I was delighted to read in the draft environmental impact report that the Gold Rush Ranch and Golf Resort would add 3,181 additional people to the community by full build-out in 2019. The 120 some businesses in Sutter Creek could certainly benefit from this additional disposable income. An un-scientific poll would put Sutter Creek businesses down from 25 percent to over 130 percent in 2008. There may be the odd business that is down less than 25 percent, but the fact is that business is bad.
Planned growth is essential for the health of a community. No-growth is unacceptable - what happens to Sutter Creek home values if the downtown has many closed storefronts? A thriving downtown is essential to tourism, property values and a pleasant livelihood.
I fully expect that any developer must mitigate the impacts of their proposed development. However, once they have demonstrated a proven desire to do the right thing for the community, then the community should support their project. The time table for approving this particular project has now exceeded eight years. This almost seems impossible, as I witnessed the approval to build three nuclear generating stations in a little over five years. Maybe this process needs streamlining. You think?