The Planning commission held a public hearing, or a project determination, for the proposed Jackson Hills Subdivision located in South Jackson above Raley’s off French Bar Rd. The purpose of the determination hearing is to give recommendations to the City Council for a final decision on whether the city will allow the 540 home subdivision with a golf course and club house on approximately 500 acres. Concerns over the impacts of this subdivision have created discussion in the community and among governmental entities for quite sometime. Last year’s water crisis negotiations between the city and the Amador Water Agency over new water connection availability and the city’s stance on the transmission pipeline process caused the developers of Jackson Hills, New Faze Development, to hold back on the project while the water agency and the city worked out a deal for more water connections.

Jackson Hills also has the distinction of being the first subdivision that the Amador County Transportation Commission has recommended against. The ACTC’s recommendation was based on the failing grades of intersections leading to the subdivision, the estimated traffic impacts of the project, and the lack of current solutions, like a Hwy 88/49 bypass.

Planning Commissioners last night listened to presentations and public comment for over three and half hours last night before deciding that more time was warranted on this important decision and the public hearing was continued until Dec 18th. Planning Commissioners felt this would give them time to absorb what they heard last night, as well as, taking more comment from the public. Karly will bring you more comments from citizens and local groups at noon.