Wicklow Way is the road to a controversial subdivision project proposed for Martell.

Photo by: Jerry Budrick

"It'll be a cold day in hell when Caltrans approves a school on this property," predicted Dave Richards.

Richards is the former manager of the Amador County Airport and is a member of the Amador County Transportation Commission. The property to which Richards was referring is 8.5 acres of land within the Wicklow Way subdivision plan earmarked for as a school site.

The California Department of Education is required to provide the Caltrans Aeronautics Program with written notice when any proposed school site is located within 2 miles of any point on an airport runway or potential runway included in an airport master plan. State funds cannot be allocated unless the Caltrans Aeronautics Program finds the site acceptable. The Wicklow school site is less than two miles from the Amador County Airport in Martell.

The purpose of Tuesday night's Amador County Planning Commission public meeting on the Wicklow Way subdivision revised draft environmental impact report was to receive comments from local agencies and residents on the adequacy of the document.

Project applicant, Lemke Construction of Copperopolis in Calaveras County, was represented by Susan Larson, who spoke briefly. "I believe we've worked closely with environmental consultants," Larson said.

She was contradicted by numerous camps concerned about various aspects of the project, from traffic to public safety, wastewater and cattle. A number of major issues have been swirling around the proposed subdivision of 201 acres of land in Martell into separate parcels that will include more than 700 dwelling units, four commercial parcels, one 6.8-acre industrial parcel, an 8.5-acre school site and 29.8 acres of parks and pathways.

There is some history to this project, going all the way back to the 1970s. According to Larson's statement at a meeting last year, the parcel was approved as a hilltop estates/master plan as part of the county's general plan. She also said that the county was looking for a developer to complete a 200-acre plan.

That approval apparently still applies to this project, making it exempt from the county moratorium on zoning changes prior to completion of the general plan update.

Rancher and neighboring landowner John Kirkpatrick told the commission that he was in possession of an agreement, signed in 1929 by his grandfather, guaranteeing right of way to move cattle through the Wicklow Way property. "I have brought this up before and I have found no mention in the RDEIR addressing this," he said. Kirkpatrick also inquired about the plan for moving Rock Creek.

Jackson Planning Director Susan Peters said the project doesn't address population impacts to the city or its police department.

The RDEIR proposes mitigation that provides a new fire station and equipment. It does not include staffing the new station. Peters said the document should be amended to provide for two full-time paid firefighters.

According to the RDEIR, both water and wastewater service will be provided by the Amador Water Agency, but Peters noted the project lies in the Jackson water service area.

"Jackson differs with the water agency and the county on this," she said, adding that the Local Agency Formation Commission should weigh in. Peters also pointed out that the RDEIR still does not address the lack of affordable housing associated with the proposed project.

Amador County Transportation Commission Executive Director Charles Field credited the applicant's willingness to participate in regional traffic mitigation measures. His hope is to fund transportation projects sequentially, beginning with the Sutter Street extension at the upper end of the Wicklow subdivision and the four-way signaled intersection at Wicklow Way and Highway 88.

Amador Citizens for Smart Growth representative Kathy Allen submitted a 70-page document of concerns about the project. Page one opens with, "Overall, the RDEIR is inadequate."

Among the 178 comments contained in the document, excessive water demands, oak woodland concerns, incomplete wastewater plans, lack of housing for low or very low income residents, and school impacts are prominent.

County airport manager Dave Sheppard noted that Amador County has entered into agreements with the Federal Aviation Administration for funding to improve the airport. Under terms of these agreements, assurances have been made that the county will protect instrument and visual operations, as well as restrict nearby land uses to those compatible with normal airport operations.

Sheppard later spoke of the alarming number of small airport closures occurring around the country as a result of encroachment by development. He stressed the importance of an air navigation easement being attached to the title of all property within this project.

Other Amador residents also voiced concerns about oak trees and fire safety.