By Jim Reece - Parks at Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort were batted around last week by the Sutter Creek Planning Commission. Anders Hauge, consultant for the City of Sutter Creek, said that Gold Rush set aside 4-and-a-half acres for parks, with 1/4-acre-sized lots for “passive,” “Neighborhood Parks.” The plan held 9 such parks. Hauge said one was “pretty steep” and “might be good for a hiking trail to go and look at a stream.” Commissioner Frank Cunha said they needed to define what kind of parks the city wanted. Cunha said the passive parks have no grasses because developers had taken away money for irrigation. Cunha said he thought the city was “sorely lacking” in “Organized Play” parks, with fields for outdoor sports. Hauge said the Gold Rush EIR only had “General Play” parks. Commission Chairman Robin Peters said the city has 1 “Community Park,” and a “Neighborhood Park,” for smaller kids, on Bryson Drive. Jim Harnish, representative for Gold Rush, said larger park land would have to be purchased and dedicated in the project. He noted that the smaller parks were meant for maintenance and conservation of open space and oak preservation.

Agency Executive Director Tracey Towner-Yep said the Amador County Unified School District charges non-school teams to use its facilities. She said that “to rely on the school district is actually compiling the problem even more.” Towner-Yep said a Community Park should be 10 to 13 acres in size, while a Regional Park should be 30 acres or more. She said regarding “neighborhood parks: “Where they are is important. What they are is very important.” Towner-Yep said that in the parks policy section, she agree that Sutter Creek should establish a park and recreation commission, so many voices can be heard, instead of one. Harnish said the “city hasn’t approved the project yet,” and there may be a better site preferred for a larger park. Cunha said there did not appear to be room for park and recreation in the fiscal analysis. Peters said “this one bothers me a lot,” adding that they “can’t brush aside recreation.” He said designating a site within the project for a Community Park seemed most logical. Cunha requested and Towner-Yep agreed to return to the Planning Commission with a cost estimate for a Community Park. The commission next meets on the Gold Rush EIR 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 14.