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Published Friday, April 5, 2002

The Murieta Holdings developers revisited topics at Thursday night's "town hall" meeting -- a development agreement with the Rancho Murieta Association, the community's broadband initiative, using the same lawyer as the RMA, traffic management outside the gates and the purchase of the Deer Creek Hills land.

A half-dozen residents attended the 35-minute session.

Resident John Weatherford thanked the developers for postponing a meeting they'd planned on technology issues at about the same time the RMA was launching its broadband Internet service.

"We are very supportive of what the RMA board is doing to solve a significant issue in the community," said developer Gerry N. Kamilos, half of the Murieta Holdings team. "We think the results of what you're doing will end up in a much better infrastructure. The purpose of what you're doing is to replace the cable with fiber and use the revenues of the broadband service to do that. It's going to raise the level of service throughout the community. That's great."

Weatherford asked whether the new development will be part of the RMA's cable/Internet service, especially since development should start long before the RMA's cable-improvement plan can show results. Kamilos said the new residents may be given a choice.

"We are committed, at least at this point, to putting in an all-fiber system," Kamilos added. "That's our main goal. As far as what options we want to pursue, we're evaluating that right now. What we want to do is make sure our system is compatible with the community system. That's our main goal."

Two residents asked about the practice of attorney Curtis Sproul representing both the developers and the RMA in the drafting of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) for the new development.

Kamilos was asked whether Sproul is playing a role in the development agreement as well, which Kamilos reported could be concluded "over the next 30 days or so."

He said Sproul has helped refine the language of the agreement, but the key work has occurred between the RMA board and the developers.

After starting with their own attorney for the original document, Kamilos said, "We found it made more sense to have one attorney prepare the document, or at least be a clearinghouse for the document. So we used the RMA attorney," who is Sproul.

He added, "The deal points and the negotiation is really between us and the RMA board. … Really, all the attorney is there (for) is the appropriate language for the deal points. … We've been working with the RMA for over a year now on this agreement. There's a tremendous amount of issues to be addressed."

Later, Robert J. Cassano, Kamilos' partner in the project, said the developers also have another lawyer reviewing the documents for their side.

After the meeting, Kamilos explained that the additional lawyer works for the Pension Trust Fund of the Operating Engineers, the owner of the land to be developed. Murieta Holdings is acting as development agent for the PTF.

Resident John Kershaw suggested the developers support the Sacramento Valley Open Space Conservancy's efforts to purchase the 4,000 acres north of Rancho Murieta that had been proposed for the Deer Creek Hills development. "I'd like to challenge you to show you're a part of this and you're good neighbors," Kershaw said.

Kamilos said the developers have "a good working relationship" with the conservancy and have suggested that one of their county development fees -- at $750 an acre, totaling more than $500,000 -- be allocated to help the conservancy's efforts.

"Certainly it makes sense," Kamilos said. "Bob and I are very supportive of what the Sacramento Valley Conservancy does, and certainly their efforts adjacent to our projects. We see that as a very positive move. … We'll be exploring other ways to assist them."

Kershaw and Kamilos also discussed the development's impact on commuter traffic.

Kershaw said the addition of 1,400 homes would put "a horrific strain" on Jackson Road, while Kamilos said the development has been part of the county's master plan for 20 years or more, and that its impact has been factored into traffic planning.

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