PLOWING IT FORWARD

You might ask why Placer County would want to change zoning up here at Serene Lakes to accommodate Royal Gorge LLC's plans for a thousand units, despite all of the environmental damage that will be caused, on top of the destruction of a small community.  You might wonder why the county would even dream of allowing 1000 more units in an area that already is an extremely high fire hazard zone, with substantial risk of injury and loss of life should a fire occur, as there is only one LOS-F road out.  If that road is hit by fire, then we'll all be cast members in the play "No Exit"

The cynical, but sadly true answer- it's fiscal zoning.  Think of us as a tiny community about to be visited by a really big Big Box store, only this time it will be a Big Box ski resort and development.  Ching ching ching go the cash registers, and the property tax coffers will swell down in Auburn.

Here's what Placer County must be thinking.  Infrastructure will be paid for by Mello-Roos bonds (which we may get hornswoggled into if we're not careful), and much of the infrastructure hit will be taken by Nevada County anyway- the roads, and certainly sewage disposal.  SLCWD is a separate district that handles water, and sewage, and they'll keep on doing what they do well, with no cost to county. The potential K-12 student population won't swell, but Placer County will collect up-front fees for schools.  All Placer County has to do is sit back and bask in the glow of its enhanced property tax base.  

Anybody been following all the complaints about the recent snow plowing issues in Olympic Valley, aka the road to Squaw?  It seems the same plow is responsible for Alpine's Road,  and Squaw's road,  and when the snow really dumps there's not time enough in the world to get it all plowed to everyone's satisfaction.

That issue will be just the same up here at the Summit,  with the area needing plowed more than doubled.  Who's going to pay for that?  Mello-Roos funds can't be used for maintenance, and don't think for a minute Royal Gorge LLC is going to pitch in on the plowing duties, not if the current Squaw Valley situation is anything to go by. Pothole filling in, and other road maintenance will also be on county's dime. 

And do you think Placer County is even thinking about all the additional traffic there will be on 80, and the mess that occurs when it snows?  That's doubtful,  as 80 is considered CalTrans' problem.  Of course, hazardous snow conditions do mean a lot more emergency services are required, in the form of sheriff's calls. Add in a thousand new units, many used by transient visitors who often have a steep learning curve with handling a vehicle in inclement weather, and you're going to see Placer County's tab for emergency responders go way up. Or the level of service deteriorate, if the county budget absorbs the new taxes from the Summit, and spends the money elsewhere.

Maybe the planning department could be encouraged to talk to the folks who run the plows, and maintain the roads, so they get the full picture--okaying 1000 new units without making sure there's enough plows/road maintenance/first responders is not a responsible thing to do.