Developer Drops Controversial Columbia Apartments
Columbia, CA — A lawsuit may have put the brakes on the 80 unit complex. Land owner, Golden State Holdings and Developer, RC Equities, are withdrawing their application for the apartment complex that would have spread over 5.3 acres at the northwest corner of the intersection of Union Hill Road and Parrotts Ferry Road.
In a letter to the county’s legal counsel, RC Equities managing member Gary Simning stated that even though Tuolumne County’s Board of Supervisors approved the project last May they are requesting the Board rescind that approval.
Simning wrote, “The action is requested due to the lawsuit filed by Citizens for Responsible Growth. The legal expense and time associated with pursuing a judicial approval is a waste of time and money.”
The citizens group filed that lawsuit on June 5th of this year. It challenged the County’s approval under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEOA). As required by CEQA, the parties went through settlement negotiations over the summer months. The county counsel’s office says an agreement between the parties ending the lawsuit is expected to be signed today.
The Board of Supervisors will consider reversing approval of a Conditional Use Permit, Design Review Permit, General Plan Amendment and zone change to build the apartments at its Tuesday’s meeting.
