In some respects, the Gold Rush Ranch and Golf Resort project is exactly what it purports to be - an upscale residential golf community. In that regard, Gold Rush represents itself honestly, but it is a shame that Gold Rush continues to represent a conventional rather than inspired approach to development.

Gold Rush Ranch is neither environmentally innovative nor environmentally progressive. It sets worthy architectural design standards for appearance and sets aside open space, but does not require that the 900-plus homes limit their impact on the earth. Gold Rush Ranch should but does not appear to require solar systems for power generation and solar hot water heating on all of the proposed homes. Even passive solar design criteria is not included nor required in the architectural guidelines available on their Web site.

It appears as though the closest thing to efficient home design and size will exist only in the very limited attached-residential neighborhoods. These and other homes will be as efficient as any other home built with modern building materials, but no more so. Outside of the attached-residential neighborhoods, home size (and impact) will be limited only by housing market conditions and the desires and capabilities of the new residents.

Gold Rush Ranch encourages drought-resistant plants and the use of energy-efficient appliances in homes, but this is not exactly "out of the box" thinking. These are conservation efforts that most of us have been making for years. Will the eventual Gold Rush Ranch homeowners' association commit to bylaws that allow the use of outdoor clotheslines? Will a resident be able to plant a garden in their front yard if the soil and sun conditions deem that location as the most opportune?

It is clear that Gold Rush Ranch does not offer a compelling promise of support for a sustainable future. The current project perpetuates a conventionally wasteful manner of development and living - clearing and grading many acres of natural land for the construction of a huge number of large, energy-intensive single-family homes designed around worthy aesthetic guidelines, but lacking cutting-edge energy performance mandates.

Amador County and Sutter Creek have the opportunity to craft a project that sets new standards for sustainable development and to end up with a project that could be the envy of other communities. Currently, Gold Rush Ranch is just another upscale residential golf community that promises to "encourage" and "recommend" some very basic conservation efforts, but requires nothing of the homebuilders or residents. Gold Rush Ranch, by means of these omissions, becomes an average development characterized by unsustainable energy consumption and sprawl.

The other promises made by Gold Rush Ranch? I appreciate the enticement of a school site, but I don't believe Gold Rush Ranch has committed to the construction of a school building (the expensive part). The preserved open space is nice, but I prefer looking at the open space that exists now. Nature trails, walking trails and bike trails are always a priority for me, but isn't it tragic that over 10,000 trees must die to provide these features?

Let's not be average. Sutter Creek, Amador County and the environment deserve better. Let's move beyond the conventional and demand environmentally inspired communities as Amador County grows.