As outlined in the History of Sand City the City phasing-out some of the initial heavy industrial uses for regional amenities such as shopping center limited coastal development was also an important component of becoming a more pedestrian and residentially-oriented community.

Limited coastal development has also been a long-standing goal of Sand City. To that end, 75 percent of Sand City’s coastline has been targeted for open space and habitat protection in conjunction with limited coastal development, due to a Memorandum of Understanding between Sand City, the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

The City’s Planning Department and Redevelopment Agency continue to work towards realizing a balance between reasonable development, compatible uses, economic stimulation, and environmental protection.