George Lucas' Neighbors Strike Back at His Plans to Build New Studio

INFDaily

Only a Heroic Jedi -- or a Planning Commission -- Can Save Him Now

Poor Star Wars papa George Lucas. All he wants to do is build a little 270,000-square foot digital media production facility near his Skywalker Ranch outside San Francisco. But his neighbors have gone all Darth Vader on him and are opposing the construction.

Read: Princess Leia Bun Headphone Covers [PHOTO]

Their reasons: The new structure, they claim, would do damage to their quality of life, bringing more traffic and noise to the area, as well as environmental damage.

The Associated Press reports Lucas, who does have his supporters among the neighbors, and the Marin County homeowners who are trying to nix his plans will officially go head-to-head on Feb. 27 at a Marin County Planning Commission Meeting.

So … George Lucas vs. the Planning Commission Meeting? Sure, it lacks the sexiness of The Battle of Endor or Obi-Wan Kenobi's showdown with Darth Maul, but at stake is a state of the art filmmaking facility that could bring in jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue.

Read: 'Star Wars' Camera Breaks Record At Auction

The new facilities, which Lucas wants to build on Grady Ranch, a huge chunk of land near Skywalker Ranch, would feature a 51-foot-tall compound with two 85-foot towers, two indoor sound stages, an 7,000-square foot outdoor stage, screening rooms, guest housing for visiting production teams, a general store, a cafeteria and a 4,000-square-foot wine cave.