SUBDIVISION: Called “Panorama Planned Development,” the proposed subdivision has 440 lots penciled onto 307 rural acres.
A 440-lot residential development, called Panorama Planned Development, has been proposed for a 307-acre site bounded to the west by Locust Street and to the south by Treefoil Lane and Balls Ferry Road in Cottonwood. That many additional residences could increase Cottonwood’s population by 1,154 people, according to county documents. Approximately 130 of the 307 acres would be left as open space in the interior of the development.
The project comes to Cottonwood from Robert Martinson, president of Romar Homes, Inc. Martinson, a general contractor of 20 years in the Bay Area, has built subdivisions in the Bay Area as well as a 12-lot subdivision on Bywood Lane off of Bowman Road.
Panorama Planned Development would include a variety of houses, from 1,400 sq. ft. to 2,500 sq. ft., said Martinson. The subdivision would also include spaces for mobile homes and an RV storage facility.
“It’s not claiming agricultural land, and it can help local schools with declining enrollment,” Martinson said of the proposal.
The project also includes a community center and a bike trail that runs throughout the area.
The development would require a land-use rezoning from rural residential to suburban residential. Current zoning provides for one dwelling unit per 2.2 acres. The rezoning would allow a density of 1.4 units per acre. But in order to rezone, an amendment to the county’s general plan must ultimately be approved by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors.
“We moved into our home in Cottonwood in December 2006 after searching throughout Shasta County to find a quiet, relaxing place to live,” Linda Johnson of Cottonwood said. “When we saw the rural setting that this house provided, with a covered deck looking out onto the grove of oak trees, we knew this was where we wanted to live. Had we known at that time there was a possibility that the zoning (would) be changed . . . we would have looked elsewhere to buy our home. Let’s keep Cottonwood rural.”
“Those who live here value our rural quality of life,” added Dr. Marta Kreps of Cottonwood.
An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be created to determine how the proposed subdivision would impact its surroundings.
Shasta County Public Works Director Pat Minturn said that a substantial sewage improvement would likely be necessary, and he said that the development would impact the Deschutes Road and I-5 interchange as well. The existing $2,800 traffic impact fee per housing unit in the development would offset additional traffic in Cottonwood but not at the aforementioned interchange.
Shasta County is holding a public scoping meeting Wednesday, Feb. 27, 6-8 p.m. at North Cottonwood School, 19920 Gas Point Road in Cottonwood. The meeting would provide information and an opportunity to comment on the EIR.
The county will accept written comments about the project until March 19. Comments should be directed to Kent Hector, Senior Planner, Shasta County Department of Resource Management, Planning Division, 1855 Placer Street, Suite 103, Redding, CA 96001. Questions may also be directed to Hector at 225-5532.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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