July 9, 1964 (28 pages)

July 9, 1964..Nevada County Nugget. . @9 GRAND JURY FINDS ROAD MESS The roads and subdivisions conr mittee of the 1964 Nevada County GrandJury Monday presented the county supervisors with a report. of its investigations of eight subdivisions accused of ‘alleged violations of the State Map Act. The report, which calls the situation "so harmful asto amount to a county scandal," urges the current controversy on subidvisions be handled through the Planning Commission and that the supervisors withold action on pass~age of a resolution introduced last week by attorney Harry Wolters. The report, which was read to the supervisors by foreman Alfred M. Brass, follows: “We very much appreciate your holding the status quo on subdivisions, and although we had only 5 days, including the Fourth of July weekend, with work we ‘had done prior to this, and another inspection trip, we can now give you an interim report which we hope will help you. “We have made several trips of inspection to nearly all of the subdivisions which. have applied for special relief through their attormeys, and have examined them as carefully as time permitted. : “It is our finding that the failure of the subdividers in question to give your board the opportunity toregulate road width and alignment, drainage provisions and lot design, were not merely "technical violations", but in fact resulted in substantial loss of protection tothe taxpayers of Nevada County and future residents of these subdivisions; protection they wouldhave had if the Subdivision May Act were obeyed. “In all of the subdivisions we examined, one or more of these deficiencies were found to be present. “For example, here are some of the things we have found, and pictures are attached to illustrate some of the statements. LAZY VALLEY ACRES “It was the unanimous opinion of the Committees viewing this property that Lazy Valley Acres is a typical example of how bad a development can become when subdivision laws are not obeyed. or standards maintained. “The roads here are inadequate in width, alignment and in construction. There are many pot~holes although residents have been filling them in at their own ex~ pense as well as oiling the roads. Drainage is inadequate in many places. Residents tell the committee that the subdividers promised to bring the roads up to specifications and that the county would take the roads over. This has not been done to date although jots have been sold here for a number of years. “Lack of control has allowed division of lots into as small as quarter acre parcels, each with its own septic tank, The complaint of many residents makes us believe this area may be subject to a public health hazard. “Failure of the subdividers to properly stake out each lot has caused quarrels, Fences cannot be properly placed. Legal descriptions have overlapped. One person said he has built his driveway, mistakenly, on his neighbor's property. “This was avery beautiful piece of land before development. If laws had been obeyed it could have been lovely now. If proper off-site improvements for this densely settled site are installed it could still be a fine place to live. Ifthey are not, this will be a financial burden to the county taxpayers for many years and mean problems for all its residents, “ While these roads were not impossible when there was only a sprinkling of houses, now that this development is largely sold out and built upon it is readily apparent that they were completely inadequate for the uses intended. And this could be the story in every one of the problem subdivisions which have not complied with law. MADRONA SPRINGS The roads in this subdivision are poorly made and inadequate by any reasonable standard. They Madrona Springs are inadequate in’ alignment and width and drainage provisions are poor in some places and nonexistent in others. For example, Dobbins Drive has a maximum width at one point of ten feet, measured from one bank to the other bank. No provision whatsoever was made at that point for any drainage, no culverts where needed. The roads were dirt, with a scattering of rock thicker in some places than in others. There seemed tobe no rock base at all, If the county ultimately took this road over it would be extremely expensive to construct to proper specifications. This road will be inadequate inthe future when-the subdivision is fully sold, but it is alsoclearly inadequate as of now, from almost any point of view. OVERBROOK HILLS Roads here are inadequate as to width and alignment. Road banks are practically vertical in places instead of the required maximum of 45 degrees, Road grades are extreme and dangerous, Drainage is inadequate ornon-existent. No rock base for the road-which was simply graded and sprinkled with a small amount of rock. 18 1/2 acres to be developed, but only four houses and these under construction on lots which seem far smaller than one acre each. One road, “Little Way" appears so steep the committee felt it might not be possible to get out again in aconventional automobile, particularly in winter. Portions of this development would be quite attractive as a picnic-grounds, Little Way Overbrook Hills but unsuitable for living areas unless substantial off-site improvements were provided. One road was a dead-end road, not permitted under county standards. BROOKVIEW ACRES, HIGHLAND PARK and HIGHLAND PARK. EXTENSION “T hese three subdivisions were begun by one developer and are adjacent to each other. A portion was begun in 1951, which makes it far older than any of the other subdivisions under consideration, but the majority of it was begun in 1956 and 1961. Nearly 800 acres are involved here, and although there are relatively few houses, the roads have suffered very badly in the older parts, and in the newer parts the construction of roads is no better. “All are dirt roads with no rock base at all, a sprinkling of rock scattered on top of the newer portions. In many places no provisions were made for drainage, in other places the provisions are quite inadequate. Extreme erosion has eaten into many banks, made deep gullies by the sides