Welcome to the Carmel Residents Association Website

Since 1987, the Carmel Residents Association has been the premier community civic non-profit organization for full and part-time residents and owners or renters in Carmel-by-the-Sea and everyone who cares for and wants to stay connected to everything in our "Village in the Forest by the Sea". You can now also join, renew and make donations to the CRA, register and pay for CRA-sponsored events and much more, all online. Click here for a more detailed overview. Why should you join or renew?  Here's why.

Monday October 23rd  
"Carmel meets Sacramento - a Coastal Community Town Hall on California Housing Legislation"   

We gathered over 100 community residents and guests, plus our honored panelists at the Carmel Highschool Center for the Performing Arts.  We heard from our California State - Sacramento Senator John Laird and Assembly Member Dawn Addis who represent our Coastal Community. Paul Miller, Publisher of the Carmel Pine Cone moderated this session exploring the latest in recent Housing legislation.  

Learn more about about critical housing laws and explore protecting Land Use and Zoning Local Controls in our Monterey Peninsula Community. Visit this page for a full transcript, more details, coverage and related information on our Town Hall.  YouTube of our Program is available HERE.

CRA's - Hot Topics, The Voice, News You Can Use, Events and More

Upcoming & Ongoing "Hot Topics"  We've compiled important history and background information on these pages.  Each of these receive frequent updates as these initiatives continue to receive Council or Board/Commission updates via City Teams.  Please check them out and provide your suggestions and comments.

* Architecture in Carmel - Design Traditions Project - Public Steering Committee meetings are continuing.  Desired reinstatement of the Design Review Board covered. All of the Steering Committee Meetings are covered here.  Next major meeting targeted for late January 2024, to review new draft of the Guidelines, with supplemental items to follow.
* Housing Element & RHNA Challenges - All meetings information, background and push back efforts are on our page. Our Housing Element draft was approved by City Council Aug 1st and submitted to HCD in Sacramento.  Sacramento passed more housing legislation in October that removes local control (see list here). A Special Housing Ad Hoc meeting was held Nov 13th to review the HCD response provided on Nov 1.  The Nov 13th meeting summary, links to the staff report, YouTube and presentation doc are on our Housing page.  Our 120 day deadline for final State approval of our Housing Element is April 14, 2024.
* Local Controls of Land Use and Zoning - This page provides lists of Sacramento housing legislation, local grass roots organizations with content and background helpful to understanding the potential impact in our Village and throughout California.  
* ADU Ordinance (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Target for public drafts coming. Updates are required to reflect State mandates ideally also our local ordinances and ideally also embracing our Design Guidelines. Nov 15th was a Special Planning Commission Workshop with public review and comments of the initial draft.  
* Parking and Traffic Management Project - Paid Parking was briefly discussed at Aug 30 Strategic Priorities Meeting.  This item was pushed to 2024 for public report of findings at a City Council Meeting to be announced.
* Wireless/Telecom Ordinance - The August Drafts have now been approved by both Planning Commission and City Council in August & September respectively. This was approved in the second reading at City Council Oct 2nd; it then goes to the Coastal Commission for final as next step. 
* 5th&Dolores (aka Ulrika Plaza & The Pit) - At the Aug 9th Planning Commission meeting the newest project plan was approved. Next step is detailed plans to be submitted early in 2024.  The proposal to move the art/stone wall of the Annex for the 7th&Dolores (JB Pastor Building) was revisited at the Oct 3rd City Council will officially voted to require retention of the art/stone wall.
* Addresses in Carmel Project - As per the Nov 7th City Council, an Ad Hoc Committee (with Council Members Dramov & Ferlito, plus residents with both views) will be formed, that will also include further reasearch with the USPS Growth Manager and staff. More details on this webpage.
* Trees in Carmel - Forest Master Plan update project is underway. Recent meetings and updates provided. Find a new article on the significance of our Monterey Pines here and a Community created Petition embracing our traditional Monterey Pines, Coastal Oaks, Monterey Cypress and Redwood Trees and influence the directions of the Master Plan update. 
* Strategic Planning - half yearly update - was held on Aug 30th (5 hrs).  Meeting details and Staff Report can be found HERE. The YouTube link is HERE.  Decisions/adjustments were publically reviewed at the October 2nd City Council Meeting - YouTube link is HERE. The next cycle is expected in January or February of 2024. 

