Pomo housing plan raises local concerns
Tribe's attorney says casino is not part of Lytton Band housing project

by BARRY W. DUGAN
Managing Editor

 A 50-home development being proposed by the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians on a 50acre site just outside the Windsor town limits is raising concerns from neighbors about the potential impacts in their rural neighborhood.
 The project, slated for a parcel on Windsor River Road west of Starr Road, was first proposed more than two years ago but has been dormant since then, according to Tony Cohen, an attorney representing the Lytton Band of Pomos in the land-use matter.
But a recent news report linking the housing project with the Lytton Band of Pomos' plans to operate a San Pablo casino, has raised concerns among neighbors, who appeared before the Windsor Town Council last week to sound the alarm and ask the town to carefully· review any plans.

 Bob Crawford, one of the neighbors, told the Council, "Our major purpose tonight, is to let the cat out of the bag ... nobody knew anything was planned."

 Cohen said the Lytton Band has applied for. federal trust status for the 50-acre Windsor property; but that application is now separate from the Casino San Pablo application. However, he said, "the essence of the Windsor project is still the same."
He said construction of homes will be funded by proceeds from the Casino San Pablo, which the Lytton Band of Pomos has entered into an agreement to operate in the East Bay. Cohen said when the Casino San Pablo is granted federal trust status, a purchase option on the Windsor property will be exercised.

 Neighbors along Windsor River Road want the town and the county to carefully review the development plans, and Housing continued from page one fear that once the land is granted trust status, that other nonresidential uses might occur.

Crawford told the Town Council that the "rural setting ... is currently under attack."
He said a 50-acre housing project will "negatively effect our ability to farm and our property, and therefore we are going to oppose it, however we can.”
 Crawford added, "The background to all this is the fear that once this is trust land, plans could be changed and a casino might blossom on Windsor River Road, which would distress us considerably."
He urged the Council to "start the process of looking into this."

Windsor officials said there was little they could do until a formal application is filed. "Until we have something in front of us, there's not much to respond to," said Windsor Mayor Steve Alien.

 Cohen said fears of a casino on the site are unfounded. "The casino issue is dead on arrival," he said. "The application specifically says the tribe will conduct any economic development activities and that will be enforced with a deed restriction. We under· stand that to do anything other than that will put a huge dark cloud over the residential project ... the tribe specifically went to Casino San Pablo to avoid any casino activity within the county."
Cohen has spoken with Windsor officials and Supervisor Paul Kelley to inform them "that at some point, something will be happen. The discussion with them was in no way detailed."

 Town Manager Paul Berlant said there has been no request by the Lytton Band for any town services. Bonnie Radovan, Supervisor Kelley's aide, said there has been no formal plans presented to county officials' for review.

 Shawn Kearney-Tang, another neighbor of the proposed project, told the Council she had concerns about the project because the land is currently designated for one dwelling unit per five acres, and could require services from the town. "I have issues with the water and sewer," she said. "If Windsor is going to send water and sewer .... I want it too. "  She also said noise, traffic and other issues must be considered.

Another neighbor, Bill McCormick, said "my concern is that there are environmental issues that should not be glossed over... it's a Windsor issue. It's county issue."

 Crawford also pointed out that the 50-acre development is outside of the town's urban growth boundary, is not consistent with the general plan, is not compatible with open space uses and could "adversely affect stability of
land use patterns in the area.

 Cohen said once a project is designed, it would come under "a very detailed and difficult" environmental review, including an EIR that must meet federal standards.
Beyond that, Cohen said that "the tribe will work with local agencies to mitigate whatever impacts may occur. We have been in communication with both Sonoma County and the town of Windsor... simply to say that when this thing gets close to being a reality, we plan on working with you cooperatively."
Cohen said the land on Windsor River Road, which is in close proximity to the town limits, was chosen "so they wouldn't be dropping themselves in the middle of an agricultural area."
The 50-acre parcel is "rolling hills with a lot of oak trees and they intend to keep it that way." said Cohen. "They don't plan a subdivision with rectilinear streets ... they are going to be looking at things like vegetation that will screen the homes. This is not an economy type project. They will be able to build this to the highest standards because of the funds that will be generated by Casino San Pablo."

 The Lytton Band of Pomo Indians unsuccessfully tried to develop a casino in the Alexander Valley in the early 1990s. Two years ago they entered into the agreement with operators of the Casino San Pablo.