 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
Home Resource Center In the News Home Greenbelt Alliance in the News |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
Greenbelt Alliance In the News
September 6, 2002 FUA-1 comments extended after complaints Subheading By Jane Ramsey ANTIOCH - In a concession to complaints that an environmental report concerning planned development for 2,700 acres in south Antioch was unavailable, city officials agreed Wednesday to extend the public comment period. The comment period previously was scheduled to end Sept. 21 regarding Future Urban Area No. 1, or the Sand Creek Specific Plan. The Planning Commission extended comments until Sept. 25. Representatives of Save Mount Diablo and the Greenbelt Alliance complained to the Planning Commission that the 500-plus-page environmental impact report, released by the city Aug. 8, was unavailable for purchase until at least Aug. 12, the Monday following the release of the report. "I'm glad we have more time, but I still think it's insufficient. It's a big project. Why not give it the time it deserves?" said Eli Buchen, Greenbelt Alliance East Bay associate field representative. Having EIR copies available at the Community Development counter and the public library put the city in compliance with the guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act, according to Victor Carniglia, senior city planner. But Carniglia conceded at Wednesday's Planning Commission meeting that not having copies available for purchase could be construed to be against the spirit of the law. The voluminous EIR was daunting even to some of the planning commissioners. "It's longer than the first installment of 'Lord of the Rings,'" said Planning Commissioner David Madrigal. Whether to further extend the 45-day public comment period to 60 days or more is a decision that must be made by the City Council, said City Attorney Bill Galstan on Thursday. Under the environmental law, the lead decision-making agency decides the length of the public comment period, Galstan said. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation on the EIR, but not approve or reject it, Galstan said. The Planning Commission meeting opened public comments about plans to develop the 2,700 acres at the city's southeastern border. The plans include as many as 4,976 homes, of which more than half, or about 2,771, would be housing for seniors. Executive homes on large lots, a golf course and about 100 acres of business park land also are part of the plans for the four square miles being scrutinized for development. The bulk of public comments at Wednesday's meeting were against development of the land. Remarks ranged from concern over endangered species and natural habitats, worries over spoiling the area's natural beauty to concerns over the impact of as many as 10,000 additional residents on the city's streets and in schools. "It's a large project with significant impacts on the city," said Paul Janicki, who said he has lived in Antioch for 17 years. Janicki and others urged the Planning Commission to look closely at the project's impacts and plans to offset those impacts before making a decision. But some, such as local landowner Walt Bartlett, took issue with those concerned about hiking and nature observation in the Sand Creek area. "Those people walking around, looking at butterflies, they're trespassing. It might be pretty, but it belongs to somebody else," Bartlett told commissioners. Public comments on the plan will continue at the Planning Commission's next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the City Council chamber at Third and H streets. Written comments also will be accepted. Carniglia urged those interested in commenting on the EIR to act soon. "The sooner comments are in, the better," he said. "Get us what you have when you have it."
© 2001 cctimes and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. ### |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
