I am a resident of Sutter Creek and have followed the public process for Gold Rush Ranch very closely. I read Ms. Knudson's guest commentary with interest (Dec. 26, "The seduction of Sutter Creek"). I am intrigued with the concept that allowing development is somehow perceived as selling out one's integrity. I am further perplexed at the perception that allowing the building of Gold Rush Ranch without any direct impact on any existing neighborhood in Sutter Creek is equated with the creation of bad sprawl. However, the most interesting issue is the question posed by Ms. Knudson: "Where would that (the development of Gold Rush Ranch) leave us, the citizens of Sutter Creek?"
It would leave us with funding for our sewer treatment plant. The plant is substandard and must be improved either with high new sewage fees on existing residents or lower resident fees with the addition of money from the Gold Rush project. (See the Dec. 26 response of City Manager Rob Duke, "Clearing up a comment"). It would leave us with funding of our city's fire services. At build-out, the fees applicable only to the Gold Rush residents would provide a minimum of $750,000 a year for fire services in all of Sutter Creek. It would provide us with walking and biking trails available for all Sutter Creek residents. A Ledger Dispatch article in October listed the nearest system of off-road bike trails as those at New Melones Lake. What a great benefit for Sutter Creek to have such trails in town! It would provide significant revitalization for the downtown business area, likely the reason for the overwhelming support (94 percent) that the Gold Rush Ranch project enjoys from the Sutter Creek Business and Professional Association. It would provide for an annual Gold Rush Ranch resident fee established to protect against any shortfall of funds for services. This is not speculation. Rather, it is the subject of the development agreement between the city and the developers.
Growth is inevitable and Sutter Creek residents deserve a project that minimizes the impacts on existing residents. We also want a project that pays its way and more. I believe Gold Rush does this, as reviewed above. There have been dozens of public hearings to ensure that careful attention to all the details have taken place. This public process gives all of us the confidence that the final project will be one in which we can all be proud.