Letter: Supervisor against Yuba Highlands

Yuba Highlands, the huge housing project putting 14,000 people next to Beale, has got to be the very worst housing project proposed in Yuba County in the last 13 years, during which time I have been a Yuba County supervisor. And I have seen some bad projects.

I feel obligated to write, partly because the developer has put out a lot of misleading propaganda. The public needs to beware of false promises and wild claims.

I'm sure the developer is licking his chops contemplating the zillions of dollars in windfall profits. But this project would be very bad for county finances. Some damaging effects:

• Our already congested traffic would get worse, particularly in Marysville, Linda and Wheatland.

• Beale and the Spenceville Wildlife Area would be seriously encroached.

• The project would be a bedroom community, with many people commuting out of county to work and spend their money.

• Yuba County's bad "tax leak" would worsen, with more sales tax going out of county.

• Yuba County's meager 19 percent share of the property tax would not come close to providing decent county services; particularly in this remote location. Services countywide would suffer.

• Roads serving the project would be miserable because SACOG and Caltrans do not approve road funding to such remote sprawl-type projects (critical state and federal money comes through SACOG and Caltrans).

In short, we need Yuba Highlands like a hole in the head. Vote "No" on Yuba Highlands Feb. 5.

Hal Stocker

Fifth district supervisor

Yuba County