Chapel photo SAVE DONNER SUMMIT
"Better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside pissing in." Lyndon B. Johnson.
Donner Summit Historical Society

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What can I do?

Item 1 below is the most important: In order to be kept apprised of the various comment periods and public inspection files available, it is critical that you let Placer County know of your interest in the Foster/Syme/Royal Gorge LLC project. If you don't ask to be notified, the county will assume you have no interest in the project and therefore implicitly support the project. If you are not aware of the public comment periods or you do not voice any objections during the public comment period, you will not be able to object to any plans approved by the County at a later date. You must comment during the public comment periods. Please note- you do not need to own property in the affected area so if you are concerned with the Summit you ought to send a letter.

  1. Write a letter expressing your opinion to the Placer County Planning Department, attention Crystal Jacobsen Senior Planner, copy to Michael Johnson Planning Director. Address: County of Placer Community Development Resources Agency- Planning, 3091 County Center Dr Ste 140, Auburn CA 95603. See the sample letter.
  2. Get a Save Donner Summit Bumper Sticker, and wear it!
  3. If you are a Summit resident, attend the board meetings of the Sierra Lakes County Water District (SLCWD) and of the Donner Summit Public Utility District (DSPUD).
  4. Read the following best sellers books on development: Downhill Slide, Last Child in the Wood, and RESORTing to Madness.
  5. Send us your opinion / comment (webmaster@savedonnersumit.com).

Who can I contact?

You can make a difference. If you have money to spare, contribute money to organizations that fight to protect the summit (such as Sierra Watch, ... see list of conservation organizations. If you have time, write letters of support to organizations that are protecting the summit, and letters of dismay to organizations that may not be fighting to protect the area and tell them you want their support. Write letters to politicians (to counteract the campaign donations made by the developers and to let the politicians get a feeling for public sentiment). Let the developers know your concerns, but don't tell them what you like (unless you support this entire development) as they use any remotely positive comment as proof of community support. Write letters to the editor in newspapers to call attention to this travesty.

Conservation groups Developers and Business sites Local associations
Federal/State officials/agencies County officials/agencies Local area agencies

Federal/State officials/agencies


Org Name: Boxer, Barbara Org Address: 112 Hart Senate Office Building   Washington   DC   20510
Website: boxer.senate.gov Email:   Phone: 202-224-3553
Function/Charter: Senator Boxer (Dem) is the US junior senator for California. Contact Person: Senator Barbara Boxer
Commentary:

Org Name: Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game (region 2) Org Address: 1701 Nimbus Road   Rancho Cordova   CA   95670
Website: www.dfg.ca.org Email: lsaa@dfg.ca.gov Phone: 916-358-2900
Function/Charter: The Department of Fish and Game is responsible for conserving, protecting, and managing California's fish, wildlife, and native plant resources (includes stream, rivers and lakes). Contact Person:
Commentary:

Org Name: Cox, Dave Org Address: State Capitor Room 2068   Sacramento   CA   95814
Website: www.senate.ca.gov/Cox Email:   Phone: 916-651-4001
Function/Charter: Senator Dave Cox (R) is the State Senator (1st district) for the summit area. Contact Person: Senator Dave Cox
Commentary:

Org Name: Feinstein, Diane Org Address: 331 Hart Senate Office Building   Washington   DC   20510
Website: feinstein.senate.gov Email: webmail@feinstein-iq.senate.gov Phone: 202-224-3841
Function/Charter: Senator Feinstein (Dem) is the US senior senator for California, and comes from San Francisco. Contact Person: Senator Diane Feinstein
Commentary:

Org Name: Gaines, Ted Org Address: State Capitol Room 2002   Sacramento   CA   95814
Website: www.assembly.ca.gov/4 Email:   Phone: 916-319-2004
Function/Charter: Assemblyman Ted Gaines (R) is the State Assemblyman (4th district) for the summit area east of Soda Springs Rd. Contact Person: Assemblyman Ted Gaines
Commentary:

Org Name: Logue, Dan Org Address: PO Box 942849 room 2158   Sacramento   CA   94249-0003
Website: www.assembly.ca.gov/3 Email:   Phone: 916-319-2003
Function/Charter: Assemblyman Dan Logue (R) is the State Assemblyman (3rd district) for the summit area west of Soda Springs Rd. Contact Person: Assemblyman Dan Logue
Commentary:

Org Name: McClintock, Tom Org Address: 508 Cannon HOB   Washington   DC   20515
Website: mcclintock.house.gov Email:   Phone: 202-225-2511
Function/Charter: Congressman McClintock (Rep) is the US congressman for the Donner Summit Area. Contact Person: Rep Tom McClintock
Commentary:

