Amador County – The Ione City Council received a report on the Howard Business Park project this week, which had a planning stoppage last month pending discussion with the city. City Planner Christopher Jordan said a staff “scope of work and cost estimate” of $440,000 was not received well by Howard Properties resource manager Tim Smith. The work included Environmental Impact Reports and “estimated reimbursable costs for public notices.” Jordan said the project’s plan to remove nearly 1,500 trees would require “analysis of the potential environmental impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act.” He said tree removal likely would qualify for a Mitigated Negative Declaration. CEQA documentation estimated at $84,000. On March 16th, Smith sent the city “comments and questions about the scope of work and budget for processing.” Smith’s engineer, Jesse Shaw said that the need for a “Specific Plan” was not as important as the need to verify that Caltrans would grant the project roadway access along Highway 124. He said the Ione Bypass likely would not be built “in our lifetime,” and pursuing any planning in depth would be futile without assurance of Highway 124 access. Jordan’s report included comments from several agencies on the project’s Tentative Subdivision Map, many saying it lacks the detail for them to give a full impact analysis, and list mitigations. Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey said it lacked building descriptions, on which the department could eventually base a need to request upgrades to its ladder truck. Smith in a letter April 15th told of stoppage on project planning, pending discussion with the city. He said city staff cost estimates were “roughly 500% of the not-to-exceed costs to do the actual studies and data collection and negotiations for the project,” as estimated by his consultants. Jordan said: “this would mean that the Howard’s consultant costs are approximately $100,000.” Jordan said in “staff’s experience, $100,000 would cover the required traffic study and maybe the drawing of the tentative map.” He said it wouldn’t cover a water study (required by the Amador Water Agency); a sewer study or planning; biological studies for CEQA and tree permitting; or development of the Specific Plan. Jordan said Ione could take the lead in the project, but it could cost up to $1.2 million. He said staff is looking at Proposition 84 “State Strategic Growth Council” grants, which could net a $1 million grant, but the city would face significant competition, including 2 or 3 applications within Amador County. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -
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Amador County – The Ione City Council received a report on the Howard Business Park project this week, which had a planning stoppage last month pending discussion with the city. City Planner Christopher Jordan said a staff “scope of work and cost estimate” of $440,000 was not received well by Howard Properties resource manager Tim Smith. The work included Environmental Impact Reports and “estimated reimbursable costs for public notices.” Jordan said the project’s plan to remove nearly 1,500 trees would require “analysis of the potential environmental impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act.” He said tree removal likely would qualify for a Mitigated Negative Declaration. CEQA documentation estimated at $84,000. On March 16th, Smith sent the city “comments and questions about the scope of work and budget for processing.” Smith’s engineer, Jesse Shaw said that the need for a “Specific Plan” was not as important as the need to verify that Caltrans would grant the project roadway access along Highway 124. He said the Ione Bypass likely would not be built “in our lifetime,” and pursuing any planning in depth would be futile without assurance of Highway 124 access. Jordan’s report included comments from several agencies on the project’s Tentative Subdivision Map, many saying it lacks the detail for them to give a full impact analysis, and list mitigations. Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey said it lacked building descriptions, on which the department could eventually base a need to request upgrades to its ladder truck. Smith in a letter April 15th told of stoppage on project planning, pending discussion with the city. He said city staff cost estimates were “roughly 500% of the not-to-exceed costs to do the actual studies and data collection and negotiations for the project,” as estimated by his consultants. Jordan said: “this would mean that the Howard’s consultant costs are approximately $100,000.” Jordan said in “staff’s experience, $100,000 would cover the required traffic study and maybe the drawing of the tentative map.” He said it wouldn’t cover a water study (required by the Amador Water Agency); a sewer study or planning; biological studies for CEQA and tree permitting; or development of the Specific Plan. Jordan said Ione could take the lead in the project, but it could cost up to $1.2 million. He said staff is looking at Proposition 84 “State Strategic Growth Council” grants, which could net a $1 million grant, but the city would face significant competition, including 2 or 3 applications within Amador County. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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