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Sutter Creek And Gold Rush Ranch |
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Wednesday, 24 June 2009 |
 Amador County – If you build it, they will come. But when? That was the question in Sutter Creek Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha’s mind Monday night when he asked for a timeline from developers of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort. If commissioners approve it, when will they start to see tangible results? Cunha asked what he tells people who confront him in their shops and tell him he is holding up the process, and that if they approve Gold Rush, will it have people golfing in Sutter Creek, shopping in Main Street stores within a year. He asked about a stipulation that would give Gold Rush a 5-year extension on permits in certain instances. Gold Rush principle Bill Bunce said conditions of approval require Gold Rush to have a new wastewater treatment plant operational and serving the city before the project can get building permits. Bunce said design and construction of the wastewater plant would take 18 months, but grading can begin before that time. He said: “In a best-case scenario, it will take a year to a year-and-a-half to get earth moved, after city approval.” If they cannot get earth moved in a year-and-a-half, they would seek the extension. Weather is a seasonal variable of the timeline too. He said having the wastewater plant in place – to give the city its 480,000 to 600,000 gallons a day treatment capacity – is a provision “typical in light of the current economy.” He told the commission: “I can’t tell you if the economy is getting better or worse.” But the project’s phasing is documented in the conditions of approval. Bunce said: “We take our hat off to the care and consideration of the city … but we also look forward to the wrapping up of the approval process.” City Manager Rob Duke said a deal that would give the city wastewater plant to Gold Rush developers was the best value for the city, because developers in turn would give a boost in the level of treatment, expand the daily treatment capacity and also expand the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority’s storage capacity at Henderson Reservoir, and piping. “From our standpoint, this is a great deal,” Duke told commissioners. He said the ARSA and plant improvements funded by Gold Rush could equal $30 million dollars in value to Sutter Creek over the next 30 to 40 years. The commission revisits the Gold Rush specific plan in July and August. Story by Jim Reece
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