Staff updates commission on Silvertip, Brown Bear and other pending projects

Planning staff used the Jan. 9 session to update the commission about several entitlement-stage projects.

The Silvertip project, described by staff as a multi-decade entitlement that includes hotel and cabin units and workforce-housing components, has completed required Caltrans frontage improvements and wetland mitigation and is proceeding with seasonal grading and construction activities. "They continue they wanna continue to move forward," staff said, summarizing recent owner outreach.

The Brown Bear project was described as previously entitled but subsequently amended into a smaller design-review project; staff said the applicant deferred the housing portion and the county is awaiting the applicant's direction on next steps.

Staff also noted other items on the horizon including the annual housing APR for ACD, an initial-study draft for a cabin project near the park in the town of Mariposa, and outreach related to a Missouri Golds workforce housing project and the Grove House use-permit amendment for sound information.

Commissioners discussed the difficulty of securing Caltrans encroachment approvals and the county's role in facilitating state-county discussions. Staff said Caltrans sits on the development-review team and that the county has interjected to facilitate meetings when needed; commissioners noted political engagement by supervisors can be necessary when projects stall at the state level.

Staff said it will continue to post project compliance materials on the county web page and return with entitlement items when they are ready for the commission's recommendation to the board.