Government Liaison Committee

Members on the Government Liaison Committee

DRAFT TEHAMA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN REPORT
by Paul Mitchell

The Tehama County General Plan is a plan for how our County should grow for the period 2008-2028.  The County's Advisory Committee, of which Norm Gruver was a member, met for over 5 years, sending their recommendations to the Planning Commission last year.  Our primary concern is the huge population growth proposed by the developers and supported by County staff.

If all the developmenty plans are approved it could result in 280,000 more people in the northern part of Tehama County.  Just the area from jellys Ferry Road and Hooker Creek Road going north to Cottonwood Creek is proposed to accommodate 160,000 more people.  These numbers will completely overwhelm our road system, even if improved, and I-5 will be stop and go, which is level F.  The County Chief Administrator, Bill Goodwin, has advised the Planning Commission these maximum numbers are necessary to pay for the infrastructure.  The Planning Department Director, George Robson, has worked closely with the developers and it appears they may get what they want.

The Advisory Committee, which met for 5 years, was alarmed by the large numbers planned and voted to greatly reduce this growth potential.  in Lake California we have 776 acres owned by Leviathan.  There are two parcels of about 250 acres each above Rio Alto Road.  One is above Indian Lake and the other is above the Equesterian Center.  If these 500 acres were to be developed as the current "suburban Residential" at 4 lots/acre, which would be 2,000 homes in that small area.   That would double our population.   The Advisory Committee unanimously recommended it be limited to 1,000 homes.  There is another 276 acres below Rio Alto, running to the river.  This is mostly floodplain and is less likely to be developed.  The Moore Ranch just south of us has made a deal with the Planning staff that they would build a road from Jellys Ferry Road to Lake California, for approval of their full plan.  Some of you will be pleased to have a second exit.  Be careful what you wish for.  The second exit would have to be manned and that would cost us all.

What our Board may want to consider is that any developer who wants to build inside our borders should first of all have their land annexed by the Lake California Property Owners Association.  Why is this important?   Because then we would be able to have our Architectural Standards met.  We would then grant them use of our roads and amenities, after they have paid a fee for joining our P.O.A.  Whithout this annexation we would be overrun by the new residents, who would not have to follow our rules and regulations and CC&R's.

An Environmental Impact Report will soon be completed for the Draft General plan that will require public input.   Following this, the EIR will be reviewed by the Planning Commission.  The Draft General Plan will go to the Board of Supervisors and more public comment will be accepted.  We expect this will go to a vote some time this summer or fall.  Our Government Liaison Committee will keep you informed and ask for your input at public hearings, with your Board's approval.

Government Liaison Report

By Paul Mitchell

October 3, 2008

The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the TC Draft Long Term Plan has been released and is being reviewed. The report is available on CD at the office.

We are preparing a letter to be submitted to the Planning Commission at their Oct. 16^th meeting. All written comments must be responded to. We hope to have a public meeting here before then.

If the Draft General Plan is adopted as written, it will result in a build out in Tehama County of 416,967 residents, with no limitation on growth. This would result in ‘significant and unavoidable impacts’. We feel this is excessive and the Advisory Committee, which met for over 5 years, had a majority vote to reduce that to 307,847. The Planning Dept. says that would not be sufficient growth to pay for roads and other infrastructure. One has to agree that State and Federal funding for rural roads has not been available.  You may also assume that if built as the Draft Plan has it, we will see I-5 shut down to Level F, which is stop and go traffic.

There are three alternatives to the Draft General Plan.

1. Update the General Plan approved in 1979, with updated housing element. Build out of about 243,743.
2. Option A Majority Opinion. Build out of about 307,847.
3. Develop Red Bluff and Corning to a combined population of 416,967.

In terms of impact on the environment, police and fire protection, bus services to reduce air pollution, providing water and sewerage service and preserving the rural quality of our North County, Option 3 would be the best choice. The developers, along with Planning, have basically written the Long Term Plan and they want to build along the I-5 corridor.

Following the Planning Commission, their recommendation for the General Plan and the EIR will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors. We plan to testify at one of their public meetings.