Public Hearing Tuesday For Senior Housing

A controversial development has Tuolumne County Supervisors doing something they don´t usually do. They´re holding a public hearing at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds tomorrow on Christian Heights Church´s proposal to build senior housing and recreational facilities.

Board of Supervisors Chair Mark Thornton doesn´t want the testimony to drag out longer than it needs to.

“While representative government is what it´s all about, projects aren´t really a popularity contest either,” Thornton said. “It really is better for all sides, if they just say ´Hey, I support or I don´t support the project,” Thornton said.

As many as 300 people are expected to show up for the hearing on Tuesday. About 250 people have shown up at past meetings about this issue. About 30 people are against the proposal.

Christian Heights Church officials are asking the county to allow them to build 17 homes for seniors, a large recreation building, an activity center, and parking. The development would be built on the Church´s 30-acre property on Joshua Way.

The hearing is expected to get under way around 9 a.m. at the Manzanita Building on the fairgrounds.