Losing Our Way of Life
Losing Our Way Of Life...Do we want Scott Valley
to become another Disneyland?
An Alabama corporation wants to build a 200 acre resort for 1600 people on the eastern edge of the Russian Wilderness. This will not bring more jobs. This will not bring more tax revenue.
This will bring lots more traffic, and crowds of people
exploiting our mountains, streams, and lakes.
This corporation imports most of their staff, does almost no local shopping, and hardly pays any taxes at all because they are classified as a foreign non-profit corporation. Since 1979 this Alabama corporation has been exploiting our resources while grossing hundreds of thousands of dollars tax free.While most businesses in Siskiyou County abide by the rules and regulations of their permits,this corporation has flagrantly and consistently violated the limits of its permit. In fact, when the Grand Jury investigated them in 2007-2008, the Grand Jury recommended that the Board ofSupervisors issue a cease and desist order until at least eight major violations were corrected. According to the JH Ranch, all except for two violations were eventually corrected, but still they continued to expand their operation beyond the limits of their permit. Then, wanting to expand their operations even more, they purchased a large and exclusive resort on the Scott River for what has been reported over six million dollars.
This Alabama corporation calls itself the JH Ranch. Although headquartered in Alabama, and operating in foreign countries, they are trying to expand in our small valley at the confluence of two mountain streams draining the Russian Wilderness-- Paynes Creek and French Creek.
Now they want the Board of Supervisors to rezone this property from 79 acres to 202 acres, and to increase the occupancy numbers from their permitted 250 people to 1600 people, or more. This is greater than the combined population of Etna and Fort Jones.
In order to prevent this kind of development and destruction of our rural lifestyle the Scott Valley Plan was passed by the voters of Scott Valley in 1980 for the explicit purpose of controlling growth and development, and protecting wildlife. But the JH Corporation's big-city lawyers argue that these rules don't apply to them. Already we have seen the impact of these wealthy guests from the south---crowded and polluted lakes, trail-head parking lots filled beyond capacity, caravans of cars and busses driving too fast on our narrow mountain roads, local swimming holes taken over by strangers, crowds of loud people in the wilderness having no respect or appreciation for solitude. Just imagine what it will be like to multiply this by four or five.Imagine the increased cost to the County in road maintenance, fire prevention, search and rescue, ambulance and emergency medical treatment, and other services.
And what do we get in return? Nothing. No increased tax revenue for these increased services because they are classified as a foreign non-profit corporation.Until the end of March the Planning Director will take public comments regarding this proposaland after March 31 he will present his recommendation to the Planning Commission. The commission's decision will then go to the Board of Supervisors to approve or disapprove. If theSupervisors approve, it will be the end of the life we love in Siskiyou County.
