Sutter Creek – Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort partner Bill Bunce on Monday asked that his project’s planned park space get credits toward recreation impact fees. Bunce told the Sutter Creek City Council that he and his partner, John Telischak “agree to give 15 acres of park land and will construct the park,” using Amador County Recreation Agency’s specifications, as included in its Recreation Master Plan. They request that those parks earn credit for the developer toward recreation impact fees of $8,600 per dwelling unit. Bunce said they “seek fee credit for land acquisition, as well as for other recreation amenities on the site.” He said they wanted credit toward all ACRA fees because the park will fit the master plan. Bunce said the fees would pay for acquisition and park construction, and they agree to acquire the land and build the 15-acre park, before issuance of the 300th housing unit’s building permit. Councilwoman Sandy Anderson said the developer wanted to avoid paying recreation impact fees on the 1,334 units, which would amount to $11.5 million. Bunce said acquisition is about $250,000 an acre, plus the cost of constructing the park would be several million dollars more. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Murphy said he is “not impressed with the amenities, other than the community park and the trails,” and if they wait for the 300th building permit, “it may be 15 or 20 years from now” before the park is built. Councilwoman Linda Rianda agreed, saying they “could be waiting forever.” Murphy suggested placing a time limit on the park being built, similar to the 36-month limit recommended by the traffic impact committee. Murphy said he thought “the open space is inappropriate for credit.” ACRA Executive Director Tracy Towner-Yep said it was hard to give “credit for something you have never seen,” and she was “hesitant to give credit for parks we did not ask for.” Rianda asked how ACRA would pay maintenance costs for the parks, and Towner-Yep said it would be paid by putting in place a Community Facilities District. Mayor Gary Wooten said he supported Gold Rush supplying the park and building soccer and ball fields on it, instead of collecting the fees and having the city pay for it. He said the city’s recreation fees would stay in the city. Bunce said parkland in the Gold Rush specific plan included the 15-acre park, and 4-and-a-half acres of “passive parks and pocket parks,” each about ½ acre in size. Bunce said the smaller parks are not envisioned to have trees removed and they may have park benches or recreation equipment. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.