Cyrus Musiker, a Grass Valley, California resident, expressed his opposition in a column titled “Cyrus Musiker: Large RV Park a Bad Idea”. Millennium Engineering plans to develop an RV and glamping resort on a property on McCourtney Road, directly across the street from the Nevada County Fairgrounds.
“I’m shocked that this project has progressed so far with so little publicity and so little effort by the city Planning Commission or City Council to solicit public input,” Musiker wrote.
As per the column, the resident first heard about the project in late November.
The planning commission has approved the project, prompting Musiker to call on the city council to “pause and take a hard look at this project and either kill it or dramatically scale it back.”
He believes that while the project can produce revenue for the city, it ignores the risk of what could happen in the event of a fire in western Nevada County. He imagined local ranchers and homeowners trying to find refuge for their animals at the fairgrounds while RVs rush out of the resort.
The resident fears that this would crowd McCourtney and Auburn roads.
“Add to the traffic nightmare the many neighborhoods along Auburn Road and McCourtney, doing their own evacuation. Not a pretty picture.”
Musiker shared that the Grass Valley fire chief’s explanation, addressing this concern during a briefing on the RV Resort on December 8, was not convincing.
He also cited parking problems.
“Please don’t proceed with this project without a full review of the risks involved and a chance for the public, especially the RV park’s neighbors, to voice their concerns,” he ended.
The proposal for the 150-space RV park will be considered at the regular Grass Valley City Council meeting on January 25.
The plan also calls for 15 glamping areas, camping in a pop-up camper, or unique shelters like a yurt, tepee, dome, or safari-style tent accommodations.