Redding ready to crack down on 'nuisance' property in Cascade-Oasis Road area near I-5

Redding code enforcement officials are going after another large, undeveloped open space that they say has been a nuisance and growing concern for law enforcement and firefighters for nearly three years.

Redding’s Administrative Hearings Board on Wednesday afternoon will consider fines against the Fresno-based property owner of 14 parcels that make up approximately 160 acres in the area of Oasis Road and Cascade Boulevard west of Interstate 5.

Since June 2021, Redding police have been called to the property about 150 times for issues like illegal dumping, trespassing, illegally firing a gun, indecent exposure and other suspicious acts, according to a staff report for Wednesday’s meeting.

Redding firefighters have been called out to the property at least 12 times during the same time period, the report said.

The property's owner, Mike Thomason of Thomason Development Company in Fresno, said he’s tried to clean up the land, but it’s not safe to go out there, adding that his crews need police protection to get the job done. Thomason said he has had his life threatened by people who are staying on his property illegally.

Thomason said it’s a societal issue that the city and county need to do a better job of addressing or property owners like himself will continue to suffer the consequences.

“I’m not the criminal here. I’m actually the one having crimes committed against me,” he said.

Thomason said he has created dirt berms and placed boulders on the portion of property that fronts Cascade Boulevard, but it has failed to keep people and vehicles out. He said the space is too big to put a fence around it.

Situation similar to another recent blighted property case in Redding

This is the second time in a year that Redding officials have come down hard on an out-of-town property owner.

In January 2023, the Administrative Hearings Board gave the Mission Viejo-based owner of blighted land in a canyon off Lake Boulevard extra time to clean up his property before imposing fines up to $100,000.

The 67-acre area was littered with debris, drew illegal campers and had been deemed a significant fire risk for nearly a year before it came to the advisory board in early 2023.

It is not clear if the canyon property off Lake Boulevard was ever cleaned up.

Code Enforcement Supervisor Seth Dressler did not reply to a phone message or email.

Cascade-Oasis property review was continued from February

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s Administrative Boards Hearing meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m.The administrative compliance review on the Thomason property, which owns the parcels under the name Oasis Land Company LP, was originally scheduled to be heard Feb. 21. The matter was continued to Wednesday after Colby Thomason, the property owner, requested the delay.

Oasis Land Company was issued an administrative compliance order on Sept. 19, 2023, but it failed to comply, so the matter went to the Administrative Hearings Board.

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Code enforcement is recommending that Oasis Land Company have until April 19, 2024, to stop the nuisance activity on its property, remove all abandoned vehicles, remove junk, trash, debris and any unused equipment and stop the illegal camping that’s happening on the land.

In addition, Thomason Development would have to pay a fine of $1,000 on or before April 19.

Failure to comply by April 19 would result in fines of $100 per day up to $65,000.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Why Redding is ready to take action on this 'nuisance' property