Appeal process raises concern

To the Editor:

As citizens of Groveland, Hardin Flat and Sawmill Mountain, we're concerned that it appears as if Tuolumne County may be complicit in what looks like a fraudulent appeal process for the Terra Vi development.

The county accepted an appeal from someone with close ties to the Manly family, owners of the land where the Highway 120 development is proposed. Between Terra Vi and the Under Canvas project across the highway, the Manlys stand to make a rather large profit by leasing their land to these two controversial developments.

The county accepted the appeal from Clare Cosovich, who is engaged to Nick Manly, just two days after the Planning Commission meeting; this set the clock in motion to set the date of the hearing. Record reviews of the Terra Vi project on the county website show that Ms. Cosovich never submitted any comments on the project, nor did she testify during the commission hearing, thus she has no standing as an “aggrieved party” to file the appeal. When this was brought to the county's attention, they moved the appeal hearing date from Dec. 18 to Dec. 29. Suspicious.

Whether the county inappropriately cooperated with the appellant to file what looks like a bogus appeal, or the county was negligent in ensuring that the appellant was, indeed, an aggrieved party, is unknown. Either way, it's not a good look for the county, the planning department, or the project itself as it appears to show favoritism to the project proponents.

An overwhelming majority of citizens vehemently oppose both projects, still, they were approved. We ask the Board of Supervisors at the appeal hearings to please not show favoritism to the project applicant and listen to your community, especially those most impacted to hear what we really want for our area.

Nancy Consantino, Ben

Gardella, and all Save Sawmill Mountain members

Groveland