Amador County – Plymouth City Council last week approved a Development Agreement with Reeder Sutherland Incorporated for its two subdivisions which could bring 485 new single-family homes to Plymouth, after annexation of 412 acres of the two projects, over a 15-year estimate project life.

Shenandoah Ridge’s annexation would include approximate 147 acres, a residential neighborhood, a park, a natural trail network and large open spaces, and plans for 115 homes. The land is located immediately north of city limits, and west of Highway 49.

The Zinfandel site, 365 acres on the southwest border of Plymouth, includes 3.7 acres that are part of the neighboring Greilich parcel, and plans for 370 homes. Zinfandel consists of one residential neighborhood, passive and active parks, a natural trail network and large open spaces.

City Manager Jeff Gardner said the project was not seen by the school district as having an impact on the schools, because of the likely buyers of the higher-market priced homes planned there, expected to be retiree aged, with no children in schools. Members of Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission said the Development Agreement should seek a school site. Gardner said the School District, not the city, was the one who had the power to seek that.

Reeder Sutherland includes president Bob Reeder, executive vice president Stefan Horstschraer, and investor Joseph Mehrten of Calaveras County, who agreed to pay an advance water impact fees of $412,000 to the city over five years, which will go toward the city water fund debt service payments of the new water pipeline.

City Consultant Richard Prima said the city has 45 lots of capacity in the water system, thanks to improvements, and the Development Agreement will build in an “additional buffer” in which “the developer needs to add capacity before we run out,” which “adds to the strength of the agreement for the protection of the city.”

Councilwoman Pat Shackleton near the end of last week’s hearing on the Development Agreement, said: “I would like to make the motion.” She said: “I’ve lived here longer than anyone and I was born here.” Councilman Jon Colburn said: “You have three years on me.”

Shackleton said the council likely “split hairs” on the great detail of the related agreements, including Conditions of Approval, because of all the past decisions where they thought they made mistakes.

New Mayor Sandy Kyles, who was a Planning Commissioner during the projects’ planning stages, said in 23 years in planning, it’s the most detailed work she has seen a City Council do on those documents.

The approval finalized the return of the city from a cease and desist order on new water hookups for even one single family home, and a four-decade building ban, to having a water supply financed by a $5 million USDA grant, and a newly upgraded sewer system.

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