SEPA EIR Gets OK from Elk Grove City Council

July 10, 2014 | The planning and development of Elk Grove's last unplanned area took a major step forward last night when the Elk G...

July 10, 2014 |

The planning and development of Elk Grove's last unplanned area took a major step forward last night when the Elk Grove City Council approved certification of the environmental impact report (EIR) for the so-called Southeast Policy Area (SEPA).

The SEPA, located as the name implies on the city's southeastern side, is the last unplanned area within current boundaries. With the EIR certified, the final planning and zoning of the 1200-acre area can now proceed.

During the public comment portion of the hearing, the council heard a variety of opinions on how the area should be planned. The city council has repeatedly said a large portion of the area will be zoned for commercial, non-retail uses meant to correct the city's well-documented jobs to home imbalance.
It is believed the development of more homes in the SEPA
and nearby Laguna Ridge planning area will help spur
renewed construction of the long abandoned shopping
center formerly known as the Elk Grove Promenade. 

Christo Bardis complained about one 80-acre parcel in the plan being changed from primarily residential to mixed use. Bardis, a well-known regional residential developer whose company went belly-up during the housing collapse and credit crisis, is also in litigation with the city and has been a generous campaign contributor to council members.

"You take an 80-acre parcel and move 65-acres of residential, " Bardis said. "I think a better job could be done."

Sacramento Area Council of Government's representative Greg Chew said that while that agency does not take positions on general plans, the SEPA is consistent with the agency's regional planning blueprint. He noted if the plan is executed as now proposed, it could help improve Elk Grove's worst-in-the region jobs to housing imbalance.

"Our analysis shows that Elk Grove, there is point 58 jobs to households and the regional average is one-point-one jobs per household," Chew said. "This plan, as presented, if successfully implemented, would close that gap and would bring this community closer to the regional average."  

Speaking on behalf of the Environmental Council of Sacramento, Elk Grove resident Lynn Wheat said that group believed that responses to concerns they expressed in the draft EIR were inadequate and needed to be fully addressed.

While they briefly considered continuing the item to make some changes to the location of certain zoning classifications, the council ultimately voted 4-0 to certify the report. Mayor Gary Davis did not attend this meeting.

"Conceptually, I think this is a great plan," said Council Member Steve Detrick.



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4 comments

Jerry Maguire said...

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"Christo Bardis complained about one 80-acre parcel in the plan being changed from primarily residential to mixed use."


"You take an 80-acre parcel and move 65-acres of residential, " Bardis said. "I think a better job could be done."

SHOW

ME

THE

MONEY!!!



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Anonymous said...

Is this the same plan that was voted down by the planning commissioners a few weeks back? What has changed? Any changes that would address those commissioners concerns? Detrick says "great plan"? How shallow for not taking another meeting or two to make sure this area is planned according to needs vs wants. This is the last large chunk of land and investing another month into addressing concerns seems the least that could have been done.

Show me a filter cigarette that delivers the taste, and I'll eat my hat! said...

I'm not sure to agree with the rogues gallery of characters who skulks around this site or give the city council some leeway to see if they can follow through on their promise to make this yet another gem for Elk Grove.

My gut feelings tells me to follow the old saying, you know, the one that the Rev. Jim Jones purportedly had placed above him as the Kool Aid was administered that read “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.”

Jerry Maguire said...

.

SHOW

ME

THE

MONEY!!! (continued)

I ran out of time yesterday and wanted to ask:


Where is the money coming from and who is receiving it?

How do we find out who contributed to the various council member's campaigns and how much?

Are any of the council members not supported by development industry contributions?


It is hard not to be highly cynical after reading articles and community member comments and the reading comments from the developers.

It sounded like the developers had other expectations than what was in the SEPA EIR.

It is time that the details get researched and publicized.

Are we at the point where the city should just allow the developers to pave everything over and throw up thousands of houses?


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