Ken White, Vice President of Carmel Outlands

Ken White compared the Flanders mansion project to the myth of Sisyphus, highlighting its long-standing and repetitive challenges. The mansion has been a problematic property for over 35 years, akin to the endless task of Sisyphus pushing a boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down. However, White drew parallels to a successful local project where the city government and citizens collaborated effectively, the restoration of the Sunset Center. He suggested a similar community-driven approach for the Flanders Mansion restoration, envisioning it as a space for small-scale activities like photography lessons, art classes, and book clubs. Recently, a committee of interested local citizens was formed, aiming to help the city address this long-standing issue, the Flanders Mansion Restoration Committee. White emphasized the need for the city’s cooperation and recognition of this citizen group, expressing hope that this partnership could finally resolve the Flanders Mansion’s challenges, symbolically keeping the boulder at the top of the hill.

Gerard Rose, Carmel Outlands Board President

Gerard Rose addressed the City Council, highlighting the underappreciated beauty of Mission Trails Park in Carmel by the Sea, which remains largely unknown to tourists despite being a significant asset in Monterey County. He recounted efforts during Mayor White’s tenure and his own 10-year council term to address the deteriorating conditions of Mission Trails Park and the Flanders Mansion. Rose outlined past proposals for the mansion, which included selling it, and converting it into a home for artists or public employees, but none of these were successful due to community opposition or other challenges.

Recently, a new plan has been developed, involving community engagement to find a viable solution for the Flanders Mansion and Mission Trails Park. Rose, along with Mayor White and other stakeholders, have consulted with local residents, especially those living near the mansion, to understand their desires and concerns. They have formulated a specific proposal, detailed in these green binders which will be presented by Mike Buffo, aimed at restoring the Flanders Mansion and making it a beneficial asset for both local residents and visitors. Rose urged the City Council to review this proposal and provide their input, emphasizing the council’s role as guardians of the city’s assets and their ability to transform the Flanders Mansion into a valuable community resource.

Mike Buffo, Author of the Carmel Outlands Master Plan

Mike Buffo began by expressing his excitement and the effort he has put into preparing for his presentation to the City Council. He mentioned video-recording these presentations for Carmel Outlands’ website and newsletter, the Outlands Journal. Buffo announced the formation of their nonprofit organization, the Carmel Outlands, which has been working on the restoration plan for the Flanders Mansion. This plan, developed through bi-weekly meetings at Ken White’s house, aims to balance the desires of residents, the public, and the city.

The plan is comprehensive yet adaptable, primarily envisioning the mansion as a family home but also accommodating public events through remote attendance technology. This approach would allow for a variety of small and city group events, as well as supporting various causes. Buffo emphasized the storytelling aspect of the project, seeing himself as a visual storyteller committed to sharing the story of the mansion and it’s role in the past, present, and future of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Buffo clarified that the project is about the community and the nonprofit organization, rather than just himself. He urged the City Council to show enthusiasm for the project, as this support is crucial for securing donor pledges. He proposed establishing a special purpose fund with the community foundation, requiring signatures from Mayor Potter and City Administrator Chip Rerig.

Buffo invited the council to work with the Flanders Ad Hoc Committee to review the plan, which he believes is comprehensive and ready for further workshopping. The plan consists of a 50-page master plan document, a design guide, forewords, appendices, and a two-page summary. He highlighted the incorporation of poetry inspired by Carmel-by-the-Sea’s romantic history which begins each chapter of the master plan, showing the love and effort put into the project. Buffo concluded by offering to distribute copies of the plan and expressed hope for a future meeting to discuss it further.

Greg D’Ambrosio, Friends of Mission Trail Nature Preserve Board Member

Greg Di’Ambrosio discussed a proposal for the restoration of a historic building, stressing its compatibility with existing parks and the importance of maintaining their current state, a concern significant to the Hatton neighbors. He emphasized the proposal’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the preserve without altering its landscape.

He raised concerns about changes in parking arrangements, which might necessitate creating new trails, potentially harming the preserve’s natural ecosystems. Di’Ambrosio also addressed the issue of fencing, noting that their proposal avoids implementing any fencing around Flanders. He contrasted this with other proposals that might involve selling Flanders, leading to fencing for privacy or security, which could disrupt access and parking for preserve visitors. He pointed out that such fencing would force visitors to park on Hatton Road and walk down non-existent trails to access the preserve. Additionally, a fence would sever the connection between the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden and the Mission Trail Nature Road.

Di’Ambrosio concluded by mentioning that his fellow board member, Laura Bowling, would speak about the Conservation Fellowship and Caretaking Program, a key component of their proposal. He expressed a desire to meet with each council member to further explain and discuss the details of their proposal, thanking them for their support.

Laura Bowling, Friends of Mission Trail Nature Preserve Board Member

Laura Bowling introduced herself as a board member of the Friends of Mission Trail Nature Reserve, sharing her background in environmental conservation and her commitment to the Carmel community. She discussed a proposal she submitted in 2018 called “Outlands for Carmel,” which focused on the land where the Flanders Mansion is located. Although her proposal initially ranked third, it opened opportunities for collaboration with local neighbors, including an esteemed lawyer and fourth-generation Carmelite, Skip Lloyd.

Bowling joined the Weedies Brigade, contributing significantly to environmental conservation efforts. Through this work, she realized the inextricable link between the Flanders Mansion and the Mission Trail Nature Reserve. She emphasized the importance of not creating an in-hold in a public park and advocated for a fresh proposal, drawing inspiration from practices seen in national parks across the country.

Friends of Mission Trail Nature Reserve, a well-established non-profit, has a track record of raising funds and contributing volunteer work to the Mission Trail. Bowling highlighted the organization’s successful conservation efforts, including a comprehensive biological research project that validated their work since 2016. She described how they transformed Mission Trails into a well-maintained and serene environment.

Under the new proposal, Friends would secure a long-term lease with the city and establish the Friends Conservation Caretaker Fellowship. This fellowship would have two phases: firstly, identifying an individual to lead the professional restoration of the Flanders Mansion, and secondly, establishing a process for selecting future caretakers who would live on the premises and contribute to wildlife conservation and climate ecology.

Bowling outlined multiple community benefits of this proposal: it would be a low-impact residence with no need for new fencing or parking changes, which is crucial for neighbors; it would involve the broader community in the care of the mansion through the fellowship program; it would restore a deteriorating city asset, creating a dedicated steward for the park; and it would relieve the city of the burden of managing and fundraising for these efforts. She concluded by expressing a desire to discuss the proposal in more detail with the city council.