Myths and Facts about BEC's Appeal

This article first appeared in December 1999. It is posted here for archival purposes. Some material on this page may be dated.

Myth

BEC’s appeal of the Schmidbauer application to split the property is an attempt to stop the construction of the high school.

Fact

BEC appealed the boundary line modification because General Plan and potential California Environmental Quality Act requirements were not revealed in the application. The appeal permits a public discussion of these issues with the Planning Commission. An attempt to discuss the legal requirements does not stop the high school from proceeding with its process to review the Schmidbauer and backup sites. Besides the natural resource permit requirements, they also must conduct additional review such as clearance from toxics, and eventually, an Environmental Impact Report. All these things are state requirements that take over a year once they are initiated. CUSD just recently started the toxic review phase.

Myth

BEC only cares about the environment and not educating children.

Fact

Common knowledge about the natural resources found in the City of Chico were made policy in the General Plan which was updated from 1991-1994. Many of the lands in southeast Chico, including Schmidbauer’s (the CUSD preferred site), were designated as Resource Management Areas due to the valuable natural resources found there by the consultants. BEC has been concerned about this choice because the CUSD, the community, the Chico City Council, and state and federal agencies knew the resources were there since 1993 when they were mapped and policy accordingly made to protect them.

Concern about one site (CUSD also has three or four other sites they have considered in southeast Chico) for a high school does not indicate a desire not to teach our children. BEC has provided the community with environmental education since it incorporated in 1975 through classroom presentations, community cleanup projects, and the oldest environmental education faire held annually in northern California. BEC also has two educators on the Board of Directors.

Myth

BEC has held up the construction of the high school since a bond was approved in March 1998.

Fact

An interesting twist in the selection process is this: the Schmidbauer site was not even considered until it appeared magically as the new choice one month after the successful bond measure. Delays in constructing the high school have been two-fold. BEC had nothing to do with either one.

The Hank Marsh Jr., High construction was in progress, preceding a high school. Delays in completing the junior high postponed the CUSD ability to focus on the high school process, which includes many time consuming local, state, and federal requirements. Toxic assessments and an EIR are among them and can take way over a year after initiation. CUSD just started this phase in the fall of 1999.

The Schmidbauer property that is currently the preferred site for the high school is constrained by wetlands and the endangered species Butte County meadowfoam. The state and federal agencies that must review any application for wetland or endangered species destruction, met with Schmidbauer’s consultant and the CUSD over a year ago and told them to come back with another proposal. They have not done so. BEC has no authority in this state and federal process.