Frequently Asked Questions

  • The current list of board members is located here.

  • The CABS board nominating committee identifies and recruits individuals who have demonstrated engagement in the community, are excited to participate in one or more of our committees, have a skillset that is additive to the current board, and are geographically located to ensure CABS has broad representation from south, mid-valley and north Big Sur. If you would like to know more, please contact us at info@cabigsur.org

  • CABS supports the community of Big Sur (from Mal Paso Road to the San Luis Obispo county line), which includes property owners, residents (defined as renters, caretakers, employees, and employers) and/or parents whose children attend school within the Big Sur Planning Area. CABS also works with philanthropic and government partners in Monterey County and beyond.

  • Yes. These documents have overlapping purposes. The LUP addresses the built environment.  Page 9 of the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan Document notes “The following basic goal…defined by the Citizens Advisory Committee: “To preserve for posterity the incomparable beauty of the Big Sur country, its special cultural and natural resources, its landforms and seascapes and inspirational vistas. To this end, all development must harmonize with and be subordinate to the wild and natural character of the land.” 


    The DSP addresses the episodic impacts of vehicles and people on the health and safety of our community and its natural environment. Recommendations found in the DSP “strive to reach a balance between public access, environmental protection, successful business strategies and sustainable quality of life for the resident population” of Big Sur. To ensure that sufficient attention was paid to adherence to the LUP, Lee Otter (a strategic advisor for the LUP) served on the DSP steering committee. Learn more about the DSP here.

  • Neither overtourism nor mismanagement suffice to clarify Big Sur’s challenges. It’s most useful to use language that describes the episodic nature of the problems identified in lieu of the term overtourism. CABS continues to be focused on addressing visitor behavior through education (via initiatives like the Big Sur Pledge and the documentary “Land of Many Uses”) and documenting illegal activities by collecting data and using empirical evidence to arm agency and elected decision makers with data they need to bring more management to bear on these challenges.

  • Based on an evolution of activities aligned with our mission and the need to support the sustainability of the Big Sur community, the board decided that a name change would better reflect our breadth of the work. The “Community Association of Big Sur” name captures the inclusive, multifaceted work that CABS has been undertaking since 2008 when we received a $100k grant from The Big Sur Land Trust to provide assistance grants to folks from our community who were displaced during the Basin Complex Fire. The former name, Coast Property Owners Association, was often confused with a property ownership association and the acronym was identical to the California Police Officers Association, which led to confusion with funders and members.

  • Our mission is to protect and defend the rural and residential character, and to preserve the natural and aesthetic beauty of the Big Sur coast; to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the Big Sur Community as well as to encourage community service and otherwise act in the interests of the residents and property owners of Big Sur. We identify activities that our board can undertake to fulfill our mission such as delivering essential disaster relief, advocating for community housing,  assessing and addressing visitor impacts, and facilitating fire-resilient practices in our neighborhoods.

  • We engage with our community, the broader public, media, and other organizations through a number of ongoing initiatives, our email address, and social media. Community updates are sent through our newsletter, subscribe here. Our board of director meetings are open to the public as is customary for non-profit organizations. 

    CABS regularly convenes community-wide meetings to foster public engagement, support informed decision-making, and ensure local voices are represented in planning processes and policy development. Occasional community-wide meetings are held for feedback on newly proposed CABS initiatives, such as the Destination Stewardship Plan. When a local disaster or crisis hits, such as COVID, road closures, or wildfires, CABS works to financially support Big Sur employees and/or residents impacted to offset economic impacts.

  • CABS cultivates and actively pursues partnerships with the resident community, local businesses, and emergency first responders of Big Sur; visitors, outdoor enthusiasts, environmental nonprofits; and the county, state and federal jurisdictional stakeholders.


    CABS has shown the capacity to effectively work with other members of the Big Sur Multi-agency Advisory Council on a wide range of items affecting our community.


    In partnership with community volunteers and GIS technology*,CABS gathers data to inform stakeholders about visitation trends and challenges, which translate into long-term policy planning among multiple agencies and groups in Big Sur. This community-based data work translates into real-world impact. For example, CABS’s effort to document illegal roadside camping (and illegal campfires associated with them) led to a significant policy change - increasing the fine for illegal camping on Highway 1 to $1,000 per offense (original article here). On the South Coast, years of traffic counts and GIS mapping of illegal camping and campfires helped catalyze a formal Visitor Use Management Strategy. This strategy brought together federal land managers, partner organizations, and local residents to develop a more coordinated, long-term approach to addressing the impacts of recreation on public lands while protecting natural resources and community well-being.

    *GIS (Geographic Information System) technology is a computer-based tool that captures, analyzes, and displays location-based data, helping users visualize patterns and make informed decisions in areas such as urban planning, environmental management, and emergency response.

  • Funding for CABS comes from individuals, businesses, and foundations. CABS also participates, by invitation, in the annual Monterey County Gives! Campaign, a collaboration between the Monterey County Weekly and the Community Foundation for Monterey County. In addition, CABS is occasionally awarded “fee for service” contracts, such as the funding for the Destination Stewardship Plan provided by the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau. CABS also secures grant funding to support specific community programs, such as the Big Sur Chipping Program and others focused on public safety, stewardship, and environmental resilience.

    • Volunteer your skills: We're always happy to connect with folks who want to offer their time or professional expertise in areas like fundraising, grant writing, social media, or outreach.

    • Donate: Every contribution helps us keep doing the work we do.

    • Sign up for our newsletter: Stay in the loop on events, updates, and opportunities. Subscribe here.

    • Join a community meeting: Come meet your neighbors and be part of the conversation. Check our events calendar here.

  • We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out with questions, ideas, or just to say hello. Email us anytime at info@cabigsur.org.