The Voice - Nov/Dec HERE

Articles include: The Gifts of Carmel, Character Matters, a Ghost House - Scout's Honor, highlights from our October Town Hall on Housing Legislation and our 2023 CRA Membership Survey, more insights from the 1920's Pine Cone Editorials, Welcome to two new CRA Board Members, Activities recent and coming up in our Village, two new CRA informational programs - save the dates, and Cheers & Chides to close out the year. 

News You Can Use - November

November 20th Issue HERE Articles include: Happy Thanksgiving, Last Call for Reservations for the CRA Gala on Saturday December 2nd, and highlights on last weeks FIVE Civic meeting blitz, a Community Created Tree Petition and reminder on the Friday December 1st City Holiday Celebration.
November 12th Issue HERE Articles include: CRA No-Host Tuesday at Flaherty's, FIVE important Civic Meetings* - 1 each day, and Saturday HomeCrafters, CRA Gala Reminder, plus looking back our Village Halloween Parade & City Council on Addresses.  * (Housing Element updates, Outdoor Wine Tasting in Private Space, ADU Ordinance Draft, Climate Committee and Design Traditions Steering Committee)

Thanks to the 132 CRA Members who provided your views on these Carmel hot topics making headlines and influencing the future character of this Village where we choose to live, play, or work and always enjoy. The full report, background and coverage on this Survey can be found HERE. 

And check out our Updated "Carmel Eats & Drinks" Listing HERE. ...as of 10/13/2023
Updated October 2023 Members Village Incentive Program (VIP) Offers & Listing HERE

Archives of these email and printed publications can be found HERE.   
Plus Our CRA Facebook page will also contain the most recent news, events, photos and open engagement with fellow locals - please join this page.

For Your Upcoming CRA Calendar:   

Wednesday February 21^st CRA will be hosting our “Carmel’s City Directors - On Point” – at the Carmel Woman’s Club, doors open at 6:30 PM.  Familiar staff names including Wright, Harary, Gullo, Tomasi, and Swanson will be sharing updates and insights on projects and what's next. Yes, and time for your questions too.  Open to the public.  Details can be found HERE.

 More CRA events and programs coming your way in 2024

CRA's & Carmel's Past Events

 

September 22nd  Carmel High Homecoming Parade - where CRA has sponsored the Class of 2027!  Join in the fun on Ocean Ave as everyone celebrates our next generation of Carmel-ites! 

September 9th our Feast in the Forest in Pebble Beach, this year with a Greek theme - OLA!  Enjoy the photo's and event details HERE

July 4th Celebration in Devendorf Park - Great music, munching and mingling.   Thanks to Monterey County Pops fitting holiday tunes and a barbershop performance by the Monterey Peninsula Cypressaires.  Plus thanks to City Staff and Volunteers who produced this event for our enjoyment.

June 11th CRA Members Only Beach Gathering. We met at the bottom of the 13th Avenue stairs in Cooke's Cove on Carmel City Beach for Wine or Beer on us.  More details and past year's picture's can be found here. Good times had by all...2 legged and 4 legged too!

May 18th was our CRA Members-Only Annual Meeting - where we held a Q&A Session with Chip & Dave (our Village Mayor Dave Potter and Administrator Chip Rerig). We also honored Café Carmel as our Carmel Business of the year and our Carmel Public Library with a Lifetime Achievement.  More details and past years programs can be found here. 

Apr 19 - Mock City Council Session. CRA Board Members Ken White & Graeme Robertson supported the City Council, City Staff and Carmel High School (CHS) Leadership to create this Student Government Day. 12 CHS Students engaged in a serious relevant (and definitely humorous) meeting for our annual budget approval. HERE.   Here is the YouTube Video from this year!

