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An inconclusive update

An inconclusive update

 

 

 

On June 20, Ramon and I attended a TAC (Technical Assistance Committee) meeting with the El Dorado Planning Department. This was the next step in our process to obtain a special use permit for Reverie Retreat. The way it was supposed to unfold is that each department would present their requirements for the permit to us and our consultant, and then we could discuss and respond. But what actually happened is that we only heard from a few departments that we weren’t worried about anyway. Unfortunately we did not hear from the Fire Department, Water, or Parking. These are the departments that we are most concerned about, with the most unknowns, especially fire.

The good news is that we didn’t hear anything that was a deal breaker. But unfortunately the deal breaking news could still come. Our County Supervisor, Michael Ranalli, called me on my cell phone a few days after the meeting to see how everything went and offered to help in getting the information we need from the various departments. He is being wonderfully supportive of our project – we couldn’t ask for more. I feel fortunate that we live in a small county where we can actually get the attention of our elected officials.

We are hopeful we can nudge this along as quickly as possible, although the planner told us that they are currently short-staffed with higher than usual applications to process. Given the situation in her department she could get our application ready to present to the Planning Commission until at least the end of August.

Ugh. Everything feels like it is moving at a glacial pace. It’s been 3½ years since we moved here, and Ramon and I are both ready to get this show on the road. The permit is just the first step! Once we have that in hand, we still need to obtain financing and then do the build-out. We are still talking 1 to 1½ years after we get our permit before we can be fully open. I wonder if we had known that it was going to take at least five years to get open if we would have started in the first place. I guess it’s good we didn’t know.

Following the meeting we took a much needed vacation, driving up to southern Oregon to stay at the Tu Tu Tun Lodge. We had dinner there about 10 years ago, and we always wanted to return for a longer stay. It was, in fact, one of the inspirations for Reverie Retreat. It had been nearly two years since we had a vacation and we were both pretty exhausted, so we did pretty much nothing for a week.

Ramon acquired a fancy schmancy camera from our friend Daniel who was selling his equipment (thanks Daniel!) so I leave you with some of the photos he’s been taking. He’s also starting to post daily on Instagram so follow him at www.instagram.com/reverieretreat.

 

 

 

 

3 thoughts on “An inconclusive update”

  1. I think there are many things that would not have happened if people had known just how much it was going to take to get it done.

    A blessing and a curse.

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