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The
Cristallago project as originally conceived would put 1,000 houses,
200 time-share condominium units, an 18-hole golf course, and
some commercial space on an 856 acre site north of Lakeport and
west of Highway 29. It is intended to be an extremely high end
subdivision, described by the developers as a "Destination
Community" that will attract people with bulging wallets
to Lake County.
On
April 4, 2006 the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 (Ed Robey being
the sole dissenter) to let Cristallago move ahead despite advice
from planning staff that the project deviated from as many as
three primary planning documents, that it had no assured source
of water, and that part of the property was under Williamson Act
protections, among other impediments.
The
developers then revised their plans somewhat to increase the "resort"
component and reduce the number of residential units: the application
at present is for 975 total units, of which 650 will be residential.
(Read the Record-Bee article
of March 28, 2007 for details.) Analysis of the diverse and drastic
impacts of this enormous development will be incorporated in the
full Environmental Impact Report. As of this writing (March 29,,
2007) a consultant had been selected but further action was awaiting
payment from the developers; completion was anticipated some time
late in 2007, to be followed by many opportunities for both written
and oral public comment, and many chances to point out flaws,
demand mitigations, and compel improvements even if the subdivision
can't be stopped altogether. In the meantime, the election of
Denise Rushing to the District 3 supervisoral seat has shifted
the balance of the Board: Rushing has repeatedly gone on record
as a proponent of wise growth management.
Updates
will be posted to this page as soon as they are available, and
also sent by email to the Cristallago alert list. Anyone concerned
about the implications of this project for Lake County's future
is encouraged to join that list by sending a request to vbrandon@lakelive.org.
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