Dec
3
Barbara’s Lowes Update:
Although various reports have been made through the news media, the CFRG Appeal remains open on the Sonora Planning Commission’s approval of the Site Plan and design for the Old Wards Ferry Road Realignment and the Lowe’s project. During the negotiations, the CFRG Board (6), met regularly to discuss input, develop proposals and approve the various steps of negotiation.
Meetings with the City of Sonora and California Gold Dev. Co. were positive; productive, and a formal agreement was finalized between all parties, to amend and augment design elements of the open space on OWF, and the landscaping plan for the Lowe’s project site. The Appeal will not be withdrawn until completion of an amendment to the Sonora General Plan and final design approval with input on building design from CFRG. The next step would be to release the City and Lowes to return to the Court of Appeals for a final OK on the final EIR and satisfaction of the Court’s Mandate to demonstrate both projects as one.
The Court’s approval will allow the project to move forward to apply for permits from the Public Utilities Commission for railroad crossing and also to the Federal agency ruling water ways, due to a drainage system and wetlands area to be impacted by the realignment project. These approvals could take many months to secure.
The Appeal:
The Agreement does not address two important items of the Appeal. The first of which is the reimbursement plan or agreement made by the City and Lowes to reimburse Lowes after completion of the Realignment Project with the City’s current and future traffic mitigation funds. (WalMart Expansion, Law and Justice Center, McDonalds on the Loop) This drain on mitigation funds will negate improvements to be made as mitigation for the increased traffic from these businesses in already impacted sections of the City, (Mono Way widening?). The second item of concern is the impact on current businesses and jobs lost, due to the downturn in sales resulting from the Lowes Project. New jobs will only take the place of jobs lost and sales tax revenues will also reflect this impact with diminished sales at current, local businesses. The claims of significant sales leakage to other counties for home improvement and building materials, was never validated in the EIR and the studies and charts showed this item to be third in line to clothing and other items for dollars spent outside the county. Our local businesses do a wonderful job of meeting our needs for building and home improvement supplies. Do shop at home.
The TCCFRG Board of Directors has discussed a calendar for 2010, and welcomes input from supporters. Our goal is to provide seminars and speakers several times throughout the year. We are also seeking additional Board Members, so please call Barbara Farkas, at 533-8525 or email: bjfarkas@sbcglobal.net, if you are interested, or want information about the role of Board member. CFRG is a Non Profit Organization and your contributions are tax deductible so please keep us in mind at year end. Thank you.
TCCFRG,
PO BOX 4056, Sonora, CA 95370.
