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Update: November 19, 2018 at 12:15 - Item has been withdrawn

November 19, 2018 - At the Tuesday, November 20, 2018 Board of Supervisors Meeting the Board will discuss approving a letter to Rep. Tom McClintock requesting assistance securing Mariposa County logo sman easement across federal lands for the Hazel Green Ranch Project.

The following is included in the supervisors packet:

RESOLUTION - ACTION REQUESTED MEETING:

November 20, 2018

TO: The Board of Supervisors

FROM: Merlin Jones, District II Supervisor

RE: Letter of Support for Hazel Green Ranch Easement

RECOMMENDATION AND JUSTIFICATION:

Approve a letter to Rep.Tom McClintock requesting assistance securing an easement across federal lands for the Hazel Green Ranch project.
The Hazel Green Ranch project is an 82+ acre private resort project that was begun in 1998 when the Hazel Green property was purchased at the suggestion and request of the Pacific West Region of the National Park Service. The land in question was originally a part of the Hazel Green Ranch and was deeded to the Federal Government by a predecessor owner to facilitate the development of the Big Oak Flat Road.

The Yosemite Park Service initially agreed to an approximate 700 foot easement from Big Oak Flat Road to the resort but has since denied the access. The project developer is again seeking the requested easement from the Park Service to prevent visitors from having to drive an approximate 26 mile round trip route to access the resort, and has requested the County’s support in the matter.

BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF BOARD ACTIONS:

The Board has routinely approved letters of support for issues that it believes will benefit the citizens of Mariposa County.

ALTERNATIVES AND CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Do not approve the letter. Individual members of the Board may write their own letters of support.


ATTACHMENTS:
Letter of Support - Hazel Green easement (DOCX)
Hazel Green Map (JPG)


November 20, 2018

Congressman Tom McClintock
2200A Douglas Blvd, Suite 240
Roseville, CA 95661

Dear Congressman McClintock,

The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors seeks your assistance to secure an approximate 700 foot easement across Forest Service land from the Big Oak Flat Road to the Hazel Green Ranch in Mariposa County. (The exact easement to be agreed upon by both parties in the designated area on the attached map.)

Hazel Green Ranch is a privately owned 82+ acre resort project bordered on one side by Yosemite National Park, and bounded on its other three sides by Stanislaus National Forest. The Ranch has passed all the tests for environmental feasibility, federal and state building standards, and is the top development project in the Mariposa County 20 year General Plan. Over a decade in the making, the Hazel Green Ranch will provide Mariposa County with:
 Transient occupancy tax
 A fire station that Yosemite National Park, Stanislaus National Forest, and our County can utilize
 An offer of plans for a University of California Sierra Nevada Research Center
 Significant visitor occupancy close to the Yosemite Valley floor
 A large number of good paying jobs.

Not only will the completion of this project provide economic development and jobs for Mariposa County, but it will also provide year round housing for approximately 100 Park employees which will assist with reducing the increasing traffic and parking congestion in Yosemite National Park.

As noted above, the Hazel Green Ranch requires a legal right-of-way to an approximate 700 foot easement from the Big Oak Flat Road for a two lane road. This project has been in existence since 1998, when the Hazel Green property was purchased at the suggestion and request of the Pacific West Region of the National Park Service. The land in question was originally a part of the Hazel Green Ranch and was deeded to the Federal Government by a predecessor owner to facilitate the development of the Big Oak Flat Road. The Yosemite Park Service initially agreed to the requested easement (including the construction by it of the needed road) in its adopted 2000 Yosemite Valley Plan but has since denied the access. However, without an easement, the only other access to Hazel Green is on miles of Forest Service Roads, which will require visitors to drive over 26 miles round trip rather than the approximate 1400 feet round-trip with the requested easement. Consequently, the Hazel Green Ranch has agreed to build and maintain this road, at their expense, to meet all federal, state and local standards for the life of this road easement.

With its completion, the Hazel Green Ranch project will be a winning situation for Yosemite National Park, the public, and the County. It will be a continuous job and revenue generator from start of construction through project completion and beyond; all at zero cost to the federal and state governments, or county taxpayers. In addition to providing additional and much-needed visitor facilities, the Hazel Green Ranch is also offering to build Park employee rental housing on ranch land adjacent to the Park itself. This, in turn, will create a better housing situation for those National Park Service employees who daily commute additional miles from the local communities outside the Park.

It is for these reasons that the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors supports this effort and asks that you assist in every way possible to help the Hazel Green Ranch secure the needed easement.

Sincerely,

Rosemarie Smallcombe, Chair Mariposa County Board of Supervisors

Attached Map of Proposed Development:
hazel green ranch mariposa county map
Source: Mariposa County