear who would ultimately pilot the project.
The project is NOT a done deal
Even under Builder's Remedy, the Orosco subdivision must still meet strict California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) health and safety requirements. FOVA's mission is to make sure those studies are thorough, accurate, and truly reflect conditions on the ground. We believe this project poses significant and potentially irreversible risks to our Village.
With your help, we WILL make a difference.
Our concerns
Fire & Evacuation: the airfield is the only open space near the Village to stage a fire response. Can the Village afford to lose it? Are the levels of service at intersections along Carmel Valley Road adequate to support the added traffic during an emergency evacuation - like Paradise, Santa Rosa's Coffey Park, and Pacific Palisades?
Water Supply: the site's wells draw from fractured rock, a formation that can be significantly less reliable than alluvial sources and not fully tested yet. Can the site support 90 homes without tapping into our fragile aquifer?
Sewage & Drainage: there is no sewer infrastructure at the airfield. Septic systems for 90 units may be physically impossible here. The alternative, a sewage plant, poses its own threat to the groundwater our community depends on. Where does the waste go? What will the impact be on our water?
How to help
Donate. The Carmel Valley Association has established the Airfield Defense Fund to support the financial burden of hiring experts and legal teams.
Your full donation goes straight to the CV Airfield Defense Fund. Donors who are not yet CVA members will be given a free one-year membership.
Volunteer. We are actively looking for people with expertise in water supply or hydrology, sewage and septic systems, fire safety or emergency evacuation, or environmental and real estate law. To sign up, fill out the contact form on fova911.com or just send us an email!
We will send regular updates as we move through this process. Feel free to reach out anytime to share your concerns or ask any question.
The FOVA Team
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