The Fuss about Fess -

WSJ.com ^ | May 28, 2004

[UnklGene]

The Fuss about Fess -

A California developer turns to Indian tribes to evade foes of growth.

Friday, May 28, 2004 12:01 a.m. EDT

The coonskin cap he wore as Disney's Davy Crockett now rests in the Smithsonian. But at age 79 Fess Parker remains a frontiersman, albeit of a distinctly modern variety: He's a land developer. And that's just what has some California neighbors so upset that they're pasting "FESS" stickers on stop signs.

Give the man credit for clever marksmanship. The deal he's proposed with the neighboring Chumash Indians is at once simple and audacious: He sells the tribe 745 acres of land in Santa Barbara County, and the Chumash then put up a development in which Mr. Parker gets a 49% stake. The Chumash already have a casino, but this parcel would add land roughly five times the size of their existing holdings and feature a resort hotel, golf course and 500 luxury homes. If the feds approve the annexation of the land as tribal territory, it means this could all be built without regard to local and state regulations.

Far be it from us to oppose growth or champion regulation. But there are other principles here too. The chief one is that Mr. Parker and the Chumash would be taking advantage of the tribe's government-granted privileged status to make an end run around local rule. If successful, two consequences would likely follow. Most immediately, developers in this land-strapped state would forget about local zoning boards and city councils and start speed-dialing Indian tribes...

[Clara Lou]

An end-run around local rule? Feigned shock and dismay. The grumblers are very unhappy that they didn't think of it first.

[Inspectorette]

Around here, they're calling it "Fess's revenge". I work with a guy who lives in Santa Ynez, and he's furious.

[Fintan]

Good Lord, my boyhood hero went on to become a (gasp!) successful CAPITALIST!!!