MATH see Caltrans projects to boost development

MIDDLETOWN >> While discussing overdue plans to update Area and General Plan elements, town leaders realized to achieve revenue growth, their redrafted Area and General Plans will need a committee to examine ideas to stimulate growth. This was discussed at the MATH meeting on February 8.

MATH Chair Monica Rosenthal cautioned whether the considered action was cutting down excess fire fuels or choosing where winter snowpack water goes. She said the Town Hall need to consider first a Request for Review (RFR) prior to a stamp of approval. “If the Diamond J. Cannabis Project is set to be the largest cannabis grow in California, it might wake up some people,” Rosenthal said. “Somebody needs to review the plans the Community Development Department sends our way and give us something to vote for.”

Fletcher Thornton, local developer noted there is already a review before a plan reaches the Planning Commision. There's, construction meetings that bring the principals and all the different department heads together and notify all committees in communication with the county, such as MATH to come meet, way prior before it gets to the permit stage, a review stage. It is known as a pre-construction meet,” Fleterch added that MATH will be notified when that meeting is.

MATH has not been notified explained Rosenthal. “How do we get back on the list?” Thorton, said . “There is a committee and it's made up of different department heads and all the people are supposed to be notified of any projects.”

John Hess, Lake County planning commissioner representing Big Valley Lake, said there will be a notice to published after a Mitigated Negative Declaration, the applicant would avoid adverse impacts, and there is no evidence a substantial revised project will have a significant effect on the environment.

Thorton noted MATH's constitution provides the authority to be part of a committee's decision making process that goes into zoning and land use. “We already have authority with that committee in place and it's called MATH.” Ken Gonzales, MATH secretary pointed out, they had a PDF Document from Fire Battalion Chief Mike Wink of the South Lake Fire Protection District, who raised the issue of traffic safety along the Highway 129 Traffic Corridor and Wink is supporting implementation of a plan that covers Lake County from the Napa County line all the way to Lower Lake. The model is overseen by the SR 29 South Corridor EFS and Middletown CAP 2014 research. There were two fatalities in multiple accidents prior to installations of roundabouts, Gonzales noted. It slows traffic and makes people think about their driving, it's safer for everyone,” he said.

Hess added that it's a long-term plan of what traffic will be in 2030, outlining what needs to be done along the 29 corridor between now and then, including consideration of the Roundabout on 29 and West Canyon Road. The document was completed in 2014 and Caltrans still uses it as a reference, he said. But Thorton said it was data collected from everyone who wanted to get involved and put their ideas forward. “There's a plan (blueprint), it outlines where each crosswalk will be but it's not a map, not in there. It talks about it, but doesn't state where everything will be.”

“To keep people from turning at the Deli out here, we got a six-lane highway and (drivers) go through it at unlimited speed,” Thornton added. “We wanted all concrete stamped with cautions to slow down and street signs in the middle of the road at 35 or 30 mph.” Additionally, he said they can put some bulb outs at intersections; and make it look like a community when driving into it rather than a freeway.

Bill Waite, new Board member as of January, noted it is not really a plan, but it is a summary of all Caltrans meetings. “The plan is still out and goes beyond drawings, is a good summary of what took place, information gathered, how they arrived at their decision and who they got it from,” Waite added.

Thornton said he talked to Rex Jackman who is in charge of the upgrades to HWY 29 & 175. “It has bike lanes and bulb-outs and all kinds of features to slow traffic down,” he said. Yet the future `hot spot' is the Casino. “If you want to make a left turn on Hildebrand, a left on Marysville, you're taking your life into your own hands, because they're coming like a bat out of hell,” he said. Thornton noted they need a success with a Roundabout at the Casino and pointed out the Tribal Community is very successful in commercial endeavors. “If they want a Roundabout, they can get one,” he said. “We got to talk to them and point out the need for their own protection and the community.”