Sutter Creek – Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort partner Bill Bunce told the Sutter Creek City Council last week that he was trying to keep his project alive. Mayor Gary Wooten asked Bunce to attend last week and answer city council questions about the project’s specific plan, currently under council consideration for approval. Councilman Pat Crosby said the “project is too big for Sutter Creek” and asked whether developers could consider a smaller number of units. Bunce said the project began by identifying its feasible size, and concluded the 1,334 housing units as the goal project. He said if the number of units was reduced, Gold Rush’s abilities to offer amenities would be affected, including wastewater system improvements, school agreements, a water pipeline and water tanks. Bunce said: “We feel that the project has been compromised” and “we are doing the best that we can to make sure it survives.” Crosby said he thought the project has “shocked enough people that they will probably accept a project of 400 or 500 units.” He said he thought the city needed a “large area for an active park,” and he did not agree with the golf course. Bunce said the development agreement includes a 15-acre park, and they plan to build a golf course first, to make the project a “destination.” They have a goal to “get started as quickly as possible.” He said a driving range will be built in the form of an outdoor amphitheater, and he expects it to be used that way. Bunce said the clubhouse will include public space to be used for meetings. Wooten asked if they were committed to sewer improvements, noting that the council decided earlier in the meeting to not issue bonds to replenish $750,000 spent on sewer maintenance and expansion. Bunce said Gold Rush is committed to following the city Wastewater Master Plan, designed to require upgrades based on housing development sizes. He said the site is “visually un-intrusive,” and was chosen for tertiary disposal purposes. Bunce said they “have invested an incredible amount of money” and they are aware of the economy, real estate and capital markets; and the delay to start hurts them. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Murphy said 2 developments in Sutter Creek had not sold 150 homes, and he asked if Gold Rush would have “production homes” to help sales. Bunce said the “demand for the project is driven by the quality of the project itself.” And custom and production homes both will be part of the golf course project. The council next meets on the Gold Rush issue next Monday, October 19th. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.