Environmental Group Opposed to Groveland Resort

Groveland, CA– While the construction of a new lodging facility near Groveland has been approved, one environmental group in the Mother Lode is strongly against it.

For the past twenty years the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center has reviewed all planning projects in Tuolumne County. In opposition to the newly approved Groveland resort, the CSERC has filed an appeal with the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors.

CSERC Executive Director John Buckley said, “This facility doesn’t have any access to public water. It would rely entirely on a well, and pumping so much water could affect neighboring wells. It has no public sewer for as many as 16-20,000 visitors a year, so it would rely on a fancy engineered septic system that if it doesn’t work effectively, could also contaminate water in the area.” Buckley added that the center’s appeal will be heard before the Board of Supervisors November 9th.

Last week the Southern Tuolumne County Planning Commissiona issued a Conditional Use Permit to Charles P. Holcomb allowing the construction of a 37,000 square foot lodging facility, theatre, dance hall, conference room, parking lot, pool and gift shop. The project site is located at 24025 Highway 120, approximately seven miles east of Groveland.

Written by tina.falco@mlode.com