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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
May 2008:
May 16
IS "SKI CAMP" AN EMPTY THREAT?
May 15
A "RAMBLE" ON ROYAL GORGE'S SKI CAMP
May 14
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM ON DONNER SUMMIT?
May 11
WILL PLACER COUNTY BEND THEIR RULES FOR B.A.D.?
May 7
WHY IS ROYAL GORGE LLC SELLING EMPLOYEE HOUSING?
May 4
ROYAL GORGE LLC'S "INTRODUCING THE VISION" ONE YEAR LATER
May 3
IS ROYAL GORGE LLC MARKETING "FAILURE" AT DONNER SUMMIT AND SERENE LAKES?
May 2
WILL ROYAL GORGE GET "MARTIS-IZED"?
May 1
MAY DAY DANCE
April 2008:
April 28
IS ROYAL GORGE LLC'S TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION?
April 26
BLOCKBUSTER HOLLYWOOD AGREEMENT REACHED FOR ROYAL GORGE
April 25
WATER RIGHTS AND WATER WRONGS IN THE SIERRA NEVADA
April 24
ROYAL GORGE LLC'S NEW MEET AND GREETS- ARE YOU INVITED?
April 23
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT ON DONNER SUMMIT? HAS ROYAL GORGE LLC READ THE RULES ABOUT WATER?
April 18
ROYAL GORGE LLC'S HEART OF STONE TOWARDS THEIR BIG BEND NEIGHBORS
April 17
ROYAL GORGE LLC, WATER, SERENE LAKES, AND THE PUBLIC TRUST
April 16
IS ROYAL GORGE LLC'S "EAST LAKE" A PAPER LAKE?
April 15
WHEN WILL ROYAL GORGE LLC WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE?
April 14
EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING - SERENE LAKES STYLE
April 9
WE LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC
April 8
OH TO BE ON DYER MOUNTAIN
April 4
IS ROYAL GORGE LLC BUILDING A HOUSE OF CARDS ON DONNER SUMMIT?
April 2
IS ROYAL GORGE LLC'S "SKI CAMP" CONCEPT AS DEAD AS A DODO?
See Old Posts for earlier posts
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May 16
IS "SKI CAMP" AN EMPTY THREAT?
Printable version....
Two things stand out about Royal Gorge LLC's proposed ski camp, readily apparent when you look at the photo of the map. First, it doesn't look much different from Royal Gorge LLC's original proposal-- and it isn't. 650 units or more, with a large hotel/condo operation-- that hasn't changed much, despite the fact Sugar Bowl isn't going to go along with the lift connection. Second, "Ski Camp" is all about density, and sprawl- the worst of both worlds, all built in one of the major watersheds that feed our Serene Lakes.
If Placer County permits a change in the general plan and zoning to accommodate this large development, it will be a sad day for our lakeside community, and the construction of so many units in our watershed will impact our water quality. The question remains, though, can "Ski Camp" ever actually be built, or is Royal Gorge LLC spinning a fantasy, hoping to convince Placer County their plans are viable, as well as hoping to keep investors on board, and perhaps attract new investors? Where is Royal Gorge LLC, short of draining our lakes, or building new dams (Van Norden Meadow, Serena Creek.....), going to get the water for this large complex?
It's an old question, and it's never been satisfactorily answered. Without water, the building of "Ski Camp" very well might be an empty threat-- but here's another one-- what if Placer County lets Royal Gorge LLC carve up the land below Razorback Ridge, and then the money dries up, as investors realize the market isn't there for yet another Sierra hotel complex-- that's a real "empty" threat.
May 15
A "RAMBLE" ON ROYAL GORGE'S SKI CAMP
Printable version....
come and walk with us
hear our spiel, join our rambles
pay no heed that when we're done
these fine woods will be left shambles,
pines and firs ripped from the ground
rocks removed, earth torn asunder.
we plunked our 2.43 mil down
and now deserve our plunder.
so you think our hotel and condos loom
glowering over your puny lake?
we'll build whatever we desire
our profit-thirst to slake.
if our money driven juggernaut
rips the warp, tears the weft
of the fragile fabric of the Sierra,
leaving those who love it bereft
we'll not shed a single tear
as there's no beauty in all creation
that compares to aggrandizement
our bottom line, capitalization
"only God can make a tree?"*
do spare us your enviro-dismay
trees, rocks, birds winging in the sky
matter not when we've loans to repay
so take a ramble, take a walk
listen to our rehearsed talk
see how reality can be spun
qualms? scruples? we have none.
