The proposed re-zoning of agricultural land at the Hawes Ranch amusement park project was temporarily set back due to a lack of a quorum at the Board of Supervisors meeting on October 3rd. Supervisors Rickert, Crye, and Jones recused themselves from voting due to conflicts of interest. This left only Supervisors Kelstrom and Garman to vote which is not a quorum so the project and the zoning change could not be approved leaving Hawes Ranch and the opponents in limbo. Until there are different supervisors without a conflict of interest, the project cannot be voted on to get a yes or no vote. This was certainly celebrated by the many neighbors in the area who are opposed to the continued expansion of the amusement park area the county refers to as “agritainment.”
Agricultural-themed events at the Nash Ranch on Old Oregon Trail including corn mazes and pumpkin harvests have not generated the same opposition. However, this facility is apparently operating within its use permit and does not have amplified entertainment and amusement rides.
This farm harvest-oriented project has grown over the last 10 years with multiple violations of its Use Permit and zoning including the installation of a number of carnival rides including a Ferris wheel and rock concerts. Had this passed, all unpermitted uses would have been allowed except for building code, health and safety, and fire code violations. Many area residents oppose this project because of the noise, lights, and traffic events at the facility create in an area zoned rural residential and agriculture.
Like the recently approved gun range in Millville Plains, the new zoning would have been “commercial recreation” which has a wide variety of allowed uses in many rural areas disrupting what residents thought was a quiet rural area when they bought homes near both projects.
Neighbors have recently complained about a wedding and event venue directly on the Sacramento River on an adjacent parcel of land owned by the Hawes family that evidently included unpermitted grading in the floodplain. The county recently ordered the facility to stop this unpermitted activity to cease following complaints to the Board of Supervisors. Code enforcement is investigating the apparent unpermitted grading in the floodplain.