A Delay On Copperopolis Development

Sawmill Lake Project

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San Andreas, CA -- Castle & Cooke ask for a delay on Thursday during a Calaveras County Planning Commission meeting. The Commission granted a 90 day delay before deciding on the 243 acre Sawmill Lake development in Copperopolis.

Dave Haley Castle & Cooke Vice-President Division Manager says he asked for the delay after it was clear even commissioners in favor of the project were concerned about possible lawsuits. Haley says "We over the next 90 days will hopefully get the opportunity to sit down with the planning department which we haven't had the opportunity over the past year to discuss the project and to show them the merits of the project and hopefully will bring it back and move it forward."

At the meeting, Calaveras County Planning Director Rebecca Willis recommended the commission deny the project due to conflicts with the General Plan and possible environmental lawsuits. Willis says "What the commission wanted to do and what they could do are two different things because the environmental is not complete and we have to look at our general current plan and measure this project up against the current plan and it's running amuck of the current General Plan. We all know that we are trying to update the general plan." Willis adds "I think it was just a conundrum for the planning commission. I think when Dave Haley asked for the 90 day continuance I think the hope is that when we come back we've got options to work with."

In June, attorneys for Castle & Cooke sent a letter to the county urging government leaders to speed-up the review process. It was noted that it has been over a year since the project's Administrative EIR was submitted to the county. The company has stated that they are ready to invest money into the Copperopolis community, and it would help serve a population base projected to grow over the coming decades.

Written by Tracey Petersen

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