Staff
Writer
West
Windsor residents opposed to development plans for a 50-acre piece of land
near their homes asked the Town Council last week to oppose any project
there that doesn't fit with county zoning guidelines.
The
Lytton Band of Pomo Indians is considering a 50-unit housing development
for the area, which is just outside Windsor town limits on Windsor River
Road, east of Starr Road. No official development plans have been filed
with the county or federal government, but neighbors say 50 units are too
many because the county's general plan calls for one home per five acres
on the site.
In
January, at the request of neighbors and the council, Mayor Sam Salmon
sent a letter to county supervisors, asking the county to abide by its
general plan when considering development on the outskirts of Windsor limits.
The
Board of Supervisors' passed a resolution in June urging the Lytton Band
to work with the county to make sure any development for the area "is consistent
with the general plan."
At
last week's council meeting, neighbors asked the council to make a
stronger statement in opposition to development on the property. Opponents
brought forward a draft resolution for the council to consider, saying
the town would oppose any development on the property that does not fit
with the county general plan as well as fire, building and health codes.
"We
are opposed to any development that does not follow the general plan,"
said William McCormick, representing property owners on Windsor River Road.
"Simply stating that you wouldn't like to see any changes, to our group,
is not strong enough," he told the council.
Debby
Bailey, a Windsor River Road resident, said she has no objection if the
tribe sticks to the county general plan and only builds one unit per five
acres.
She
said she is concerned that the tribe, in a 1999 request that the bureau
of Indians Affairs hold the land in trust, indicated a need for up to 97
housing units in the future.
If
those units are built on the property, "This is a ten-fold increase in
the amount of housing currently allowed, and such development cannot be
supported by that property without extremely negative impacts" to the town
and surrounding neighbors, she said.
Tony
Cohen, the attorney for the Lytton Band, cautioned the council that no
plans have been filed for the property.
"There
is no application" and the tribe doesn't currently have the money to begin
preliminary studies of the property,” he said. He asked the council to
hold off on passing a proposed resolution, saying it contained inaccuracies
about the housing being considered for the property. "These will not be
tract houses and they will not be rentals," he said. The resolution "is
simply wrong," he said.
Cohen
asked the council to develop a positive relationship with the Lytton band.
"This is an opportunity for the town to begin a dialogue with the tribe,"
he said. "Absent a dialogue, I believe there will be a poor relationship."
Council
member Debora Fudge said she doesn't think a relationship between the tribe
and the town exists currently. "The relationship isn't there right now,"
she said. "I don't see us passing a resolution as harming it."
Council
member Lynn Morehouse said she is concerned about differing reports of
the number of homes for the property. "The number is a moving target,"
she said. "That's a concern for me, and it's a concern for other people."
"I think we as a council are clear that we're not happy about this going on outside our boundaries,” said Council member Steve Allen. Allen said he supported the council's passing a modified resolution at a future meeting.