Citizens of the Lake Tulloch Basin should expect a number of vital decisions to be made in 2006 that will affect the future of the community, the natural environment, and our way of life. Over 120 new houses were built just in the Copper Cove development in 2005. The Lake Tulloch Alliance, made up of hundreds of leaders and residents from both Tuolumne and Calaveras County, is committed to keeping citizens informed and will continue to provide leadership to insure that smart decisions are made by leaders at all levels of government.

The Lake Tulloch Alliance is NOT anti-growth but rather advocates smart growth. The proposed Copperopolis Community Plan provides for a total population of 40,000 in Copperopolis or about a community eight times larger than the current city of Sonora. That's not smart growth, that's just "dumb" planning.

The decision making this is going to be primarily done by the Boards of Supervisors of both counties and their planning commissions. Consider the following issues in 2006:

• Proposed Condo Project to Remove 200,000 plus square feet of lake from public use - The Marina Villa condo project is proposed by Oakdale developer Merle Holman to be built on pylons in and over the lake several hundred yards from the O'Byrnes Ferry Bridge. It provides for 20 homes, parking, and a marina that would not only add more boat docks to the lake but only a small percentage of the project is built on actual land. More than 200,000 square feet of lake would be covered by the project proposed by Holman. Calaveras County approval of this poor project would set a precident for more building over the lake surface that is already congested and would totally destroy this shoreline of the lake. One county planner said erroneously that over lake construction is permitted on the lake. Only some lots in Poker Flat have that provision.
  • Union Democrat Story -  Click here for the December 30, 2005 Sonora Union Democrat story on the project.
  • Click here for copy of LTA letter to county on Marina Villa Project

• Castle and Cook Proposal to build more houses, docks, hotel and resturant on Lake - Castle Cook (Saddle Creek) has purchased three thousand plus acres on the lake and plans extensive development. The developer has now hired Paul Stein, a former Calaveras County Supervisor as a vice president, to push through their development plans through Calaveras County Government. While Stein supported the community on one or two issues involving on lake development while in office, he consistently voted against efforts to curb inappropriate development on the lake. He has never demonstrated an interest in smart growth for our community or protecting and enhancing natural beauty and resources of the Lake Tulloch Basin. 

Castle and Cook is well known for building high quality projects and has stated an interest in lake preservation, it will be incumbent on citizens that it keeps it promises and doesn't think it can use an ex-elected official with no real past interest in our community to push through their development goals which will adversely impact the lake and the public.  Stay tuned!!!

• Click here for Modesto Bee Story on  Castle and Cook Plans

• Tuscany Hills Development - Developer Robert Hicks and his partners have filed plans to develop the other large piece of reminding on lake property in Calaveras County. The developers had filed an environmental impact report which doesn't significantly address their plans to build more public marinas on the lake thereby bringing more boats to the lake.  This project would have a major impact on the lake too. We need to support minimum lot size for any more lots on the lake of at least 20 acres. Most new lots approved in Tuolumne County are in excess of 37 acres.

• Lemke Project - Developer John Lemke is planning another housing project for 253 homes and condos on just 58 acres immediately adjacent to Conner Estates and the Peninusula Estates. He is just finishing building a condo project off Copper Cove Drive. The project will add more people and traffic and is yet one of another projects that is impacting our community. Sounds like the development density of urban California has come to the Sierra Foothils. It appears the project is going to be changed due to negative public reaction and the results of the environmental impact report.Watch for details!!
  • Click here for story on Lemke Project.

• Calaveras County Supervisor Election - This June voters in the Calaveras County portion of the Lake Tullock Basin will cast for votes for the election of a County Supervisor for the district. We urge citizens to study the Initiatives created by the LTA and presented in this website and then urge candidates to support them. We need government officials that support the best interests of our community.  2006 provides us an opportunity to get firm commitments from those that seek to represent us.

We will be keeping LTA supporters abreast of these and other developments.