KTG
*from a poem by Alfred Joyce Kilmer, 1913
May 14
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM ON DONNER SUMMIT?
Printable version....
Peter Mayfield, Royal Gorge LLC's environmental consultant, led a small group of people on last week's ramble, which covered the parcel on which Royal Gorge LLC hopes to build "Ski Camp". As reported by some who attended, Mr. Mayfield seemed to have very little discomfort with the apparent disconnect between showing everyone the beautiful stands of trees, rock outcroppings, and animal tracks in the snow, and calmly pointing out where the condos and parking lots would be built. Mr. Mayfield's take on 650 or so units, complete with a hotel being built, obliterating all the beauty he was pointing out? According to The Union, "This land has large capitalization now. That has to be dealt with, Mayfield said."
Read more....
May 11
WILL PLACER COUNTY BEND THEIR RULES FOR B.A.D.?*
( *Bay Area Developers)
Printable version....
The word's out that Royal Gorge LLC has scheduled a meeting in the next few weeks with Michael Johnson, Placer County Planning Director, concerning their plans to develop Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort and nearby property at Serene Lakes and Donner Summit. There is no indication that they will actually be submitting plans, but are rather, seeking to discuss.....what?
Read more....
May 7
WHY IS ROYAL GORGE LLC SELLING EMPLOYEE HOUSING?
Printable version....
Of the many houses currently for sale in Serene Lakes, there are two whose potential sales give cause for concern. When Foster and Syme bought Royal Gorge Cross Country a few years ago, they discovered (whoops!) they also needed a place for employees to bunk, and so they purchased a house on Spruce, and one on Lake. 5598 Spruce is now on the market for $589,000, and 1162 Lake Drive is for sale for $629,000.
Read more....
May 4
ROYAL GORGE LLC'S "INTRODUCING THE VISION" ONE YEAR LATER*
Printable version....
*As mournfully recited by Bay Area Developers Kirk Syme, Todd Foster, Mark Foster, and T. Jack Foster and an unknown chorus of investors
We introduced our vision with a lovely handmade book
But only those with money were supposed to get a look.
We said the major building blocks to develop were in place
But, now it seems we have a bit of egg upon our face.
More....
May 3
IS ROYAL GORGE LLC MARKETING "FAILURE" AT DONNER SUMMIT AND SERENE LAKES?
Printable version....
Sometimes it's hard to figure out exactly what Royal Gorge LLC is aiming at up at Donner Summit and Serene Lakes. Theoretically, they want to do a couple of things: First, they wish to bring development plans before Placer County, and convince Placer County to change the General Plan and zoning to allow them to build over 1000 units (counting employee housing) in an area that is currently either pristine land, in the case of their proposed "ski camp", and "wilderness camp", or a cross country ski resort. They then wish to sell this on in some form, either as entitled raw land, or finished houses, condos, duplexes, and hotels to other purchasers. Royal Gorge also, if news articles of the last year are to be given weight, still entertains hopes of selling Rainbow Lodge to a new purchaser, as they'd indicated in past articles that they're not hoteliers.
Read more....
May 2
WILL ROYAL GORGE GET "MARTIS-IZED"?
Printable version....
It's spring, which heralds an upswing in high production value brochures arriving in the mail touting various real estate opportunities- legacy building "camps", "enclaves", and "retreats," all brimming with golf courses, exclusive club houses, and laden with amenities (fine print states no guarantee they will be built, subject to change without notice). This week's mail brought a handsome Martis Camp brochure, which besides the Northstar connection, and the required golf course, will also supposedly have a "lost library," a "folk school," and, my favorite, "purposeful amenities." I wonder what the distinction is between a "purposeful" and a "purposeless" amenity? Read more....
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