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County gives up on Lucas development 'It's just a shame,' says Supervisor Rice of Lucas' failed studio project By Chris Rooney Marinscope contributor Published: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 12:54 PM PDT
This is one George Lucas saga that won’t end with a triumphant victory against all odds. No Luke Skywalker heroics. No Han Solo bravery. Not even a primal growl from Chewbacca.
Instead, the Marin County Board of Supervisors has admitted defeat — a high-profile project that would have brought jobs to the area and bolstered the economy has slipped away.
”It seems from where I’m sitting that it’s over,” said Supervisor Katie Rice. “It’s just a shame.”
Rice is referring to a project spearheaded by Lucas’ Lucasfilm company to erect a studio complex in the Grady Ranch area of Lucas Valley.
The plan called for a 270,000-square-foot digital production studio in the hills near Lucas Valley Road, including offices, a restaurant for employees, a retail store, a wine tasting room, screening rooms and storage.
There would have also been 20 employee guest suites, a parking garage and an outdoor stage.
After residents in the area began complaining about the size and scope of the project — potential noise was a significant issue — Lucasfilm opted to back out rather than endure a battle that very likely would have ended up in the courts. In a public decree, Lucas denounced the project’s critics and suggested that the property may wind up being used for low-income housing.
Immediately, the supervisors and other community and business groups started a campaign to get the project back on track. A website wooing Lucas was posted online and the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce issued a statement that pointed out the project’s value to the workplace and local economy.
Supervisor Susan Adams, who resides near Lucas Valley, said the sweeping majority of her neighbors were in favor of the project, but “unfortunately it just takes a few” to undermine the plans.
Both Rice and Adams, while lamenting the loss of the Lucas project, said something positive could be found in the experience.
“This galvanized a wide range of business and community groups,” said Adams, who added that the failure would serve as a lesson on how to prevent such projects from slipping away in the future.
Adams said the Lucasfilm studio had been in the works for about two years and that both county agencies and the supervisors were moving quickly to bring it to fruition.
However, some Lucas Valley residents appeared to be using environmental issues as a means to slow the project and perhaps lead to litigation.
In one instance, which called for the preservation of a creek, Adams said, “There have been no fish there in decades.”
Project critics say they had not expected Lucas to pull out entirely, but just wanted their concerns addressed. Project supporters say the vocal neighbors threatened litigation and undermined any chance of success.
The county supervisors tried to keep the lines of communication open, but to no avail.
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“Our decision is final,” said Tom Forster, Lucasfilm director of community relations.
No last-second heroics for this George Lucas story. In this case, nobody benefitted from the Force.
Contact Chris Rooney at [email protected] .
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