Out-of-control regulatory system killed Grady Ranch
By Brad Bollinger, Business Journal Editor in Chief
A lot of people are saying how sad they are that Lucasfilm is withdrawing its Grady Ranch studio proposal from Marin County. But no one can be sadder than George Lucas. Marin County is his home and Grady Ranch was to be the culmination of a decades-old dream of a famed filmmaker approaching his 70s.
Was George Lucas justified in withdrawing his project at Grady Ranch?
- Yes (98%, 61 votes)
- No (2%, 1 votes)
- Unsure (0%, 0 votes)
Total voters: 62
Loading ...This NBBJ Pulse Poll runs through April 23. View all polls.
Perhaps the saddest aspect of the Grady Ranch saga is that it demonstrates clearly that even the genius and sensitivity of a George Lucas are no match for California’s out-of-control and unaccountable regulatory bureaucracy. Elected officials like to act like they make the decisions in California. But it is really the unelected regulatory agencies. Grady Ranch crashed because of an eleventh hour regional regulatory assault on the project as it was headed for approval by the Marin County Board of Supervisors.
Now, Marin, most likely the state of California and quite possibly the country has lost a world-class project. (Just stop and absorb for a moment that Mr. Lucas was willing to spend $50 million just to restore a degraded creek. That’s likely gone forever.)
It is said that some environmental activists and Lucas Valley residents are celebrating. But they may not be so happy one, five or 10 years from now when the county is struggling to fund basic services because of a declining business and residential tax base. Indeed, it’s impossible to understate the negative impacts that losing Grady Ranch will have on Marin communities, on a state government that can’t seem to understand why it’s finances continue to deteriorate (this is a clue), and potentially on our global competitiveness. What business would enthusiastically try to locate in Marin County, the North Bay or California after hearing that the likes of George Lucas was turned away?
It is heartening to see business, government and community leaders stepping forward to try to save Grady Ranch. Their efforts are laudable. But unfortunately they are not in control. The California Environmental Quality Act is in control, which means the law can be used by anyone to stop any project for any reason at any time.
Grady Ranch is only the most egregious example of CEQA abuse. The 1970 law is used aggressively every day to stop or delay everything from shopping centers to hospitals to vineyards to mom and pop businesses. There is no way to know how many businesses California has lost due to the costs and delays associated with CEQA. But combined they surely amount to many Grady ranches.
Until this madness stops and leaders say enough is enough, the economic future of the North Bay and California will continue to suffer serious and, sadly, unnecessary harm.
…
Brad Bollinger is the editor and associate publisher of the North Bay Business Journal. He can be reached at 707-521-4251 or bbollinger@busjrnl.com.
Copyright © 1988–2013 North Bay Business Journal
View the policy for linking to website content.
by Judy Adams
Well Brad, It would appear that Marin folks have more pull than Mendocino inhabitants. The monstrosity of a multi-national wine company in all of their arrogance have chosen to defile many acres of redwoods, shatter the calm, reflective peace of Star Cross monastery to plant another jillion grape vines. What is the trade off? More beautiful land used for commercial advantage. As I understand it, the company “enforcers” have even seen fit to be rude to the long time monastry people. I think that we get sick and tired of having our natural beauty destroyed. Remember when Sonoma County said, oh no, we would never allow homes to be buil on the sensitive picturesque hills of Fountain Grove. What a sight from the flat landers, McMansions of dubious design and no attempt to blend into the surroundings. Remember the many attempts in the past to build on every available acre of coastline? Thank God for the Kortums, et al.
by boethius
CEQA and its ilk are the natural product of the deification of the earth. Environmentalists are openly unrepentant in their desire to completely shut off man’s access to the earth’s natural resources. We know who controls the agenda in this bluest of blue states. If they didn’t, CEQA would have been rolled back decades ago. We have, after all, had plenty of conservative governors since 1970, but when you have people like the late Peter Camejo in the legislature (and San Francisco liberals like Boxer and Feinstein as our duly elected national representatives) – i.e., radical environmentalists who would sooner shoot their grandmother than allow a nuclear power plant to be built here – the chances of significant roll-back of radical environmental regulations are slim to none.
by Elizabeth Nelges
The problem as I see it, is an out of control Home Owners Association. Here in Santa Rosa, in the complex I call home, the HOA has decided they need to regulate how we use the interior of our personal garages. We may not perform any recreational activities in side, nor create a craft area – whether it be woodworking or quilting. This in the INTERIOR of our garages. Yet the HOA feels it is OK to tell us what to do with our personal space.
Also, although there is no speed limit posted anywhere in the complex, the HOA proposes to reduce the currently accepted speed limit of 25 mph to 10 mph. Now this does not refer to alleyways or the overflow parking area, it refers to the public streets. Are HOA’s out of control? Yes, absolutely.
by Brad Bollinger, Business Journal Editor in Chief
No one is talking about runaway subdivisions and strip malls. 95 percent of the Lucas property is being permanently preserved as open space.
by john
the regulatory system squashes good builders with blown out of proportion consumer complaints that puts hard working contractors honest men out of business as well I lost my license to build in California in 2002 even though i had a thriving business that benefited countless seniors the cslb revoked my license over 4 frivolous consumer complaints after doing 600 jobs in senior parks over 6 years the system is stacked in consumers court leaving good contractors no chance to fight massive system and administrative judges consumer oriented decisions I worked hard my crews earned are company’s good reputation and we were squashed and ridiculed by faulty evidence and a judge saying i find your response incredible so you lose your 350 thousand a year business you built your whole life forever. john myerson csl number 725363 and they are still slandering my name over ten years later for nothing destroying the local economy in the wake
by Brad Bollinger, Business Journal Editor in Chief
Here is a suggestion for Grady Ranch. Gov. Jerry Brown could show some true leadership by arriving today on the site, sticking a shovel in the ground and saying ‘this project starts now!’
by Phineas Worthington
The problem with these types of development failures it that they signal the futility of taking such risks to so many others. The unseen economic damage is truly incalculable. And by the time enough people have been harmed to garner support to change the regulatory statutes, much of the potential for growth and the people who will take the risks to create economic growth are gone.
by Brad Bollinger, Business Journal Editor in Chief
Well said Mr. Worthington. The lost opportunity costs will never be known. But they no doubt will be large given the influence and prominence of George Lucas.
by LocalResearcher
Any updates on this? I’m putting together a report on the economic impact of CEQA (specifically, the $$ and jobs that California has lost and will continue to lose as a result if this bloated regulatory legislation).