GILMAN SPRINGS: Supervisor’s aide says Golden Era would need community leaders’ OK.By CHARLES HAND/The Valley ChroniclePublished: Friday, August 21, 2009 2:31 PM CDTWhatever happens with Gilman Springs Road, it will not happen at county expense, says Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone’s chief aide, Verne Lauritzen.Representatives of the Scientology compound that is bisected by Gilman Springs Road between Highway 79 and Soboba Road have approached some public officials, including Stone, about closing off that segment of the road.“They have contacted us a number of times,” Lauritzen said, “but they are on their own for funding. The county doesn’t have any money.”Lauritzen said closing off the road would also need the approval of officials in the communities in the area that would be affected by such a closure.Some members of the San Jacinto City Council have made it clear they would not support it.Lauritzen also said the county would not initiate any attempt to close off the road.Golden Era Productions spokeswoman Cathy Fraser said last week that the issue is safety. There has been a number of accidents along that portion of Gilman Springs Road, she said.If safety is an issue, said Lauritzen, the Scientologists may want to install traffic calming devices.Both Fraser and opponents of the closure cite the Valley’s congestion as support.Fraser said the increased traffic through and across the Valley requires a wider road than the two-lane Gilman Springs Road.San Jacinto City Councilman Jim Potts said he agrees. In fact, he said, it may be a good idea to widen the stretch of Gilman Springs Road between Highway 79 and Soboba Road, rather than close it.He also proposed during the last City Council meeting that the city seek an updated letter from the Riverside County Fire Department, which has in the past said that closing the road would increase emergency response times.Fraser, however, said the road could stay open to emergency traffic.
Golden Era's Hwy. 79 plan nixedScientology Lies » Media » PressSource: Press-EnterpriseDate: January 10, 1998Route request by Scientology film studio upsets San Jacintoby Susan ThurstonSan Jacinto city officials and residents have reacted with suspicion to a Church of Scientology request that the city continue diverting Highway 79 away from the church's Golden Era Productions film studios.The City Council voted 4-1 Thursday night to deny Golden Era's request that a detour along Sanderson Avenue and Ramona Expressway continue to be designated as Highway 79. Some council members and residents questioned the church's intentions for the original highway, also known as Gilman Springs Road.A year and a half ago, to allow construction of a bridge across the San Jacinto River on State Street, the state diverted Highway 79 from the stretch of Gilman Springs Road that runs through Golden Era's multimillion-dollar complex in Gilman Hot Springs just north of San Jacinto.Council members and residents said Thursday that the city should not commit to changing the designation until the highway route is determined once and for all."There are issues here I'd hate to see compounded. People are very concerned about the area," said Chris Buydos, a San Jacinto planning commissioner who lives off Ramona Expressway.Others opposed accommodating the Church of Scientology, which was founded in the 1950s by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, who died in 1986. Promotional and training films for Scientology churches and missions are produced at Golden Era."I highly object to appeasing these people. This highway has been here for a long, long time," said Lucille Ferguson, a San Jacinto Valley resident for more than 50 years. "What do they really do there? People ought to know. I resent us changing things for their benefit."Councilwoman Joan Good questioned whether the request was the first step in a Golden Era plan to close Gilman Springs Road.Good said she had been leaning toward approving the request when she went into Thursday's meeting, but changed her mind after hearing from residents and Ken Hoden, Golden Era's general manager.Hoden said residents' concerns were based on a lack of knowledge about the church and its operations. He urged them to attend an open house on Sundays to get a firsthand look at what goes on in the complex.He said Golden Era requested the temporary realignment of the highway because noise from passing vehicles causes problems when the studios are recording. Stripping Gilman Springs Road of its state highway designation would make it easier to lower the speed limit from 50 to 35 mph and reduce noise, he said."The highway is always going to be there. No one is going to lose the highway," Hoden said.Muriel Dufrense, Golden Era's director of public relations, said the council missed an opportunity Thursday to get one step closer to the final highway alignment.Local, county and state officials have been trying to nail down a new Highway 79 route for nearly 20 years. Relocation of the road is considered vital to the future economic development of the San Jacinto Valley. Most want the road moved to the west side of the valley to provide easier access to Interstate 10 to the north and the new Domenigoni Valley reservoir and Interstate 15 to the south.The Hemet City Council last month endorsed Golden Era's request.The San Jacinto council went against the recommendation of City Engineer Habib Motlagh, who said the request should be granted as long as the city retains control of access along Sanderson and the expressway and Caltrans maintains the roads and makes any necessary improvements.Councilman Patrick Williams asked why the city should hurry to relieve a problem for Golden Era when it has been slow in helping residents near the expressway, who have complained that access to Chase Street is dangerous."Why do we want to move Golden Era's problem to our problem?" he said. "This has little to do with who they are or what they do."Councilman Jim Conner questioned whether Caltrans would invest in widening the expressway to four lanes.Mayor Jim Smedley cast the lone vote in support of Golden Era's request."I think we have an obligation to be a good neighbor. Golden Era has been a good neighbor," he said.
