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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 09/23/2010 06:15 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 09/27/2010 11:09 AM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
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Town Hall Meeting with Russ Thomas Covers Community Plan and More ~ By, Charity Maness
Copperopolis, CA....Wednesday evening September 22, 2010, Russ Thomas held a community Town Hall meeting for residents of Copperopolis to answer questions and present information regarding the community plan, which covers approximately 3,500 acres known as the Copper Basin. Originally, the Community Plan Committee (CPC) was faced with the decision to base their plan on the coming ten to twenty years yet “realistically plan out 40 to 50 years (planning) including roads, sewer, electricity, … and all build out of the community.” Pointing out that in the Modesto area up to “300k people live in the same acreage…the CPC did not want that density.”....
Two land use designation maps were displayed, one representing the original plan draft submitted to the county, the other created by the county titled “GPU Land Use Verification Copperopolis Community Plan Preferred Alternative Update 1.” Dave Haley questioned why one section of the map had changed designation when the original plan draft was updated by the county. Russ concurred that the Update 1 map was “not shown properly.” Haley reiterated, “The land use designation does not match the intent…that the committee approved.” Greg Mayer also noted that the maps “should be exactly the same.”
Haley suggested that “committee meetings should be held in Copper, not in some back room.”
Another attendee suggested that “all committees come to the table, that the planning department come here so (there is ) no miscommunication. They (the planning department) should work with the committee.”
When asked where a citizen would go for a copy of the community plan draft Russ responded, “The County is reluctant or unwilling to put a copy of the draft on the website.” When asked if one could obtain a copy at the county offices, Russ responded, “The County would not comply with your wishes” and stated that the “1996 General Plan is the governing document in place.”
Billy Robertson of Lake Tulloch Alliance asked, “What is the time line for ratifying the new plan.” Supervisor Thomas’ response was, “Hopefully, midway 2011.
The next topic of discussion was a proposed four mile road from O’Byrnes Ferry Road to New Melones which would provide additional access to the reservoir as well as BLM lands. Access would be via an easement across privately owned acreage. It is proposed that the road development be paid for by a specific developer fee placed on all new construction. In addition, there would likely be a day use fee collected which would be used for road maintenance expenses.
Maggie Rollings asked whether there is potential for development along the proposed road. Russ stated that the prerequisites by the land owners for the easement donation be: to maintain their privacy and have no impact on their Ag operations. He stated there would be no development along the road easement, but yes, there is an opportunity for commercial development along O’Byrnes Ferry Road near the proposed New Melones access road.
When asked about the impact on emergency services, Russ said he was anticipating that “growth would be contributing to the budget of the (emergency) organizations.” And that impact on emergency services “was contemplated in the overall (community) plan.”
The meeting broke for a light meal followed with a presentation from Billy Robertson regarding Oakdale Water District draining massive amounts of water from New Melones and Lake Tulloch “not for growers or families” but to wash salt water from the Delta to save the salmon. “We are being sacrificed at the altar of the Delta for a change we cannot affect permanently.” Robertson stressed the need for the people of Copperopolis to “speak with one voice” regarding this issue.
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