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| Humboldt County Supervisors Decline to Extend Building Moratorium November 6, 2007 For Immediate Release - Contact: Sam Johnston, EPIC (510) 665-3920 Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Will Allow Expiration of Temporary Building Moratorium on TPZ Lands But Board Declares that Failure to Extend Moratorium in No Way Represents Any Endorsement or Acceptance of the Pacific Lumber "Redwood Ranch Development" Proposal Eureka, CA, November 6, 2007 -- The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors today declined to extend the moratorium on building permits on TPZ (timber production) lands. The extension required a 4/5 vote, which two out of five Supervisors - Jimmy Smith and Roger Rodoni - declined to provide, so the extension was ultimately not voted on. Timber industry representatives and property-rights advocates had heavily lobbied the Board to repeal the moratorium. The Board neither repealed it nor extended it. It merely left the moratorium in place until it expires November 23. Nevertheless, the Board emphasized that the allowance of the expiration of the moratorium in no way represents any endorsement or acceptance of Pacific Lumber's (PL's) controversial "Redwood Ranch Development" proposal. The Board stated it will send a letter stating as much to the judge currently overseeing PL's bankruptcy case in Houston, TX. Maxxam/Pacific Lumber (PL) has proposed a reorganization plan in bankruptcy court that includes the development and sale of 160-acre "Kingdom" properties, on some 22,000 acres of its forestlands, near the Headwaters Grove and adjoining protected, fragile habitat of endangered species. The PL proposal generated sharp controversy and prompted the Board of Supervisors to pass the temporary moratorium on October 9 restricting building permits on TPZ lands for 45 days. Today's hearing was on the proposed extension of that moratorium. The Board's Chair, Bonnie Neely, stated directly to Pacific Lumber President George O'Brien that the proposed Redwood Ranch Development would require a review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as well as a change in zoning designation. The remaining hurdles before the "Redwood Ranch Development" can ever be approved thus reveal a project of highly dubious feasibility, not even taking into account the economic shockwaves it would send across the landscape of Humboldt's timber economy. "Charles Hurwitz's proposal to develop 'Kingdom' ranchettes and golf courses on Pacific Lumber's forestlands needs to be recognized as a non-starter," said Sam Johnston, Private Lands Campaigner for EPIC, adding, "it has become crystal clear that any solution involving a responsible management plan for Pacific Lumber's forestlands cannot in any way involve the current parent company, Maxxam, or its CEO, Charles Hurwitz. The best thing that can happen to Pacific Lumber and Humboldt County right now is a one-way ticket for Charles Hurwitz and his Maxxam Corporations back to Houston, TX. Today's clear statement of skepticism from the Board about the prospects for the centerpiece of Hurwitz's scheme to deal with his creditors reinforces this reality." Ten days prior to the expiration of the moratorium, the Board will issue a final written report describing measures taken by the Board to alleviate the conditions that led to the moratorium. Such measures will include the following: - reviewing the existing TPZ code for consistency with state law; - study and analysis of the issue of residential development on TPZ lands, including the issuance of Conditional Use and Special Use Permits; - direction that the Planning Commission consider as part of the General Plan Update, two categories of timberland zoning, one for industrial timberland parcels and one for non-industrial timberland parcels; - direction that the Planning Commission also consider other timberland zoning issues such as the transfer of development rights. For more information contact: Sam Johnston, EPIC (510) 665-3920 -end- Sam Johnston Private Lands Campaigner Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) P.O. Box 397 Garberville, CA 95542 (707) 923-2931 (707) 923-4210 (fax) www.wildcalifornia.org sam@wildcalifornia.org <~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>  << Back to Press Release Archive | Latest Press Release | Newsroom | | 
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