Tuesday evening, the Amador County Planning Commission held a meeting in which county agencies and the public were given the opportunity to comment on the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Wicklow Way Subdivision. In general, there seemed to be consensus amongst the representatives of local agencies and councils who spoke regarding the project’s environmental analysis process; the Wicklow Way developer, Lemke Development, was said to be a pleasure to work with, demonstrating flexibility and diligence when drafting a thorough EIR. Members of the public, however, sang a different tune. Gene Mancebo, head of engineering and planning for the Amador Water Agency, was the first to comment after a short introduction from the developer’s spokesperson. He talked briefly, stating that that the AWA’s board of directors approved a water supply supplement analysis for the Wicklow development, and that he felt that the project’s EIR correctly summarizes the AWA’s water service capabilities. Charles Field, Executive Director of the Amador County Transportation Commission, also gave a synopsis of the EIR’s proposed traffic mitigation. He noted that the Wicklow Way development is consistent with the county’s general plan, and then discussed the direct traffic mitigations put forth in the EIR, as well as an agreement with Lemke to pay their fair share of other road improvements, such as the Sutter Street extension in Jackson. Fields also stated that the development qualifies for “statements of overriding consideration,” which serve to simplify the EIR process, as the development meets 5 of 9 criteria ranging from provisions for alternative transportation to different housing types. Contrastingly, when it was the public’s turn to speak, there wasn’t much said in favor of the EIR.
Kathy Allen, spokesperson for local group Amador Citizens for Smart Growth, summarized a 70+ page document submitted by the group asserting perceived problems with the EIR‘s proposed mitigation. Most notable of speakers was Jackson resident Jill North, who stated that of the 8,578 oak trees on the property, 7,321, or 80%, will be removed for the development. North also said that the subdivision will gravely impact mammal and bird species native to the land. The Amador Planning Commission will hold another public hearing to discuss the merits of the project at a future date.
Tuesday evening, the Amador County Planning Commission held a meeting in which county agencies and the public were given the opportunity to comment on the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Wicklow Way Subdivision. In general, there seemed to be consensus amongst the representatives of local agencies and councils who spoke regarding the project’s environmental analysis process; the Wicklow Way developer, Lemke Development, was said to be a pleasure to work with, demonstrating flexibility and diligence when drafting a thorough EIR. Members of the public, however, sang a different tune. Gene Mancebo, head of engineering and planning for the Amador Water Agency, was the first to comment after a short introduction from the developer’s spokesperson. He talked briefly, stating that that the AWA’s board of directors approved a water supply supplement analysis for the Wicklow development, and that he felt that the project’s EIR correctly summarizes the AWA’s water service capabilities. Charles Field, Executive Director of the Amador County Transportation Commission, also gave a synopsis of the EIR’s proposed traffic mitigation. He noted that the Wicklow Way development is consistent with the county’s general plan, and then discussed the direct traffic mitigations put forth in the EIR, as well as an agreement with Lemke to pay their fair share of other road improvements, such as the Sutter Street extension in Jackson. Fields also stated that the development qualifies for “statements of overriding consideration,” which serve to simplify the EIR process, as the development meets 5 of 9 criteria ranging from provisions for alternative transportation to different housing types. Contrastingly, when it was the public’s turn to speak, there wasn’t much said in favor of the EIR. 
Kathy Allen, spokesperson for local group Amador Citizens for Smart Growth, summarized a 70+ page document submitted by the group asserting perceived problems with the EIR‘s proposed mitigation. Most notable of speakers was Jackson resident Jill North, who stated that of the 8,578 oak trees on the property, 7,321, or 80%, will be removed for the development. North also said that the subdivision will gravely impact mammal and bird species native to the land. The Amador Planning Commission will hold another public hearing to discuss the merits of the project at a future date.