Org Name: Pelosi, Nancy Org Address: H-232, US Capitol   Washington   DC   20515
Website: www.speaker.gov Email: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov Phone: 202-225-0100
Function/Charter: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Dem) owns a home in Sugar Bowl Contact Person: Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Commentary:

Org Name: US Forest Service (Pacific Southwest Region 5) Org Address: 1323 Club Drive   Vallejo   CA   94592
Website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/ Email:   Phone: 707-562-8737
Function/Charter: The job of Forest Service managers is to help people share and enjoy the forest, while conserving the environment for generations yet to come. Some activities are compatible. Some are not. You, as a concerned citizen, play a key role. Contact Person:
Commentary:


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County officials/agencies


Org Name: Montgomery, Jennifer Org Address: 175 Fulweiler Ave   Auburn   CA   95603
Website: www.placer.ca.gov/Home/bos/District5.aspx Email: JenniferMontgomery@Placer.ca.gov Phone: 530-889-4010
Function/Charter: Supervisor Montgomery is the representative for District 5, which includes most of the eastern part of Placer County Contact Person: Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery
Commentary:

Org Name: Nevada County Community Development Agency Planning Department Org Address: 950 Maidu Ave   Nevada City   CA   95959
Website: www.mynevadacounty.com/planning/ Email: planning@co.nevada.ca.us Phone: 530-265-1759
Function/Charter: Our Mission:To develop and apply land use policies and standards in ways that protect environmental resources, while promoting economic vitality. Contact Person: Randy Wilson, Planning Director
Commentary:

Org Name: Owens, Ted Org Address: 950 Maidu Avenue   Nevada City   CA   95959
Website: mynevadacounty.com/bos5/ Email: ted.owens@co.nevada.ca.us Phone: 530-265-1480
Function/Charter: Supervisor Owens (Rep) is the supervisor for the 5th district in Nevada County, which includes most of the eastern part of the county. Contact Person: Supervisor Ted Owens
Commentary:

Org Name: Placer County Planning Org Address: 3091 County Center Drive   Auburn   CA   95603
Website: www.placer.ca.gov/CommunityDevelopment/Planning.aspx Email: planning@placer.ca.gov Phone: 530-745-3000
Function/Charter: This will be the lead agency in reviewing the development plans Contact Person: Michael Johnson- Planning Director, Crystal Jacobsen Senior Planner 530.745.3085
Commentary:

Org Name: Placer County Sheriff Org Address: P.O. Box 6990   Auburn   CA   95604
Website: www.placer.ca.gov/Sheriff.aspx Email:   Phone: 530-889-7800
Function/Charter: The Placer County Sheriff supplies police services to the Donner Summit area through their Colfax substation. Contact Person: Sheriff Edward Bonner
Commentary:


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Local area agencies


Org Name: Donner Summit PUD Org Address: PO Box 610   Soda Springs   CA   95728
Website: www.dspud.com Email:   Phone: 530-426-3456
Function/Charter: The DSPUD supplies water to Soda Springs residents and sewer services to most of the summit. Contact Person: Cathy Preis- President
Commentary:

Org Name: Sierra Lakes County Water District (SLCWD) Org Address: PO Box 1039   Soda Springs   CA   95728
Website: www.slcwd.org Email: dianna@slcwd.org Phone: 530-426-7800
Function/Charter: SLCWD supplies water and sewer services for the Serene Lakes area. Sewerage is transported to the DSPUD for treatment. Contact Person: Wade Freedle- President
Commentary:

Org Name: Truckee Fire Protection District Org Address: PO Box 2768   Truckee   CA   96160
Website: www.truckeefire.org Email:   Phone: 530-582-7850
Function/Charter: Truckee Fire Protection District is officially responsible for 116 square miles, including all of Donner Summit. Their business is the protection of life and property through the provision of fire rescue and emergency medical services. Contact Person: Chief Bryce Keller
Commentary:


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Conservation Organizations


Org Name: Mountain Area Preservations Foundation (MAPF) Org Address: PO Box 971   Truckee   CA   96160
Website: www.mapf.org Email: info@mapf.org Phone: 530-582-6751
Function/Charter: MAPF, a non-profit established by Truckee Tahoe region residents to preserve, protect & enhance the region’s natural environment, serves as a local advocate for smart-growth principles, seeks to ensure that new development is environmentally sensitive. Contact Person:
Commentary:

