HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail from Neil Gugins - Craig Access Road Menchaca, Clarissa
From: Thistlethwhe, Charles
Sent: Monday, December 1l' 2O17l1:2OAK4
To: Menchaca, Clarissa
Cc: Hatcher, Casey
Subject: [mrrespondenmsfor |temn5.D]: Adoptionof[naigAccessRnadKnterimUrBency
Ordinance and Rescission of 8mamj Minute Order 79-346
Attachments: 2017-12-08 Letter from Neil Gugins.pdf
Clarissa,
Attached, please find aletter from Neil Gug|nsregarding Item 5.03omtomorrow's Board Agenda: Adoption ofCraig
Access Road Interim Urgency Ordinance and Rescission of Board Minute Order 79-346.
Please let me know |f| need to bring up the original and/or any copies.
Thank you,
Chuck
Charles Thiot|edhwaihe, Planning Manager
Department of Development Services
7 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965
T� 530.538.6572 (direct) or 580.538,7001 (main) [ F: 530,5381785
DECU - 82017
Neil Gugins
P.O. Box 6124
Oroville,CA 95966
December 4,2017
Mr.Tim Snellings
Director of Development Services
County Administrative Center
25 County Center Drive
Oroville,CA 95965-3316
Re: Temporary Limitations on New Development on Parcels Having Access Off Of Craig Access Rd.
Dear Mr.Snellings:
In the 60's when the dam was being built,Craig Access Rd.was called Oregon Gulch Rd,DWR took it
over to access the new lake and the boat-in campsite at the end of the road. DWR would show up once
a year with a grader to scrap and ditch the road,usually before winter. That practice ended sometime In
the 90's. Road conditions began to deteriorate and DWR would only maintain it when it got bad.
Possibly brought to their attention by complaints from local landowners.
My wife and i have received permission from DWR to drive on Craig Access Rd.since the early 1980's
when we pulled permits with the county to build on our land. We were told by Planning and Building
that the Craig Access area was illegally subdivided(by Lockheed,who sold us the parcels)and was
supposed to have deeded access/right-of-way back to a public road(Lumpkin Rd.),as if we created the
problem. How could that have happened without someone at the county accepting a kickback??
Craig Access Rd is very flat and not difficult to maintain. About 2 miles in,it becomes the old railroad
grade,totally flat,all the way to the lake. There is a slight grade from Lumpkin Rd.for the first 1000 ft.
then flattens out and runs along the creek until it hits the railroad grade. In that first 1000 ft.the road
gets hammered in rain years like last winter. A little grading and a couple loads of gravel once a year Is
all it needs—before the rainy season.
Garbage trucks, PG&E,tree trimmers,water and soil for the"organic farmers",communication trucks,
UPS,propane trucks,dump trucks,and Cal Fire use Craig Access Rd.daily. The only time emergency
vehicles were unable to pass was during the one incident last winter within 1000 ft of Lumpkin Rd.
caused by no maintenance being performed by DWR.
DWR is Incapable of maintaining a spillway or a dirt road in the foothills. Possibly because they are too
big and certainly because they don't care.
Our property taxes are accepted each year,including annual increases. We also pay the state a fire
prevention fee for the purpose accessing rural properties. Instead of imposing an interim emergency
ordinance on our area,which is not part of any solution,we are asking the County to take over the
maintenance of Craig Access Rd.either permanently or until a solution with DWR can be worked out.
We are also asking for clear deeded right of way back to Lumpkin Rd.which should have been granted to
us in the first place.
if my and I are unable to attend the meeting on December 12,2017,we request that this letter be read
at the Board of Supervisors meeting.
Thank youforyour consideration.
Neil Gugins �