of roads, and in some cases have formed erosion ditches six to eight inches deep right down the middle of the road and across the road's surface. These roads are also inadequate in width, some as narrow as 8 feet in places. “These subdivisions provide examples of.roads poorly constructed in the beginning which cannot hold up under winter rr © 7 _ aS pi: weather or travel. It is thought that the roads in nearly any of the subdivisions visited would look like these in a few years unless considerable improvement was accomplished by someone. SHERWOOD FOREST The road construction here had the best appearance of any we examined in the subdivisions not approved by the Supervisors. However, Standards, and when a sample was taken of the road base it was found that there was no rock base at all, and that the road merely consisted of one course of rock on top of native ground which had been scraped. Erosion had started already, and it was felt drainage provisionswere inadequate. This road is new, and will depreciate quickly with weather and travel. Although adequate for the few homes there now, it would not be adequate if the 51 homes expected tobe built on the 58 acres were occupied,. Mr. Mills was present at one of these visits and while the road base was inspected. He was very cooperative. It will be expensive to make these roads proper. However it would be wrong to place the burden of doing this work on the taxvavers Rd Sherwood Forest or subject future residents to the discomforts of inadequately planned roads when all lots are RIDGE CREST “A county road goes through most of this development with cross-roads provided by the subdivider, The County Road is not of the highest standard, but the cross-roads are extremely inadequate in width. One of these is eight feet in width, It is a dirt road, no rock base, and very > Wis it is far below the County dusty. No provision at all on this road for drainage. Sm Sar ear ianRidge Crest Road” “In summary, it is the feeling of the Roads Committee and the Subdivision Committee that the 1963 Grand Jury report was correct in considering this problem to be of the greatest importance to Nevada County and its taxpayers. “We wish to carry on that investigation, and respectfully suggest that the passage of the resolution now before your board would make this work more difficult, It would also encourage more of the wrong kind of subdivision activity of which we have given examplestoday, and which have been so harmful as to amount to a county scandal. “Itis our feeling that the regular procedures the Board has adopted are adequate for reviewing subdivision applications. That the problem subdivisions shou ldbe treated just like the others, and according tothe rules.as they are today, not at some past time. If the Planning Commission sees fit torecommend exceptions, we are sure you will give these, one by one, your careful consideration on the basis of what will be best for all of the people, the tax~payers and Nevada County's future citizens as well as the subdividers.” High Cut Bank in Overbrook Hills — a cae TT

July 9, 1964...Nevada County Nugget. . @9 GRAND JURY FINDS ROAD MESS The roads and subdivisions conr mittee of the 1964 Nevada County GrandJury Monday presented the county supervisors with a report. of its investigations of eight subdivisions accused of ‘alleged violations of the State Map Act. The report, which calls the situation "so harmful asto amount to a county scandal," urges the current controversy on subidvisions be handled through the Planning Commission and that the supervisors withold action on pass~age of a resolution introduced last week by attorney Harry Wolters. The report, which was read to the supervisors by foreman Alfred M. Brass, follows: “We very much appreciate your holding the status quo on subdivisions, and although we had only 5 days, including the Fourth of July weekend, with work we ‘had done prior to this, and another inspection trip, we can now give you an interim report which we hope will help you. “We have made several trips of inspection to nearly all of the subdivisions which. have applied for special relief through their attormeys, and have examined them as carefully as time permitted. : “It is our finding that the failure of the subdividers in question to give your board the opportunity toregulate road width and alignment, drainage provisions and lot design, were not merely "technical violations", but in fact resulted in substantial loss of protection tothe taxpayers of Nevada County and future residents of these subdivisions; protection they wouldhave had if the Subdivision May Act were obeyed. “In all of the subdivisions we examined, one or more of these deficiencies were found to be present. “For example, here are some of the things we have found, and pictures are attached to illustrate some of the statements. LAZY VALLEY ACRES “It was the unanimous opinion of the Committees viewing this property that Lazy Valley Acres is a typical example of how bad a development can become when subdivision laws are not obeyed. or standards maintained. “The roads here are inadequate in width, alignment and in construction. There are many pot~holes although residents have been filling them in at their own ex~ pense as well as oiling the roads. Drainage is inadequate in many places. Residents tell the committee that the subdividers promised to bring the roads up to specifications and that the county would take the roads over. This has not been done to date although jots have been sold here for a number of years. “Lack of control has allowed division of lots into as small as quarter acre parcels, each with its own septic tank, The complaint of many residents makes us believe this area may be subject to a public health hazard. “Failure of the subdividers to properly stake out each lot has caused quarrels, Fences cannot be properly placed. Legal descriptions have overlapped. One person said he has built his driveway, mistakenly, on his neighbor's property. “This was avery beautiful piece of land before development. If laws had been obeyed it could have been lovely now. If proper off-site