Back

The Dark Horse Development: Supevisors Blow It Again
Published Saturday, July 12, 1997

How about them Supes? The Nevada County Board of Supervisors is a constant source of entertainment.  Where else can you see such a consistent pattern of buffoonery for only about $2 per resident per year? Unfortunately the playful antics of the BOS are going to hurt us again.
 
I refer in particular to the Board’s decision to bless the Dark Horse housing tract at Lake of the Pines without asking the developer to undergo the inconvenient step of obtaining an Environmental Impact Report.
 
For those of you who’ve missed it, Dark Horse is a big housing tract, planned for 300 houses and an 18-hole golf course, and , according to the Rural Quality Commission, a clubhouse, conference facility, restaurant and golf academy.
 
Dark Horse is located off Highway 49, with ingress and egress via Combie Road.  A fellow named Ed Fralick is the head of the Dark Horse development, which gives the Board of Supervisors little choice as to which end they are.
 
You see, the project has negative impacts so serious that it demands an EIR.  CalTrans is concerned, the Northern California Air Quality Management District is concerned, and the Placer County Board of Supervisors is concerned.  In a general way the Sierra Business Council is concerned about this sort of suburban blight in rural counties.  Odd, but our Supervisors are not concerned.
 
Those agencies are worried in particular about significant increases in traffic on Highway 49 and pollution. I’m concerned because this sort of development further blights the county and creates Bay Area driving conditions.  And subdivisions bring no lasting economic value to the community.  They create no permanent local jobs.  Further, if the houses are sold to retirees, they will already have “paid their dues” over a lifetime and will not be interested in supporting schools or industrial growth.  The only tangible economic benefits will go to the pro shop at the golf course and the Auburn MacDonald’s.
 
Instead of an EIR, the Board finds a mitigated negative declaration (MND) to be acceptable documentation of impacts.  That’s research done by the developer by his own paid consultants.  The declaration essentially says, “Don’t worry. It’s cool.” This is like Richard Nixon saying, “Don’t worry. There’s nothing important on the tapes” or Bill Clinton stating, “Don’t worry. Nothing in Vince Foster’s briefcase.”
 
An EIR is prepared by independent consultants and there’s public participation.  Also, there’s the small subtlety that an EIR addresses unmitigable negative impacts, while the MND does not.  You know, the EIR is not about an endangered lizard or wildflower; it’s about an endangered quality of life -- yours.
 
But this isn’t only about Dark Horse, which will become one of the premiere slums of the 21st century.  Nevada County will get by with or without it.
 
What’s really at issue is the infinite capacity of the Supes to make themselves look like fools. They’ve done it again. The leaders in this show of ineptitude are Grattan, Knecht, and Antonson, although I’m sure Dardick and Van Zant will get their moments in the spotlight some day.
 
Two alarming theories emerge: 1) we have elected real incompetents who don’t know what they’re doing, or 2) we have elected cynical pro-development butt-kissers who do know what they are doing. Ignorance or complicity? Both are rather frightening visions.
 
Talk about inept! The BOS let the Planning Department rubber stamp this project, making them look like crooks. They let the Planning Commissioners rubber stamp this project, making them look like crooks.  Then the BOS rubber stamped the project, making themselves look like...
 
No, the Supervisors don’t break the law. But when they act so inastutely, they look 1) stupid, 2) bought, 3) cynical, 4) deceitful. So even if they mean well, they always look dumb and dumber. When Grattan, Knecht, and Antonson run for re-election, be especially suspicious of their usual cooing noises about “preserving the quality of life in Nevada County.” That’s true only in campaigns.
 
I feel sorry for poor Ed Fralick, who, having kissed up to the board, has essentially suffered a setback, not a victory.  Who on earth told him, “Don’t worry, Ed.  We’ll get this one through without an EIR, because the people love us and believe in us.”  Ed, you were suckered.  The EIR issue will surely be litigated, and that will seriously delay what might have been an acceptable project.
 
Barry Schoenborn is a technical writer, and a ten-year resident of Nevada County. You can write to him at barry@wvswrite.com. The opinions of columnists are not necessarily those of The Union.
 

Back