By Norm Ihle ?Reader”s views
My family has been in the North Lakeport area since 1938. During that time we have seen good changes and some not so good happen to the area. Usually we just accept these as part of life. But now I cannot help but speak up for what is right.
As you all probably know the planning commission approved the draft environmental impact report for the Cristallago development as reported in the Record-Bee on Feb. 20th. In a couple of months the final EIR will be prepared. It”s just amazing to me that this project has gotten this far. What we have here is a clear case of people from outside of our county trying to change our way of life and beautiful countryside.
The owners of this property are from Ft. Bragg, Pleasanton and Ripon. Doesn”t it seem strange to everyone that they are not using any of our local engineers or architects on this development? These landowners want to become millionaires at the expense of us, the people of Lake County. Let me make this perfectly clear; they do not care about you, me or what they will be doing to impact our environment and our way of life. They want the money and only the money. Do not be fooled by these charlatans.
The developers want to build 650 single-family homes, 325 resort units and an 18-hole golf course on 860 acres. There are serious problems throughout this entire project. Water, sewage treatment, traffic, hillside grading, air quality, adverse environmental impacts and many more items which will result in changing our landscape and way of life forever.
Just take a look at the golf course. It will require 2-million gallons of water a day during the summer months and they will be removing 85 acres of oak trees. All this for a couple of hundred golfers a month? I could go on and on about the other items in the DEIR, but the problems associated with this project are numerous, to say the least.
My real concern is that Mr. Boeger, the president of Cristallago Corporation, disputed each and every environmental item which was clearly stated in the DEIR would result in having a “significant and unavoidable impact” on the acres being developed. They are fighting their own consultants. Something is obviously wrong.
But even more concerning were the statements made by a member of the planning commission, Micheal Var Der Boon. His comments, at the meeting on Feb. 19 clearly indicate that he obviously does not care about his neighbors” in Lake County and should not be allowed to vote on this project moving forward.
So, what can we do as citizens to stop this project as it is currently proposed?
I am asking the Lake County Board of Supervisors to place this project on the next election ballot. A project as large as this should be put to the citizens of Lake County to vote on. The impacts to our way of life should not be put in the hands of a few people. The question is whether or not they will have the courage and integrity to do it.
The Cristallago developers will most likely fight this request “tooth and nail.” So, let me put it this way; if the folks who own the property really feel this will be good for the county, then they should help pay for this ballot measure in order to truly understand how we feel about this development. Will they? In my book, probably not, for they would be clearly afraid of what the results would be.
It”s time for “we the people” to take control of our own destiny and not let the folks with money ride “roughshod” over the citizens of Lake County.
Norm Ihle
Lakeport
