Placer’s Attorney: Tribe’s Parcel Split Request Legitimate

By Art Campos - Sacramento Bee

Placer County’s attorney said Friday that there is no mystery why the United auburn Indian Community is being allowed to pursue a "parcel split" for its proposed gaming casino and for a housing area with the intention of putting both lands under federal trust.

Anthony LaBouff, county counsel, said Placer County doesn’t allow residential structures to be built within a business or industrial zone – and a casino would be considered a business.

"Basically, the tribe is being consistent with our county zoning ordinance," LaBouff said.

On Thursday, the Roseville City Council questioned how and why the tribe is trying to reclaim two parcels of county land.

Council members said they thought federal law allows a tribe to reclaim one parcel of land to establish a reservation and gaming facilities.

"The tribe is doing a parcel split," Roseville Mayor Harry Crabb stated at the council meeting. "I don’t think this is part of the intent (of the federal law)."

The council voted 5-0 to send a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs asking for an explanation.

Ron Jaeger, regional director for the bureau in Sacramento, was out of town Friday and couldn’t be reached for comment. His top officers were also gone Friday and couldn’t be reached for comment. His top officers were also gone Friday, a secretary said.

Doug Elmets, spokesman for the United Auburn Indian Community, said tribal members felt "an obligation" to comply with zoning laws, even though the Indians aren’t required to do so.

"The tribe worked closely with the county to identify the appropriate parcels for the economic activity, which in this case would be gaming facility, and for the residential property," Elmets said.

LaBouff said he was surprised that Roseville council members were still asking questions about the parcel split.

"We thought we had explained all that to them in the recent meetings," he said.

In August, the Placer County Board of Supervisors, though not favoring gambling, made an agreement with the United Auburn Indian Community on the mitigation of impacts caused by a casino that would be built on 56 acres at Athens and Industrial avenues.

The casino site is in an industrial area and is at least 1.5 miles from homes, churches and schools. The tribe also plans to build housing for its members on a parcel in the Camp Far West area, north of the proposed casino.