Sutter Creek – The public hearing last week showed some of the numbers behind the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort. Chris Austin, analyst for the project told the Sutter Creek City Council and scores in attendance that home prices are down 50 percent in California. But he said there will be “$1.3 billion in economic activity created by this project.” It would bring 10,700 jobs, including “228 on-site jobs.” Austin said “$450 million in worker salary will be created by this project,” with “$22.5 million in property taxes,” “$39.5 million in school district revenue,” and “$475 million in taxable sales.” Austin said: “There’s a lot of dollars being generated by the project.” Project Principal Bill Bunce said “it was always imagined that there would be golf, time shares and homes.” He said partner, Troy Claveran agreed that “piecemeal” was not the way to go, but rather for all parts of the plan. They “invested millions of dollars over many years,” and they could not do the project just for wastewater solutions. Bunce said: “I’ve always believed this will be a quality project to help Sutter Creek.” An attorney for Gold Rush said the developer will pay a $1 million fee for open space, but wants to pay on a “program basis.” He said Sutter Creek attorney Dennis Crabb’s conditions of approval “remedy sections are highly disproportionate.” The Gold Rush attorney said developers want a condition that if the City Council breeches the contract or “causes it to happen that Gold Rush cannot carry on,” Gold Rush would be awarded attorney fees, and would be “compensated for non-nexus benefits that Gold Rush gave to the city.” Gold Rush benefits to Sutter Creek include a plan to take over operation of the wastewater plant, and expansion of it to a higher level of treatment. They also plan to dedicate 17 acres of land to the Amador County Unified School District, for a school and park adjacent to the project. Superintendent of School Dick Glock said the project likely would add 420 students over a 10- to 20-year period. He said the schools could handle that, and if the district cannot take the 17 acres, the developers will give schools $2 million. Bunce said: “We believe Gold Rush can make better schools, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t already great.” Bunce said he knew the importance of preserving schools. His wife has been a school teacher for 17 years, and they have children in 1st, 5th, and 8th grades. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.