Big plans return for I-5 and Knighton Road

Photo by Quad Knopf

Hot Spot: A 92-acre commercial development is proposed at the northeast corner of the Interstate 5 and Knighton Road interchange.

About 50 people attended a scoping meeting at Anderson City Hall last Thursday for the 92-acre commercial development planned for the northeast corner of the Interstate 5 and Knighton Road intersection.

The proposed development included a variety of commercial uses, including retail shops, restaurants, lodging and recreation activities. Upon completion, the project would employ about 1,000 workers, according to project applicant Hawkins Companies Development, of Boise, Idaho.

The meeting was held to begin accepting questions to be addressed by the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), which is underway by Quad Knopf. The DEIR would examine potentially significant impacts of the project on a wide variety of issues, including air quality, water quality, traffic, utilities, aesthetics and biological resources. Representatives from Quad Knopf at the meeting said it the DEIR may be ready in about four months.

Several members of the Churn Creek Bottom Homeowners and Friends (CCBHF) organization spoke to the Quad Knopf planners of concerns about the DEIR.

Member Rod Evans asked planners to detail what parts of the project DEIR would borrow from previous project EIRs.

"The impacts from the auto mall are very, very different from those of this project," Evans said, refering to a proposed auto mall development at the same location quashed by county supervisors in 2007.

CCBHF President Tom Reemts questioned sense of the carbon footprint caused by creating retail services away from a population center.

Would-be neighbor to the proposed project Bud Miller questioned how ACID water loss would affect the septic system used by the development.

Shasta County Supervisor of District 5 Les Baugh was in attendance at the meeting, but declined to comment on impressions of the project.

"It's too early," he said, "I just came to the meeting for information."

To be considered in the DEIR, all comments must be submitted to the county before March 4, 2009, to Lisa Lozier, Senior Planner, Shasta County Department of Resource Management, Planning Division, 1855 Placer Street, Suite 103, Redding CA 96001.