Coastal commission approves Samoa Master Plan development; milestone reached in 10-year process to develop on the peninsula
Donna Tam
The Times-Standard
03/11/2011
After 10 years of discussion and compromise, the California Coastal Commission on Thursday unanimously approved the certification of what is being called a “rare” and “spectacular” development for the Samoa peninsula.
Developer Dan Johnson of Danco said the vote from the commission certifying the plan is a milestone for the project. With the exception of some concerns for the magnitude of the 220-acre site and the commission's authority over the appeal process, commissioners expressed their support for the plan.
”It feels like we won the Super Bowl,” Johnson said, adding that he teared up when he heard the commission's approval.
The Samoa Pacific Group, a group co-owned by Danco and Sun Valley Floral Farms President and CEO Lane DeVries, has been trying to develop Samoa since it purchased the historic lumber mill town in 2001, proposing the addition of homes, businesses, an RV park, an indoor soccer arena, a business park and other amenities. The town dates back to the late 1800s.
The developer's next step is getting an approval from the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors.
In previous stages of the process, commission staff had presented concerns regarding brownfield cleanup, coastal hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis, and lot adjustment issues.
Bob Merrill, the district manager for the Coastal Commission's North Coast District Office, said staff and the developer have been able to come to an agreement
about amendments to the submitted plan and how to address the issues.
Conditions include the establishment of a new wastewater treatment plant and the merger of multiple parcels.
Commissioner Ross Mirkarimi said it was “very rare” that the project's developer and the commission staff were able to come to such a complete agreement on the plan.
He and other commissioners emphasized the need to ensure that the project's phases could be appealed to the commission in the future. Ultimately, the commission asked staff to include language to ensure that would be the case.
Commissioner Bruce Reznik said he has some concern over the size of the development, but was willing to approve the certification because the developer engaged the community.
Several commissioners noted having conversations with representatives from Humboldt Baykeeper, which also submitted statements in support of the commission staff's amendments to the plan to protect natural resources and encouraged infill development.
”If there had been community opposition, I would have had significant concern,” Reznik said.
