Amador County – A Plymouth City Council workshop at 6:30 p.m. today will look at Reeder Sutherland Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge residential developments, which the Planning Commission recommended last week.

In public comment last week, Shenandoah Valley resident Jennifer Mason asked about her family’s ranching and farming future on property on both sides of Old Sacramento Road. She asked about traffic impacts and mitigation, when a Zinfandel street links to it for fire access.

Plymouth Development Coordinator Richard Prima said a traffic model showed minimal impact. The first three phases would exit on Highway 49. In Phase 4, the fire access-only road would be built, and it would become asphalt in phase 4 or 5. He said the intersection would not be open to traffic until the final phase is 45 percent mapped.

Commissioner Peter Taylor said it appeared that many more protected bird species were listed in the Environmental Impact Report than he saw in mitigation documents.

Bob Reeder, partner of Reeder Sutherland, said all of the birds are mentioned but “there’s no assumption that any of those birds are on the property.” A survey then is conducted of the land, and if birds are found, mitigation occurs. EIR consultant Edward Hemming said one mitigation measure covers a number of birds.

Commissioner Jason Ralphs asked about determining the developer’s “fair share contribution” of sewer costs.

Prima said the Conditions of Approval say a certain capacity is needed before the developer builds, and they must “pay to improve it.” He said because no other developers are there, they “may have a fair share that is 100 percent.” The fair share may be $100,000 but the developer might pay $200,000 to get the capacity. Then they get credits to be reimbursed when other developers come in and pay fees.

Commissioner Melvin Cossairt asked about parking, saying he thought four off-street “parking pockets” in the designs were not enough. He was concerned about 22-foot lanes because when someone throws a big New Year’s Eve party, people will “unofficially park on the side of the road” and “then you can’t get emergency vehicles out there.” He said it “eats at the back of my neck” to think about recommending this with access issues.

City Planner Jeff Beiswenger said the city General Plan is more supportive of a rural, small town atmosphere. Commissioner Sandy Fuller said the Commission toured Greenhorn Creek in Calaveras County, similar roads and they preferred parking pockets “versus having huge streets for occasional party parking.”

Prima said street parking was increased by 50 percent by the developer, but the idea was better to keep the small-town feel for the other 364 days of the year, when there is not a big party.

Reeder said he discussed parking with the Amador County Sheriff’s Department, which said it’s a simple matter to call and ask for no-parking law enforcement.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.