Big Sur Campground & Cabins Proposal Scheduled for LUAC Review

A significant redevelopment proposal for Big Sur Campground & Cabins is scheduled to be reviewed by the Big Sur North Coast Land Use Advisory Council. Monterey County has released project materials for public review, and this is an important point in the public process — not only for this property, but for the future direction of Big Sur as a whole.

The proposal involves a reconfiguration and redevelopment of the existing campground property, including changes to visitor accommodations, site layout, and supporting infrastructure such as water and wastewater systems. While framed as a campground project, the scale, density, and operational model matter. How this property functions after redevelopment will influence expectations for other visitor-serving properties up and down the coast.

Big Sur is governed by a land use framework designed specifically to prevent incremental transformation into a resort corridor. Each major redevelopment tests that framework. When unit counts increase, when infrastructure expands, or when operational intensity changes, it sets a new baseline. Future applicants point to past approvals as precedent. Over time, those precedents shape what Big Sur becomes.

Water supply is one of the clearest examples. There is no municipal system here. Wells are variable, drought years are real, and long-term reliability is not guaranteed parcel to parcel. If large-scale visitor-serving projects are approved without clear demonstration of sustainable supply under dry conditions, that decision does not affect just one property. It signals what standard will apply to the next proposal.

The same is true for wastewater capacity, traffic levels on Highway 1, employee housing realities, and the cumulative pressure on a place that already experiences seasonal overload. Big Sur’s infrastructure is limited by design. That limitation is part of what has protected its character. Decisions that intensify use have long-term consequences that extend well beyond a single site boundary.

Public participation at LUAC is critical because this is where these broader questions can be raised directly. LUAC’s recommendation becomes part of the formal record and influences how County decision-makers evaluate the project moving forward. If concerns about precedent, cumulative impacts, or policy consistency are not articulated now, they are much harder to address later.

This proposal is not just about one campground. It is about how we interpret and apply the protections that have defined Big Sur for decades. The outcome will help determine whether redevelopment here reinforces those protections or gradually reshapes them.The LUAC hearing will take place on March 10th 2026 at 10am at the Big Sur Station. We encourage community members to review the County’s materials and participate thoughtfully. Keep Big Sur Wild will continue to monitor the proposal and provide updates as the process moves forward.

Complete project plans for review

General Development Plan

Scope of work