Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

Last week I wrote about a resort proposal for our county that is being circulated among some public officials and business owners. Many of you have asked for more details about it.

To be sure, the plan is in the very preliminary stages. But it is none-the-less being circulated and taken seriously by some public officials, mostly in Grass Valley.

The plan is being met with mixed reviews. Financing is “TBD,” according to the plan. The proposal is from “Sierra Nevada Destination Services” and Keith Davies and Robin Galvan-Davies of Grass Valley.

Davies is a fourth-generation Nevada County resident. The proposal cites Grass Valley City Council Member Dan Miller as a “good friend since high school.”

The Davies recently have been involved in some tourism-related discussions in Grass Valley or at workshops. I was at one that the Davies and Dan attended together.

I was hoping The Union would write about the Sierra Grand Hotel resort proposal, because I figure the editor/publisher must have heard about it (and I’ve got other work to do). But I’m providing some details in response to the questions that are arising, including from people who know about it.

I’m going to refrain from expressing any opinion, at least for now — though I was inclined to post a video from the “Music Man” below because of the plan’s grandiose nature. I mainly wonder why there isn’t more transparency with a plan of this scope, even in the early stages.

This is community-wide decision, and we need to be democratic about it.

The Resort: “A destination in and of itself.” “It’s (sic) prestige will attract the travelers that Nevada County desires to attract,” according to the proposal.

“•200-250 Rooms and Suites
•18 Hole Championship Golf Course
•Tennis Courts
•World Class Spa and Beauty Salon
•Garden Pool
•Rose Garden Wedding Park
•Convention/Ballroom/Banquet Space
•Breakout Meeting Rooms
•Restaurants
•Steak House
•Grand Buffet
•Retail Shops
•Valet and Guest Parking/Town and Airport Shuttle
•Enough Additional Land to add Rooms and Meeting Facilities as Needed

Down the road, a 4,000-5,000 seat Amphitheatre is contemplated. Examples of entertainment: Jessica Simpson, Emmem, Pink, Chris Brown and Justin Bieber for young people; and Eagles, Moody Blues with the San Diego Philharmonic Orchestra, The Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel and Santana for “old rockers.”

The resort would be built in Nevada County outside the city limits of Grass Valley and Nevada City, — preferably on land provided by the Nevada County Supervisors at the bargain price of $1 and large enough to accommodate expansion, according to a Q&A.

In 10 years’ time, even with the competitive growth that will surely come to the area, the Sierra Nevada Grand will need more guest rooms and more meeting space to accommodate its growing clientele. Be prepared for success!

The resort would be owned by Nevada County either entirely or in partnership with other interested entities. There are many options available for discussion and negotiations.

•How will this Resort Hotel be paid for? TBD
Depends on many factors not yet in place. Much more discovery, fact-finding and
discussions during the planning process are required to present the many options and answers for funding

•From conception to completion, it will take approximately five years to build the resort, including the golf course.

•At this early date, the room rate is to be determined. A present day, Four Star Hotel and Resort generally has a Rack Rate structure of between $250.00 to $450.00 per night.

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At a tea-party meetup in Grass Valley several years ago, Tom McClintock galled people (including GOPers) when he said it was time to get rid of the “left-wing” clerk-recorder. But incumbent Greg Diaz, who is registered as “decline to state” and is experienced in that role, won in every precinct against McClintock’s choice. Tom got re-elected to Congress, though.

Now former State Senator Sam Aanested — who has McClintock’s endorsement and the same group of followers — is sinking to new lows himself to get elected to Congress. And it’s also coming at tea-party rallies.

The oral surgeon from Grass Valley warmed up the crowd at a tea-party patriots debate in Redding (a tea-party sponsored candidates’ forum is coming to the Vet’s Hall on April 25) with this, the Sacramento Bee reported:

“A radical environmentalist, a socialist and illegal alien walk into a bar.
The bartender says, ‘What you having, Mr. President?”

The tea party crowd “guffawed,” according to the Redding Record Searchlight, which first reported Aanestad’s warm-up routine.

Others were upset. “Mr. Aanestad, Your joke about the President which was published in today’s Sacramento Bee is simply outrageous! Your lack of decorum and respect is despicable,” wrote former Grass Valley Planning Commissioner Larry Hoffman in an email to Sam.

“I am an independent voter and in the past have supported and voted for Republican candidates. However, you and your tea party followers are radical reactionaries and clearly hateful extremists.

“You called Obama a socialist and an illegal immigrant, neither of which is fact, and view anyone other than your tea party brethren as liberal, which seems to be your way of lumping everyone else in with socialists/communists/marxists.”

Sam is running against another staunch conservative, Doug LaMalfa, who has incumbent Congressman’s Wally Herger’s endorsement. LaMalfa also is supported by many moderate GOPers in our county, including some “electeds.”

Here’s Sam and friends at a gathering in Grass Valley. But this one’s for a good cause: Friends of Nevada County Military. We’ve donated to FOMC in the past (even before President Obama was the U.S. commander-in-chief):

(photo credit: Aanestad’s Facebook page)

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