Org Name: North Fork American River Alliance (NFARA) Org Address: P.O. Box 292   Gold Run   CA   95717
Website: www.nfara.org/index.htm Email: info@nfara.org Phone: 530-389-8344
Function/Charter: To preserve the wild, scenic and cultural heritage within the watershed of the North Fork American River. Contact Person: Jim Ricker
Commentary:

Org Name: Sierra Club- Mother Lode Chapter Org Address: 1414 K Street, Suite 500   Sacramento   CA   95814
Website: motherlode.sierraclub.org Email:   Phone: 916-557-1100
Function/Charter: The Sierra Club is America's most effective advocate for the environment and helps you protect the environment locally and globally. Contact Person:
Commentary:

Org Name: Sierra Watch Org Address: 408 Broad Street, Suite 12   Nevada City   CA   95959
Website: www.sierrawatch.org Email: Tmooers@sierrawatch.org Phone: 530-265-2849
Function/Charter: Sierra Watch was created to effectively advocate for responsible planning and permanent protection for the heart of the Tahoe-Truckee Region. Contact Person: Tom Mooers- Execute Director
Commentary:

Org Name: SYRCL (South Yuba River Citizens League Org Address: 216 Main Street   Nevada City   CA   95959
Website: www.syrcl.org Email: syrcl@syrcl.org Phone: 530-265-5961
Function/Charter: The South Yuba River Citizens League is a community-based educational nonprofit corporation committed to the protection, preservation and restoration of the entire Yuba Watershed. Contact Person:
Commentary:

Org Name: Truckee Donner Land Trust Org Address: PO Box 8816   Truckee   CA   96162
Website: www.tdlandtrust.org Email: info@tdlandtrust.org Phone: 530-582-4711
Function/Charter: Works with Federal and State agencies on land conservation issues. Private - Promotes scenic, historic, natural and recreational land preservation. Acquires conservation easements and important lands. Contact Person: Perry Norris- President
Commentary:


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Developers and Business sites


Org Name: Foster Enterprises Org Address: 250A Twin Dolphin Dr   Redwood City   CA   94065
Website: www.fosterenterprises.com Email: generalinfo@fosterenterprises.com Phone: 650-622-2801
Function/Charter: This is one of the parent companies (the Foster of Foster/Syme) of the developers. Contact Person: Todd Foster
Commentary:

Org Name: Royal Gorge LLC Org Address:      
Website: www.royalgorgefuture.com Email:   Phone:
Function/Charter: This is the website for the Foster/Syme development specific to Donner Summit. Contact Person:
Commentary:

Org Name: Sugar Bowl Org Address: PO Box 5   Norden   CA   95724
Website: www.sugarbowl.com Email: info@sugarbowl.com Phone: 530-426-9000
Function/Charter: Sugar Bowl is a large ski area on Donner Summit. They have agreed to run the lifts and groom the slopes of the proposed Foster/Syme development, which will include a (horizontal) lift linking Sugar Bowl with the new development. Contact Person: Rob Kautz- President
Commentary:

Org Name: Woodstock Development Org Address: 330 Primrose Rd Suite 203   Burlingame   CA   94010
Website: www.woodstockdevelopment.com Email: ksyme@woodstockdevelopment.com Phone: 650-579-1901
Function/Charter: This is one of the parent companies (the Syme of Foster/Syme) of the developers. Contact Person: Kirk Syme
Commentary:


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Local associations


Org Name: Donner Summit Area Association (DSAA) Org Address: PO Box 674   Soda Springs   CA   95728
Website: www.donnersummitareaassociation.org Email: info@donnersummitareaassociation.org Phone: 530-
Function/Charter: Representing the people of the historic Donner Summit community for the preservation of the area's rugged mountain character and natural resources by providing active coordination for community development issues. Contact Person: Pat Malberg- President
Commentary:

Org Name: Serene Lakes Property Owners Assoc (SLPOA) Org Address: PO Box 669   Soda Springs   CA   95728
Website: www.slpoa.com/DevelopmentHome.htm Email: saveds@slpoa.com Phone: 530-426-0802
Function/Charter: SLPOA is a voluntary home owners association for property owners in the Serene Lakes district of Soda Springs. The proposed development by Foster/Syme surrounds Serene Lakes. Contact Person: Bill Oudegeest- President
Commentary:

Org Name: Serene Lakes/Donner Summit Conservation Association Org Address: PO Box 1095   Soda Springs   CA   95728
Website: www.sldsca.org Email: admin@sldsca.org Phone:
Function/Charter: SLDSCA is a non-profit public benefit organization set up to to provide education, advocacy and opportunities to strengthen and protect the fragile alpine environment, culture, heritage, and future of Serene Lakes and the Donner Summit areas. Contact Person:
Commentary:

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