TWO Fun in Devendorf   (yes, pun intended)

Apr 20 - "Third Thursday" in Devendorf Park - City Activities & Farmers Market teams host this every third Thursday April through October, with Fun, Food, Music and Activities for all.  Your CRA Board Members hosted the adult beverages section this month.  Good times had by all.   

Plus April 22nd was was Carmel's Annual Earth Day Celebration, tree planting, activities and more, also in Devendorf Park.   

Apr 5th - CRA's Members Only No-Host Gathering was held at La Balena. This and prior No-Host Gatherings pictures plus, can be found HERE.

Mar 26 - Citizen of the Year Celebration -  was our biannual award & recognition program celebration. For more information on our program this year and Donna Jett as well as the past 2021 year program, nomination process and prior honorees please visit this page HERE.

Fred Bologna, President of CRA says "Donna is an extraordinary example of a sustained committed volunteer for our Village. With over 25 years on nonprofit boards and event leadership, her contributions are almost too many to mention. ... We are pleased to add her to our honor role of Citizens of the Year."
(the first image below is a fast pace slide show,
click on the second image to view the video of this ceremony)

   

Feb 22 2023 - CRA Hosts, the coauthor of "Humbled, How Monterey Bay Escaped Industrial Ruin" with Katheryn McKenz  Program details are available HERE.  

Feb 2 2023 - CRA's No-Host Gathering at Seventh & Dolores. Once again a great gathering!  All of our recent No-Hosts & pictures are shown HERE.  

 Sadly, the CRA family extends our warmest thoughts to all of the Family and Friends of Skip Lloyd who passed in March of 2023.  Skip was a co-founder of Carmel Residents Association and its President in 1989. He was a Carmel and area Champion throughout his life and will be missed with lasting memories.  Learn more about Skip HERE. 

Jan 26 2023 - CRA proudly Hosted "Experience the Monterey Bay as Seen by early California Artists" at the Carmel Woman's Club.  Full details are available HERE.

Dec 9 2022 - We help our Annual CRA Members Holiday Gala & Dinner at La Playa - Details are available HERE.   

Nov 3rd 2022 - CRA's No Host Gathering was held at Edwin's - Details are available HERE.

CRA Beach Clean Up Season - every 3rd Saturday at 9:30AM - See You in October

This year marks our 30th Anniversary of this great community volunteer event.  We are starting a month early this year, beginning in March through October. 
Join us from 9 AM to Noon, every 3rd Saturday, at the bottom of Ocean Avenue.  We'll provide the buckets and scoopers; you bring your gloves and sunscreen.  Visit this page for more information

Farmers Market Serving Carmel Area - Weekly

Thursdays - from 10 AM to 2 PM  In Carmel by the Sea - just behind Devendorf Park on Sixth Avenue between Junipero and Mission Streets on 6th.

PLUS - CRA leadership hosts the Community Table there at the corner of 6th and Junipero - EVERY LAST THURSDAY of EACH MONTH!  (taking off Nov & Dec) Please stop by to pick up your reusable, free "Loving Carmel-by-the-Sea" shopping bag. 

Enjoy local certified organic fresh farm produce, plants, fresh cut flowers, baked good and various specialty items...and some entertainment too.

Please Support our VIP Business Members

Take a look at the list of the local businesses with offers for our membership that are participating in the CRA's Village Incentive Program here.  All current CRA members receive a yearly new VIP card with their renewal or when they join. For more information on this program and membership benefit visit this page.

Carmel Chamber of Commerce Catalyst Newsletter 

Sign Up for the Chamber's Catalyst online newsletters here.  It provides great information on and to our valued local Businesses.

Sign up for the Weekly Carmel Friday Letter

Our Village City Administrator and Staff produce a weekly update with a highlight video and other key info on the current week and week to come.  Be sure to signup for this important information here and check out past issues there too.