Monday, 19 December 2011 05:49

LAFCO ameds Plymouth Sphere of Influence to include Bob Reeder's projects

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slide2-lafco_ameds_plymouth_sphere_of_influence_to_include_bob_reeders_projects.pngAmador County – The Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission amended the city of Plymouth’s “Sphere of Influence” last week to include Reeder Sutherland’s two residential development project, and in January will continue the public hearing, to consider annexation requests for the two properties.

About 30 people attended LAFCO‘s Thursday, Dec. 15 board meeting with area business groups and officials speaking in support. Some property owners near the Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge developments discussed unsigned agricultural buffer agreements. LAFCO asked the developer to have signed buffer impact mitigation agreements with all neighboring properties that have agriculture zoning, and developer Bob Reeder said three of the agreements were not signed. One of those is JTS Properties, which owns 1,109 acres north of the one of developments.

Bill Greer, representing JTS, said: “We’re not opposed to the projects.” He said they are concerned about residents throwing harmful vegetation over the fence, into a 50-foot wide buffer zone, the default buffer built by Reeder into the project. Greer also worried about dogs chasing livestock, or kids shooting them with BB guns. He also worried about how the buffer zone would be cared for, and whose trash would be on it. He said he’s dealt with Home Owners Associations, and they are a difficult “animal.” He also wondered how long it will take a complaint to get attention.

Greer said “we’re not against the buffer,” but it has some engineering issues, and “we don’t want to manage it.”

Plymouth Mayor Greg Baldwin said “Plymouth fully endorses the projects,” and some of the issues have been discussed before in past public meetings. He noted that a JTS letter in which they differ on the buffer also “talks about working together to achieve excellence.”

Plymouth Vice Mayor Jon Colburn worried about placement of gates on the buffer fence, and access. Consultant Richard Prima said the city would keep the keys to locks on those gates, and clearing the buffer areas of weeds would likely be done by the city, either by hand or by weed whacker. LAFCO approved the Sphere of Influence amendment and left the agreements to cover the buffer to be decided during the annexation or “reorganization” of the city’s boundary lines.

Joseph Merten identified himself as an investor in the projects and said he has known Reeder for 40 years. He said “Bob Reeder got me involved in this several years ago.” Merten said in the agreements with adjacent landowners, the “assurances he’s given” are new and very good.

Merten said he invested in the project because it will benefit himself, Reeder, and the city. Creating houses creates taxable assets, he said, and it will have financial benefits for Plymouth.

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

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