Madera County supervisors postpone Gunner Ranch West vote

Source: The Business Journal

The Madera County Board of Supervisors has postponed until Sept. 17 a vote on environmental documents to allow for development of the huge Gunner Ranch West mixed-use project in an area that borders with the Fresno County line near northeast Fresno. The supervisors decided to postpone the vote to allow staff to further study impacts of the project, including its water use and a need for an entrance to a neighboring golf course. On water, the supervisors want a guarantee of net-zero water usage and a source for surface water to be brought in. Gunner Ranch West would allow as many as 2,840 residential units, more than 2 million square feet of commercial property, 1.1 million square feet of hospital-related services, a medical offices building, government facilities, a community center, 58 acres of open space and parks and a 62-acre wastewater treatment plant. The project site is located south of Avenue 10, west of Highway 41 and northwest of the San Joaquin River near Childrens Hospital Central California. Officials estimate the project would result in 8,236 new jobs at build-out. As part of the project, the developer would provide gifts to Children’s Hospital Central California and the Ronald McDonald House for expansion of the two facilities. Area landowner and developer Richard Gunner proposed the development, which would be done on 1,000 acres of orchard and open space. About 8,500 new residents would take root in the area under the plan. Most of the concern about such a large project is based on stresses it could place on an already limited water supply. With three other residential projects planned for the area, water demand is expected to be high. Jeffrey Reid, a Fresno land use planning attorney, speaking on behalf of Richard Gunner, said the project would take less water than was extracted by farmers on the property. He said wells would be built for the project. However, the county Planning Department calls for the developer to provide additional water in the amount of 855 acre-feet to balance supplies. It would also like the developer to provide some surface water in addition to well water. By contrast, the county Planning Commission supported the project plan as proposed. Along with water concerns, opponents of the project cite loss of farmland, reduction of air quality and increased traffic as negatives. One of the opponents is the Madera County Farm Bureau. The bureau believes that the development comes at the wrong time because it would further deplete water supplies at a time of drought. To address the concerns, the Madera County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on certification of a final Environmental Impact Report and approval of other documents including a water supply assessment. The county pointed out that the project includes improvements to water supply storage, treatment and distribution systems serving the Gunner Ranch West area. A wastewater treatment plant would be built.

URL to original article: http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/real-estate/6817-madera-county-supervisors-postpone-gunner-ranch-west-vote

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