Debate continues about foothills community plan

How the Yuba County foothills fit into the county's overall general plan update is still being debated, but those taking part believe some of the animosity is declining.

Residents living in Oregon House, Dobbins and nearby are reviewing two separate community plans in the next few weeks to determine the next step.

For those backing a plan crafted by a dozen volunteers and unveiled earlier this month to a strong, mostly negative reaction, the end result still might incorporate some of their ideas.

Tom Richards, a large landowner near Oregon House who helped craft that plan, said more community comment and discussion fits with what he and others wanted all along.

"The main thing is, the animosity is going away," said Richards, who some residents accused of wanting to expand community boundaries to help him develop his ranch. "I think we're trying to do a good thing."

Richards and others backers of his plan attended a meeting last week of the Dobbins/Oregon House Action Committee, which created a general statement of principles related to foothills growth in 2001.

Committee chairman Greg Crompton said his group decided to recirculate the 2001 plan over the next month to see if changes need to be made.

"It was a general sense of what we wanted up here, without a lot of specifics," he said of the 2001 plan.

Both Richards and Crompton said after there's been more review, discussion and comment, the committee will have a meeting in late May to decide what, if anything, will be presented to county officials as the area's official contribution to the general plan update.

The county is in the midst of an update to its plan, as required by the state. The update, including the foothills' contribution, is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Crompton said he's not sure, however, the plan Richards' group created is what most residents want. Though the plan was described as improving fire safety for the wildfire-susceptible area, it didn't include comment from the Fire Safe Council, which Richards acknowledged was an oversight.

Others criticized the plan because it would've expanded community boundaries to include Collins Lake.

But Collins Lake Recreation Area General Manager Lincoln Young, who said he hadn't been contacted about the plan by Richards and others, said some parts of it had merit.

"What's in the details is important," he said.

Though he didn't see whatever ultimate plan emerges as having a large affect on Collins Lake, more community involvement can only help, he said.

"In our community, people who live here tend to be very independent," he said. "Something like this, it's good to at least hear from them."

His view was echoed by District 5 Supervisor Hal Stocker, who said the newer plan wouldn't pass state muster.

As to whether any parts of that plan could be included in what the county and eventually the state might review, Stocker said, "Off hand, I can't tell you what the best parts of that plan are."

Sentiment among most foothills residents, Stocker said, is against more development.

But Richards said it's a mistake to assume he's in favor of more housing. When he's looked into the matter in the past, he said, he's concluded it doesn't make sense financially.

"One of the worries is, 'Tom wants to be a big developer,'" he said. "And the reality is, Tom doesn't want to lose his ranch."

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at 749-4709 or bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com.