improvements for this densely settled site are installed it could still be a fine place to live. Ifthey are not, this will be a financial burden to the county taxpayers for many years and mean problems for all its residents, “ While these roads were not impossible when there was only a sprinkling of houses, now that this development is largely sold out and built upon it is readily apparent that they were completely inadequate for the uses intended. And this could be the story in every one of the problem subdivisions which have not complied with law. MADRONA SPRINGS The roads in this subdivision are poorly made and inadequate by any reasonable standard. They Madrona Springs are inadequate in’ alignment and width and drainage provisions are poor in some places and nonexistent in others. For example, Dobbins Drive has a maximum width at one point of ten feet, measured from one bank to the other bank. No provision whatsoever was made at that point for any drainage, no culverts where needed. The roads were dirt, with a scattering of rock thicker in some places than in others. There seemed tobe no rock base at all, If the county ultimately took this road over it would be extremely expensive to construct to proper specifications. This road will be inadequate inthe future when-the subdivision is fully sold, but it is alsoclearly inadequate as of now, from almost any point of view. OVERBROOK HILLS Roads here are inadequate as to width and alignment. Road banks are practically vertical in places instead of the required maximum of 45 degrees, Road grades are extreme and dangerous, Drainage is inadequate ornon-existent. No rock base for the road-which was simply graded and sprinkled with

a small amount of rock. 18 1/2 acres to be developed, but only four houses and these under construction on lots which seem far smaller than one acre each. One road, “Little Way" appears so steep the committee felt it might not be possible to get out again in aconventional automobile, particularly in winter. Portions of this development would be quite attractive as a picnic-grounds, Little Way Overbrook Hills but unsuitable for living areas unless substantial off-site improvements were provided. One road was a dead-end road, not permitted under county standards. BROOKVIEW ACRES, HIGHLAND PARK and HIGHLAND PARK. EXTENSION “T hese three subdivisions were begun by one developer and are adjacent to each other. A portion was begun in 1951, which makes it far older than any of the other subdivisions under consideration, but the majority of it was begun in 1956 and 1961. Nearly 800 acres are involved here, and although there are relatively few houses, the roads have suffered very badly in the older parts, and in the newer parts the construction of roads is no better. “All are dirt roads with no rock base at all, a sprinkling of rock scattered on top of the newer portions. In many places no provisions were made for drainage, in other places the provisions are quite inadequate. Extreme erosion has eaten into many banks, made deep gullies by the sides of roads, and in some cases have formed erosion ditches six to eight inches deep right down the middle of the road and across the road's surface. These roads are also inadequate in width, some as narrow as 8 feet in places. “These subdivisions provide examples of.roads poorly constructed in the beginning which cannot hold up under winter rr © 7 _ aS pi: weather or travel. It is thought that the roads in nearly any of the subdivisions visited would look like these in a few years unless considerable improvement was accomplished by someone. SHERWOOD FOREST The road construction here had the best appearance of any we examined in the subdivisions not approved by the Supervisors. However, Standards, and when a sample was taken of the road base it was found that there was no rock base at all, and that the road merely consisted of one course of rock on top of native ground which had been scraped. Erosion had started already, and it was felt drainage provisionswere inadequate. This road is new, and will depreciate quickly with weather and travel. Although adequate for the few homes there now, it would not be adequate if the 51 homes expected tobe built on the 58 acres were occupied,. Mr. Mills was present at one of these visits and while the road base was inspected. He was very cooperative. It will be expensive to make these roads proper. However it would be wrong to place the burden of doing this work on the taxvavers Rd Sherwood Forest or subject future residents to the discomforts of inadequately planned roads when all lots are RIDGE CREST “A county road goes through most of this development with cross-roads provided by the subdivider, The County Road is not of the highest standard, but the cross-roads are extremely inadequate in width. One of these is eight feet in width, It is a dirt road, no rock base, and very > Wis it is far below the County dusty. No provision at all on this road for drainage. Sm Sar ear ianRidge Crest Road” “In summary, it is the feeling of the Roads Committee and the Subdivision Committee that the 1963 Grand Jury report was correct in considering this problem to be of the greatest importance to Nevada County and its taxpayers. “We wish to carry on that investigation, and respectfully suggest that the passage of the resolution now before your board would make this work more difficult, It would also encourage more of the wrong kind of subdivision activity of which we have given examplestoday, and which have been so harmful as to amount to a county scandal. “Itis our feeling that the regular procedures the Board has adopted are adequate for reviewing subdivision applications. That the problem subdivisions shou ldbe treated just like the others, and according tothe rules.as they are today, not at some past time. If the Planning Commission sees fit torecommend exceptions, we are sure you will give these, one by one, your careful consideration on the basis of what will be best for all of the people, the tax~payers and Nevada County's future citizens as well as the subdividers.” High Cut Bank in Overbrook Hills — a cae TT