Lucasfilm has had enough of Marin County

Oakland Tribune/Nels Johnson/Marin Indedpedent Journal, 4/11/12.  "George Lucas stuns Marin, pulls plug on movie studio project." "

Lucasfilm pulled the plug on its bid to develop the old Grady Ranch on Tuesday, citing bitter opposition from neighbors and regulatory delays, and said it intends to sell the land for a low-income subdivision development. Saying it was withdrawing the project "with great sadness," Lucasfilm added it will build the production studio facilities it needs elsewhere.

Skywalker Ranch, Marin County

The stunning move cheered project foes who called the ranch site near their homes the wrong place for a film production studio with a footprint the size of two football fields. But county officials and business interests were devastated, noting the project promised to energize the Marin economy, providing millions in revenue and hundreds of jobs.

"We have several opportunities to build the production stages in communities that see us as a creative asset, not as an evil empire, and if we are to stay on schedule we must act on those opportunities," Lucasfilm said it a statement headlined, "Lucasfilm pulls building plans out of Marin."

"The level of bitterness and anger expressed by the homeowners in Lucas Valley has convinced us that, even if we were to spend more time and acquire the necessary approvals, we would not be able to maintain a constructive relationship with our neighbors," the firm owned by billionaire filmmaker George Lucas added. "We love working and living in Marin, but the residents of Lucas Valley have fought this project for 25 years, and enough is enough," Lucasfilm said. "Marin is a bedroom community and is committed to building subdivisions, not business. Many years ago, we tried to stop the Lucas Valley Estates project from being built, but we failed, and we now have a subdivision on our doorstep."

"Hey George, wanna buy a quarry?"

Lucas Valley Estates neighbors were the most vocal opponents of the Lucas project. Lucasfilm said that after years of delays and "no end in sight," the firm plans to build the production studios it needs elsewhere -- and put the Grady Ranch up for sale to developers. Some 232 homes were proposed for the property in 1974, but Lucas blocked residential development when he bought the land. "We plan to sell the Grady property, expecting that the land will revert back to its original use for residential housing," Lucasfilm said. "We hope we will be able to find a developer who will be interested in low-income housing since it is scarce in Marin. If everyone feels that housing is less impactful on the land, then we are hoping that people who need it the most will benefit."

County supervisors approved a master plan for a bigger Lucas project at the Grady Ranch 16 years ago, but it never was built. Revisions to the master plan that reduced the project's impact on the environment were unanimously approved by county planners, but approval by county supervisors was delayed last month following last-minute concerns by state and federal regulatory agencies about the filmmaker's plan for a $50 million to $70 million creek restoration project. Project boosters noted the project's demise was a multimillion dollar blow to Marin's economy and scuttles the prospect of 700 jobs during construction alone, as well as several hundred more high-paying film industry jobs.Read more.

Reference - Lucasfilm, LTD, Related article - Los Angeles Times. Television report - CBS San Francisco, 4/10/12 includes embedded video, 2:19 minutes.

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh