Wednesday, 12 September 2007 02:05

One More Step Forward for Jackson Hills Project

slide4The Jackson City Council met Monday night in front of a large audience, many of whom came for the first discussion item on the agenda, the approval of documents for Jackson Hills Golf Course and Residential Community.

The Five Documents included: a resolution to Certify the Final Environmental Impact report and adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, a resolution to adopt a General Plan Amendment for the first phase of the Jackson Hills project amending land use designation from Residential Agriculture to Residential Low Density and Recreation Designations with a Planned Development Overlay for the entire site, a separate resolution exempting 68 units of the first phase of the Jackson Hills project from the Housing Equivalent Unit allocation process as required by the Resource Constraints and Priority Allocation Ordinance, and finally a resolution of approval for a Tentative Subdivision Map which subdivides the two existing lots of approximately 285 acres within the City of Jackson limits into 150 residential lots. The remainder lots to be developed for the subdivision include a portion of the golf course, clubhouse, and related amenities are outside the current city limits, in the county’s jurisdictional area. For this reason the resolution included that the final subdivision map be conditioned on annexation of 140 acres of land from the county to the city.

It was suggested by Planning Commissioner Dave Butow that joint meetings or workshops between the Jackson Planning Commission and City Council be held to alleviate some of the issues current residents are struggling with. The adoption of these Resolutions and the Ordinance does not solidify an approval of the Jackson Hills project, however it does allow the council to move forward in generating a development agreement. This agreement will set the stage for negotiations between the City Council and New Faze Development. Vice Mayor Andy Rodriguez, was not satisfied with the discussion, or lack thereof, regarding the Resource Allocation Program, or HEU distribution program, and stated so at the meeting. This, he said, would hinder him from voting to approve at least one of the Resolutions. All five documents were approved 4-1 with Mayor Drew Stidger, both Councilwomen Pryor-Escamilla and Gonsalvez and Councilmember Nunes approving and Vice Mayor Rodriguez opposing. A committee was formed Monday night in regards to the Development Agreement for the Jackson Hills project with Councilmember’s Nunes and Gonzalves appointed by Jackson City Council. This committee also includes the City Attorney, City Manager Mike Daly, and City Planner Susan Peters.