At it Again… Just two weeks after the Salinas City Council threw out a broken development marriage between Carmel’s Robert Leidig and Widewaters Group, Leidig made his solo pitch to redevelop downtown Salinas on Dec. 2. While the council responded warmly to Leidig’s team, dubbed Salinas Renaissance Partners, LLC, Widewaters still wants a piece of Oldtown action. The council decided to go with Leidig. [ZS]

Town and County… After nearly nine years of legal and political wrangling, Carmel Valley residents will get to vote on whether they want to form their own town. At its Dec. 1 meeting, the Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County voted 6-1 to approve the incorporation proposal and ask the Board of Supervisors to set an election in 2009 to allow C.V. residents to decide if they want to incorporate. LAFCO Commissioner and Seaside Mayor Ralph Rubio, who has long been critical of the fiscal analysis showing that C.V. would be financially feasible should it separate from the county’s jurisdiction, cast the lone no vote. The commission also voted to exclude Clint Eastwood’s Tehama subdivision from the proposed town limits and sphere of influence. Look for further political (and possibly legal) wrangling as incorporations supporters and opponents gear up for an election. To view the incorporation proposal (and several other reports including the fiscal analysis, public comments and legal settlement), visit http://000sweb.co.monterey.ca.us/lafco/ [JL]

Doubling Up… Wal-Mart recently bought the former Home Depot building in Salinas for $8 million, positioning the retail giant to add another store in the city or abandon their Westridge store in favor of the Harden Ranch location. Wal-Mart officials are remaining mum on their plans until next year. A supercenter slated for Soledad is also inching ahead. Creekbridge expects public hearings to begin in late January or February for the Soledad Plaza Shopping Center [ZS].