San Jacinto council could oppose road closureBy GAIL WESSONThe Press-EnterpriseThe San Jacinto City Council is expected to take a position on the subject of closure of Gilman Springs Road near Golden Era Studios tonight.The winding, two-lane road between Highway 79 and State Street is in unincorporated Riverside County adjacent to the city and bisects the Church of Scientology's Golden Era Productions property.Councilmen Jim Ayres and Jim Potts, who make up the council's transportation subcommittee, asked that the item be placed on the agenda and the resolution wording urges keeping the road open. The council meets at 7 p.m. in the San Jacinto Unified School District offices.At a meeting earlier this summer about San Jacinto River levee improvements, a consultant to Scientology officials asked the city to support the closure, San Jacinto City Manager Barry McClellan said by phone.The question for the city is, "What's the benefit for the citizens of San Jacinto and I could not think of one single reason that it would benefit our residents," said Potts .If anything, the area will need more access points, as growth occurs, he said. Patrons of the Soboba Casino, emergency vehicles and motorists entering and leaving the San Jacinto Valley use the route.A Scientology spokeswoman did not return a message seeking comment. Scientology 's training videos and audiotapes are made at the studios.The church bought the property in 1978.
Council doesn't support closing Gilman Springs Road10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, September 3, 2009By GAIL WESSONThe Press-EnterpriseThe San Jacinto City Council voted unanimously Thursday to go on record opposing any future proposal to close Gilman Springs Road where it bisects the Church of Scientology's Golden Era Productions property.The winding, two-lane road between Highway 79 and State Street is in unincorporated Riverside County, adjacent to the city. The Scientologists' interest in closing the road predates the 2004 election of County Supervisor Jeff Stone, who represents the area's 3rd District. The issue has come up every few years, said Verne Lauritzen, chief of staff to Stone, by phone Thursday.As of this week, no official application had been made to the county. Samuel Alhadeff, an attorney representing the church, told the council experts have been hired to analyze issues related to the road and, in a letter, anticipated a road vacation application could be filed soon.He called the council action "premature" and said he hopes lines of communication will remain open on the subject.Letters or petitions from Country Lakes Mobile Home Park, Heritage Ranch and businesses along State Street lobbied to keep the road open. Patrons of the Soboba Casino, emergency vehicles and motorists entering and leaving the San Jacinto Valley use the route.Councilman Jim Ayres said the council needs to let the county Board of Supervisors know "how truly vital this road is to our community" as one of three essential travel arteries out of the valley.Councilman John Mansperger said if the group wants the road closed, it must offer an alternative route -- and not at taxpayer expense.At a meeting earlier this summer about San Jacinto River levee improvements, a consultant to Scientology officials asked the city to support closure, San Jacinto City Manager Barry McClellan said earlier."They recently have come to us again with the same issue," Lauritzen said. "We've been pretty straight up with them."If the group made an application and went through an environmental review process, Lauritzen said Stone would consider it only if the group was willing to pay for an alternate road in the vicinity that would improve safety and ease traffic."There can't be any public money involved with that. The county doesn't have the money," Lauritzen said.Reach Gail Wesson at 951-763-3455 or gwesson@PE.com
The room was packed, mostly with people who supported expansion of an indian casino. I did not have a tripod nor was there room for it; it was standing room only. 45 minutes of hand held video made it difficult to keep the camera still, especially when zoomed in.Former mayor and council member Ayres was out spoken in his opposition to the road closure and vacating the county land. Scientology's attorney Samuel Alhaldeff, who has previously worked to suppress free speech in Riverside County, tried to stop the council from passing the resolution.All residents who spoke were opposed to the road closure and supported the resolution.
"I did a little research on the houses that are on Sublette Road. They have all been purchase by the Church of Scientology. You eliminate opposition by buying their house"."This is a long term strategy"."The tunnels were built for human passage under the street. ... I can't think of too many place where that's been done"."I believe outside the safety the other issue for them is noise because they have told me that over the years. Whenever they do their recordings or their filming the noise from the road has an impact on them. Well, I hate to say it but it's too darn bad because you knew it you bought the property in 1978, 39 years ago or whatever. The road was there, these people have been using that road"."We have to come out, to meet with the supervisors - the entire board. Mr. Mayor I suggest you hand deliver this resolution to the board of supervisors and let them know just how important this is if it passes tonight".
Very interesting stuff. I love the way the community came together to battle this one along with the city council's stance in support of taxpayers.
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Topic: [Yahoo] Tunnels under road ferry Golden Era workers (The Valley Chronicle) (Read 10242 times)