UPDATED: Coastal Commission to consider Pacific Grove’s Car Week event on a city golf course.

For years, Pacific Grove has flirted with potential economic benefits from Car Week. It’s hosted the crowd-favorite Little Car Show downtown and the Pacific Grove Concours Auto Rally that residents line up to watch. But the really big money events hosted by Pebble Beach and Carmel have eluded the little town.

Then last year, Indiana-based Worldwide Auctioneers approached P.G. officials about holding an auction of high-priced vintage cars on the 18th green of the Municipal Golf Course. The request came late, but officials hustled on approval. Last fall, company officials asked for a five-year contract starting with an event slated for Aug. 23 of this year.

The benefit of the auction is huge, according to P.G. Chamber of Commerce President Moe Ammar. The auction company recently booked an entire hotel in P.G. for next month’s Car Week, for $50,000. “It’s a minimum of a quarter-million dollars in direct revenue to hotels, catering companies, rental companies,” Ammar says.

But some residents have been telling city officials the revenue isn’t worth the noise and traffic and potential damage to the golf course, located across Ocean View Boulevard from the shore, and next to Crespi Pond, used by birds and other wildlife.

On July 12, residents are taking their complaints to the Coastal Commission when it meets in Scotts Valley. The city is asking for approval of $129,000 worth of upgrades to the golf course, $100,000 of which will be paid for by Worldwide Auctioneers. Commission staff are recommending approval, as long as P.G. follows a list of requirements for protecting the pond and wildlife.

UPDATE: Despite residents' requests for denying the permit, the Coastal Commission voted unanimously to support the permit. Commissioners said they were satisfied by assurances by City Manager Ben Harvey and others that the surrounding environment would be protected.

Editor's Note: This post was updated from the print version to reflect the vote by the Coastal Commission the afternoon of July 12.