Cristallago - The Project
Description

   Cristallago’s concept is that of a master planned, mixed use, residential and destination resort community. The centerpiece of the community will be a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. The proponents plan to create a community with an amenity package that is typically only afforded to active adult or exclusive high-end resort communities. This project will be the first of its kind in Lake County. A Tuscan architectural theme shall be incorporated throughout the project’s vertical construction, entryway features and monumentation. Olive tree plantings will be used to buffer the residential areas from the golf course, in the entry, and landscaping areas. These olive plantings will be of varieties favored for their oil producing capabilities. There are plans for an on-site boutique olive oil press that will produce an exclusive Cristallago brand Extra Virgin Olive Oil for the community’s residents to enjoy. Strict project CC&R’s will be developed and implemented in order to ensure theme and quality control throughout of the project’s development.
   The 18-Hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will afford players a spectacular golfing experience due to the vastly diverse terrain the site provides. This signature golf course will spread over most of the property. The majority of the course layout will not be subjected to residential frontage in order to enhance the quality of the golfing experience at Cristallago. The golf course will include a dedicated 25,000+ sq .ft. club house and other requisite golf club support structures.
   The other core amenity for the project is, of course, Clear Lake itself. As part of the development application the applicant is asking Lake County for an access easement across its’ property, adjacent to the project site to north, in order that a physical connection to the Marina at Lyon’s Creek project site, in the form of a jogging / biking / golf cart path, can be provided. Residents would be allowed access to this lakefront project, via an applicant improved pathway, where a marina, fishing lodge and beach club is proposed for construction. Cristallago’s residents will enjoy access to the Marina’s lakefront amenities, in addition to the many Cristallago amenities as part of a club package available to residents from both projects.
   The heart of Cristallago will be a “Tuscan Hillside Village”. The project’s resort properties will be clustered in and around the Village which is to be perched on the hillside overlooking the 18th fairway. This Village will be afforded spectacular views of the lake and the surrounding area. The Village will contain a first class dining establishment as its’ centerpiece. There will also be a small number of other retail opportunities in order to provide necessary basic services to the resort guests and property owners.
   Cristallago will not only afford many different levels of whole ownership housing opportunities for home buyers but also plans to offer a full spectrum of resort ownership opportunities as well. Resort properties will most likely be sold under condo-hotel and fractional programs. Timeshare units may also be part of the resort mix. The resort units will be owned as fee simple interests controlled by one or more homeowner’s associations. The resort unit homeowner’s association would be part of the master community homeowner’s association. It is likely that there will be a mix of these different resort ownership opportunities. It is envisioned that a master resort management company will provide the professional management required to maintain the project’s amenity package in conjunction with the Marina’s amenities. The resort management company will receive a share of the resort unit rental revenues in exchange for maintenance, management, and other resort related services for all rental units within the project. The homeowner’s association will likely contribute fees to the management company, in addition, to pay for the homeowner’s share of project amenity usage. The resort units will be subject to some type of occupancy restriction in order to prevent usage as a permanent residence. Applicant will work with County Planning and the State Department of Real Estate in order to further define the nature of these occupancy restrictions. Properties sold within the condo-hotel program would be required to make their unused room nights available to the resort manager’s rental pool. These rental nights will generate Transient Occupancy Tax revenue for Lake County.
   Cristallago plans to provide a full multigenerational spectrum of ownership opportunities. Entire families, along with elderly parents in need of full or part time assistance will have the opportunity to stay close together. The applicant plans to incorporate a senior living campus component on the Marina site. It is anticipated that a senior housing developer will ultimately define the appropriate mix of senior housing opportunities. As a result of the Marina site’s excellent proximity to the Sutter Hospital, there is a great opportunity for accommodating the elderly residents that may require special medical needs and services.
   Activities for children have also been an important consideration in Cristallago’s design. A community clubhouse and kid’s club will be constructed including pools, small water slides, playground equipment and Outdoor Barbeque areas. The kid’s club would be staffed with full time associates running various activities for the children in order that parents can find time to enjoy the project’s amenities. The driving range for the golf course may include a small junior course within it for play by the youngsters.
   An internal trail system is also proposed so that residents may enjoy Cristallago’s some 567 acres of open space and spectacular ridge top lake views while walking, hiking or biking. It is the applicant’s hope that if the County allows for an access easement to the Marina site, in conjunction with other Robin Hill property owners, provide for this trail system to connect with the Rodman Slough park trail system. Atop one of the highest points in the project, there are plans to build the “Vista Spa”. This full service spa facility will provide for a place to simply enjoy unobstructed 360-degree views of the Lake and Scott’s Valley during and after receiving one of the many relaxing treatments.
   Cristallago’s residential housing opportunities are proposed to include standard single family residential of various lot sizes ranging from 5400 to 10000 sq. ft. lots. Higher density zero lot line residential town-homes, patio homes and golf casitas will also be part of the whole ownership program. There will also be a number of estate lots for custom homes that will have premium views of the golf course, mountains and Clear Lake. A large portion of the project will be dedicated in perpetuity as a nature preserve, enhancing Cristallago’s efforts to harmonize the project’s residential uses with the environment. The open space would be managed as part of the homeowner’s association. The site design incorporates the clustering concept throughout in order to accomplish the highest percentage of open space obtainable, implementing an important smart growth concept.
   The main entrance to the project will be at the intersection of Parkway and Hwy 29. A 15-acre entryway parcel will preserve the open Oak tree studded fields with the exception of a small community commercial area. The entryway commercial area will be centered upon a Lake County Visitor’s Center. The Visitor’s Center will showcase Lake County Cultural History, promote Lake County Tourism and Agri-Tourism opportunities and provide a wine tasting facility that will exhibit and promote Lake County’s fine wineries as well as Cristallago Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This area would also site a small number of community retail business and the project’s real estate sales center. Another secondary main entrance will be located approximately one mile to the north on Hill Road. A single main arterial roadway will provide circulation throughout the community by connecting both entryways. A full traffic study, as part of the environmental impact report, will identify the necessary offsite roadway improvements in order to mitigate project impacts.