Neighbors, agricultural leaders say commercial aspect surpasses farming.
By Cathy Locke - clocke@sacbee.com
A proposed ranch marketing operation came under fire not only from neighboring residents, but also from representatives of El Dorado County's agricultural community, who said it appeared commercial aspects of the enterprise would overwhelm the farming activities.
Mark Lee, a resident of Bucks Bar Road in the rural Pleasant Valley community south of Placerville, said neighbor John Mosbacher's plan for 50 acres of agricultural land appeared to have morphed into a commercial events center.
"John's vision of a small family farm and reunion center, as was presented to us, has really gotten out of hand," said Lee, adding that he was representing several area property owners during the Dec. 13 Planning Commission hearing.
... "My vision hasn't changed," Mosbacher said of his proposed Pleasant Valley Harvest center, about two miles south of Pleasant Valley Road. "Maybe I didn't communicate it well enough."
The commission, however, directed Mosbacher to work with county planners and come back with a plan to phase the project to ensure that agriculture would remain the dominant activity.
Mosbacher seeks a special use permit to construct a three-level, 11,338- square-foot ranch marketing building. It would include lodging, a commercial kitchen and bake shop, ranch marketing and sales area, dining facility, multiuse hall, offices and storage.
Also proposed is a three-level, 32-foot-high observation tower with lodging on the top floor, a picnic area, walking paths and a pond, 147 parking spaces and a single-family residence, where Mosbacher and his wife plan to live.
Mosbacher also seeks permission to hold a total of 62 commercial and promotional events annually on the property, including two outdoor theatrical performances attended by up too 300 people.
Neither the ranch marketing, nor the bed-and-breakfast operation or special events, would be allowed under the permit until at least 5 acres were producing an agricultural crop.
Mosbacher said 7 acres are planted in orchards and should be producing in two to three years, and the potential exists for agricultural production on 90 acres.
But representatives of the agricultural community argued the project was overly ambitious.
Tom Heflin, a member of the county Agricultural Commission and owner of Rainbow Orchards in the Apple Hill area, described Mosbacher's agricultural operation as a young farm that has yet to prove economically viable.
"It seems like he wants to service all the debt with special events. I've got a problem with that," Heflin said. "I've got a big problem with that."
Valerie Zentner, El Dorado County Farm Bureau executive director, said the organization encourages ranch marketing activities to support agribusiness.
But she said, "I do have a concern with this particular project. Typically, the agriculture comes first. He's asking for way more than is currently allowed in ranch marketing."
... Planning Commission member Dave Machado said the project appeared to be primarily a commercial operation. Allowing a commercial center on agricultural lands, he said, would be unfair to similar operations on commercially zoned parcels, which must pay higher property taxes and the higher commercial water rates.
...
About the writer: * Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 608-7451.
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, December 27, 2007
Story appeared in El DORADO FOLSOM RANCHO CORDO section, Page H2
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ABOUT: John J. Mosbacher, REALTOR.
I was raised in El Dorado County as member of "Team" Mosbacher, the son of Howard and Lucille Mosbacher. (I am the seventh born of fourteen children).
My wife, Cindy and I have 3 sons: Matt, Scott, and Jeff.
I am the brother of Nancy Woods, Frank Mosbacher, Mary Ghisolfo, Mike Mosbacher, Ken Mosbacher, Loretta Steichen, Donald Mosbacher, Peggy Wood, Philip Mosbacher, Eileen Cleland, Judy Pickett, David Mosbacher, and Greg Mosbacher; and uncle to dozens!
After graduation from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, I teamed with United Airlines and continue today to fly as a Boeing 767 and 757 Captain.
As a licensed Real Estate Broker, my affiliation with quality teams continues. I look forward working with you and your family through all of your Real Estate transactions.
I wish you the best, and encourage you to keep in touch. I look forward to working with you through all phases of the Real Estate experience.
