Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors last week took much public input during a McDonald’s appeal then asked the appellants to discuss a compromise design with the corporation. McDonald’s agreed to adjourn the hearing until Jan. 10.

Supervisors supported protecting the Mother Lode look, which was discussed. Appellant Keith Sweet, vice mayor of Jackson, said “it’s like pornography. You know it when you see it.” Supervisor Vice Chair Louis Boitano said “you might want to say Italian design,” noting the 1860 Sorraco building was built from native stone after homeland architecture in Genoa, Italy.

Sweet said the McDonald’s “standard corporate design does not have to be accepted, and probably should not have even be offered as a choice.” Corporate construction manager Margaret Trujillo said the remodel intended to keep it under budget and make it fit surroundings. She asked for “the courtesy that other businesses across the street have had in the ability to do a remodel.” She said Sweet’s changes to the building structure are not in the budget, which was $580,000.

Louise Munn said Sutter Creek has had architecture review guidelines since the 1960s. She said when she opened her clothing shop, people said she wouldn’t be able to sell clothing. Now Sutter Creek downtown is loaded with clothiers. Munn said people from all over the world visit her Sutter Creek clothing shop, and she urged Supervisors to “preserve the looks of the old time town.”

Trujillo noted the corrugated metal roof of her compromised design. Mimi Arata said “Amador County corrugated steel is vertical, not horizontal.”

Sutter Creek Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha said the building has four sides, and “two are ugly and face main areas.” He said they need to address all four sides, because “we in Sutter Creek made that mistake.” Cunha said the decision impacts Sutter Creek, Amador City and Jackson downtowns.

Marilyn Nutter emphasized the importance of aesthetics, which was psychological and cultural. She compared Martell to Venice or Rome, and said “is the tension it creates in the surroundings valuable?”

Sutter Creek City Planner Bruce Baracco said the environmental “negative declaration” recommended by staff in a memo last Tuesday went against the “General Rule” of the California Environmental Quality Act. He said significant affects come from aesthetics and the impacts must be reviewed and mitigated. Baracco recommended the “board and staff work toward making complete findings.”

Sutter Creek Planning Commissioner Mike Kirkley said Supervisors “have to have the political will to get what you want.” Supervisor Ted Novelli said if they ask enough, they can get what they want.

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