A Photoshopped illustration of what a 6-story structure on the west-facing side of the Cher-ai Heights Casino might look like from Trinidad. (Richard Clomps photo)
Talking Points for Rancheria Hotel Commenters
Suggested talking points that letter-writers may want to make in their letters to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Letters must be received by Monday, Oct. 22. To assure consideration, send letters via U.S. Postal Service (certified to make sure of delivery). The address:
Ms. Amy Dutschke, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs - Pacific Region, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 978-6041.
You may email comments as well to: Amy Dutschke <amy.dutschke@bia.gov>; Chad Broussard <chad.broussard@bia.gov>; and Harold “Dan” Hall <harold.hall@bia.gov>.
The Environmental Assessment of the hotel project, written by Sacramento consultants for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is online at https://trinidad-rancheria.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/TREDC-Hotel-EA_REV_Public-Release-Draft.pdf
Some message points:
1. As currently proposed in the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Trinidad Rancheria Hotel Development Project, I support either a no-build decision or the ordering of an Environmental Impact Study. As submitted, the EA does not describe adequately mitigation measures for various impacts of the proposed hotel development, and thus fails to provide an adequate basis for a finding of non-significant impacts (FONSI) or of non-significant environmental impacts.
2. Identify yourself, where you live, and why you are writing. If you have any relevant expertise or experience, say so — in architecture, land use, water resources or coastal biology, for example; or maybe you are a fisherman, photographer/artist, birder or boater who works on this coastline.
3. You might state that you are supportive of Rancheria self-sufficiency and local economic opportunity, and could even support a smaller scale hotel that is designed appropriately to fit in with the coastal environment. Surely there are more feasible options/alternatives than this concept and design. The EA includes no alternatives to the 6-story, 100-room structure without adequate rationale.
4. General: A 6-story, 100-room hotel that requires a new interchange from Highway 101 to meet traffic needs, plus tripling the size of the casino, doubling that of the RV park, adding a minimart and gas station in addition to office space and other structures, will convert a quaint and quiet rural coastal fishing village into….
5. Taxpayers guarantee loans from the casino-funded Native Bank to build the hotel, so would the public be on the hook in case of any kind of failure?
6. Concerns: unique and pristine scenic vistas; fragile coastal environment (Trinidad Harbor is a protected biologically sensitive zone); visual impacts from Trinidad, from Trinidad Head (a National Coastal Monument), and from the ocean; light and noise pollution; danger to dozens of species of birds; effect of 19,000 gallons/day in wastewater processing on a sandy bluff already in constant process of slumping; intrusive signage.
7. Water: The project proposes to draw nearly 19,000 gallons/day — the equivalent of 45 single-family homes — from Trinidad’s water supply. The source of Trinidad’s water is Luffenholtz Creek. During summer and early fall, and especially during drought periods, water levels in Luffenholtz Creek already fall to danger levels. Concerns about adequate water for current residential users, projected future residential growth, and for fire suppression via CalFire.
8. Wastewater: The Cher-ai Heights Casino, which is already the biggest single water user on the Trinidad system, claims to recycle up to 40 percent of the water it uses. This is admirable and a positive aspect of any further development atop the bluff. But even at that recycle rate, the hotel would still send some 11,400 gallons per day through leach fields and into aquifers. Excessive groundwater risks cliff erosion/slumping.
9. Traffic: Until an interchange is approved and constructed (completion no sooner than 2026, according to the EA), Scenic Drive will carry all traffic to the casino, the hotel and other new development, as well as to existing residences and popular beaches (Baker Beach, Luffenholtz Beach, Houda Point and Houda Beach). Scenic Drive, parts of which slide downhill every winter, is not designed for that kind of traffic, as the EA acknowledges.
A comprehensive and careful Environmental Impact Study is needed to engage the public, flesh out expert opinions regarding water, wastewater, and septic systems, and to evaluate the relationship of the interchange to the hotel project.