The Seaside City Council is expected to close the books Thursday night on the controversial Monterey Downs Project, after the developers said they are pulling out of the deal. Seaside City Manager Craig Malin said the city was formally notified Wednesday that Monterey Downs LLC was terminating all negotiations and actions related to the project. Monterey Downs was renamed Monument Village, and consisted of a proposed housing development and horse park on the former Fort Ord. Developers were facing two lawsuits filed by environmental groups, LandWatch of Monterey County and Keep Fort Ord Wild. The termination ends the project, but not Monterey Downs LLC's responsibility to reimburse costs incurred by the city under an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement originally entered into in September 2010. City leaders had approved many components of the plan, but developers notified the city on November 22 that they decided not to execute an indemnification agreement, which was required as part of the approval resolutions for the deal. Malin said development on the former Fort Ord will continue, citing proposals under consideration for other parts of the former base. Seaside City Council meets Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Seaside City Council is expected to close the books Thursday night on the controversial Monterey Downs Project, after the developers said they are pulling out of the deal.

Seaside City Manager Craig Malin said the city was formally notified Wednesday that Monterey Downs LLC was terminating all negotiations and actions related to the project.


Monterey Downs was renamed Monument Village, and consisted of a proposed housing development and horse park on the former Fort Ord.



Developers were facing two lawsuits filed by environmental groups, LandWatch of Monterey County and Keep Fort Ord Wild.



The termination ends the project, but not Monterey Downs LLC's responsibility to reimburse costs incurred by the city under an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement originally entered into in September 2010.

City leaders had approved many components of the plan, but developers notified the city on November 22 that they decided not to execute an indemnification agreement, which was required as part of the approval resolutions for the deal.

Malin said development on the former Fort Ord will continue, citing proposals under consideration for other parts of the former base.



Seaside City Council meets Thursday at 7 p.m.