TS - Manila rejects wetland donation from developer

Manila rejects wetland donation from developer
Jessie Faulkner/The Times-Standard
Article Launched: 04/20/2007 04:15:22 AM PDT


MANILA -- The community services district board of directors voted Thursday to reject developer Robert S. Riley's offer of 5.1 acres of wetland because the donation was contingent upon county approval of his subdivision.

Although all four board members present supported the vote -- director Charlie McDaniels was absent -- Rita Carlson expressed her desire to hear a staff report about the proposed donation prior to voting.

”I don't want to treat one property owner different than another,” she said.

Riley proposed a planned unit development with 17 homes on three acres roughly a quarter of a mile south of the Manila Community Center. Several neighbors opposed the suggested density.

The Humboldt County Planning Commission is set to hear about the proposed development at its May 3 meeting. A number of community members urged the district board to draft a letter to the county stating their position on the project. To that end, board President Dendra Dengler attempted to add an agenda item at the beginning of the meeting to consider adopting a resolution reaffirming Manila's commitment to maintaining the rural character of the community.

After considerable discussion, it was decided that the

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item did not meet Brown Act emergency criteria for the last-minute additions. However, when determining how to approach writing a letter to the county, board members considered Dengler's resolution and the opponents' letter to the board as possible sources for their missive to the county. The opponents' letter focused on points that the community had discussed and agreed upon when drafting the strategic plan that the board adopted in December 2004.
After considerable community input, board member Wilathi Weaver moved to ask the board president to reshape her resolution into a letter. Weaver later revised that motion to continue the discussion to the adjourned meeting, but bring it back before the May 3 meeting.

Earlier in the meeting, the board members and community discussed at length whether they would comply with Humboldt Municipal Water District's request for a letter supporting HBMWD's exploration and study of the possibility of adding fluoride to the water.

Much of the discussion followed the pros and cons of fluoride, including input from two area dentists, before the board decided to continue the discussion to a later date.

Discussion also veered to whether there should be a community advisory vote on adding fluoride to the water. That, too, was continued.

Jessie Faulkner can be reached at 441-0517 or jfaulkner@times-standard.com