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c,� - ti� z DEL A-SIERRA OUP z MOTHER LODE CHAPTER s SIERRA CLUB Kerry Sullivan July 7, 1993 San ,Joaquin County Community Development Dept. 1° 10 E. Hazelton Avenue Stockton, Ca. 95205 Dear M_,. :,ullivan: We continue to nave some concerns regarding the PU-90- 1/1JU-90-9/QX-91 - 1 application of the Catwit , rporation. There have been some changes in the plans for this, area and there are some desirable mitigations orcoosed, out some of the a5pectc of the develooment wnicri we objected to before they nad hired an architect or designer for their golf course are. still present. Th,� "Natural Area of 8210 acre," appearc to be extremely fragmented. One large section of this area appears to be a vineyard which is hardly a "natural area''. The wooded area on the southwest of the property has been penetrated by several fairways of the golfcourse with only a thin area of "natural area" along the river. It is proposed that 1 600,000 cubic yards; be excavated from the "natural area" of Tracy Lake and that this.sand and clay be removed for 5 years on a road which would cr JJJ througr the center or the "natural area. It is stated that th .deepening of the lake is some form of restoration, but it is hardly restoraticn !o change a seasonal to a permanent body of water. The site plan still snows a stable and eouistrian trail within the 'natural area" although we have been told that this has been removed. It is not made clear how there can be a 820 acre area which will have a Deed of Conservation Easement riven to an environmental erganizanon wren 337 acres (of VO total) are to be removed from the Nilliamson Act Contract to "facilitate development of the Buckeye Ranch project". This would aooear to leave X33 acres (, inclucmg a F�5 acre vineyard?) outside the homesites and goltcour,e wnich would remain ,awered by the Williamson Act as open space. Does this mean that the Environmental organization would oe recetvino a Deed of Conservation Easement to an area which includes both a vineyard and a golfeourse'�' Since the area (whatever size it really is) which is slated to remain in Wllliamson Act coverage, is not to ce open to the eublic except by special arrangement with the property owners or their agents we can not see how this area can be considered to be "PUBLIC" in any sense of that term as used in the "compatible use" guidelines of the Williamson Act. It is a shame that this property, _slated for purcnase by the State Wildlife Conservation Board as a result of the passage of Proposition 70, will not become a true wildlife preserve. But it has been purchased for development of private homesites and a golfcourse. If it your intention to allow this use in thi area there is iittle that can be done at this juncture. But let us be truthful about what a "natural area" really is. It is not a golfcourse, it is not a fragmented area crossed and bordered by incompatible uses, it is not a seasonal lake deepened for the use of the homeowners and it is not a "public" area which will not be open to the public. If the project is allowed as oesionea then all of the area should be removed from Williamson Act protection, l hank y u fo �� oppor unity to comment Sine y, C) e 5.ockin (, nservation Chair