Red Barn expansion talks delayed as Monterey County Planning Commission hopes to hear from more neighbors

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Talks of a Red Barn expansion are put on hold for another month after the Monterey County Planning Commission briefly discussed the item on Wednesday morning.

The owner of the flea market is not only looking to expand the flea market event, but also create a spot for more events like weddings, quinceaneras and even a paintball club. An idea he has had since he purchased the red barn in 2020.

"My vision is to try to have a community venue out there. I believe North County is in need of that. And what I mean by that is a community event center out there where we could have food festivals, car shows, community gatherings and corporate events. I think it's underutilized," said Sal Jimenez, owner of the Red Barn.

He says the expansion would also allow for more vendors and parking spaces. In total, there would be 758 public parking spaces and 95 vendor spots. An additional 86 vendors would be added, bringing the total to 319.

Something Julian Cuz, who is a vendor at the flea market, says is needed.

People living around the Red Barn aren't too happy about the proposed changes. Many point to more noise and traffic, saying that on Sunday, people go as far as to park on a private road.

"I don't disagree with what he's trying to do. I just want different standards of the way it's done and at least get some kind of traffic control it," said Omar Moreno, who lives behind Red Barn.

Even vendors outside of the Red Barn have set up on the side of the road, causing more traffic, according to the neighbor.

People who own animals on their property are worried about the noise that the paintball club may cause.

"It'll scare horses, but that's another concern: Paintball balls going into my yard," said Moreno.
Jimenez says nothing is set and stone just yet.

"We're going to work with the neighborhood there and the north county, listen to what their concerns are, and make adjustments to work together," said Jimenez.

Another concern neighbors have is the amount of trash that is left behind every week.
Discussions for the Red Barn project is scheduled for August 28th.

Before then, Sal Jimenez says they hope to make adjustments to the project to aid with the concerns that neighbors have.

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