Elk Grove Public Library: What might have been
First let me start by saying the history here is based on my 15 years in Elk Grove, involvement with the Elk Grove Community Planning Adviso...
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2008/12/elk-grove-public-library-what-might.html
First let me start by saying the history here is based on my 15 years in Elk Grove, involvement with the Elk Grove Community Planning Advisory Council and various recollections and therefore is not complete. What I have included is to the best on my knowledge factual as is relates to the site of the new Elk Grove Public Library.
If any reader has more information, such as the poster to our previous story who noted that in days gone by there was a gas station on the same southeast corner of Elk Grove-Florin Rd. and Elk Grove Blvd., we invite you to submit them. Thank, D.G.
Since at least 1993 until the recent construction of the Elk Grove Public Library, the southeast corner of Elk Grove-Florin and Elk Grove Blvd. was a vacant lot. For a number of years it was used as Christmas tree lot.
Somewhere between 1997 and 2000 a developer wanted to build a combination convenience store-gas station selling liquor on this site. This I am certain of because during this time I was a member of the Elk Grove Planning Advisory Council, or EGCPAC.
EGCPAC was part of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors planning process. A toothless tiger, EGCPAC (as well as others advisory councils throughout the unincorporated areas of Sacramento County) were an opportunity for neighborhoods to review planning proposals and provide feedback and input as they moved through the county planning process.
As one might expect, members of EGCPAC, the community at large and the Elk Grove Unified School District strenuously objected. A gas station convenience store selling liquor right across the street from Joseph McKee Middle School was not only unsafe, it was just wrong.
Although I cannot recall the exact details, the proposed plan was rightfully killed. While the heft of school district helped mightily in shooting down this hairbrain scheme, the vocal opposition of people in Elk Grove cannot be minimized.
Eventually the plans for a new library evolved and we now have this great addition to our city.
The point of this story is this: Had members of EGCPAC and the vocal voices in the community not objected to this, who knows if if we ever would have had a new library in Old Town Elk Grove. Worse, we would have another prime corner occupied by just another gas station.
If any reader has more information, such as the poster to our previous story who noted that in days gone by there was a gas station on the same southeast corner of Elk Grove-Florin Rd. and Elk Grove Blvd., we invite you to submit them. Thank, D.G.
Since at least 1993 until the recent construction of the Elk Grove Public Library, the southeast corner of Elk Grove-Florin and Elk Grove Blvd. was a vacant lot. For a number of years it was used as Christmas tree lot.
Somewhere between 1997 and 2000 a developer wanted to build a combination convenience store-gas station selling liquor on this site. This I am certain of because during this time I was a member of the Elk Grove Planning Advisory Council, or EGCPAC.
EGCPAC was part of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors planning process. A toothless tiger, EGCPAC (as well as others advisory councils throughout the unincorporated areas of Sacramento County) were an opportunity for neighborhoods to review planning proposals and provide feedback and input as they moved through the county planning process.
As one might expect, members of EGCPAC, the community at large and the Elk Grove Unified School District strenuously objected. A gas station convenience store selling liquor right across the street from Joseph McKee Middle School was not only unsafe, it was just wrong.
Although I cannot recall the exact details, the proposed plan was rightfully killed. While the heft of school district helped mightily in shooting down this hairbrain scheme, the vocal opposition of people in Elk Grove cannot be minimized.
Eventually the plans for a new library evolved and we now have this great addition to our city.
The point of this story is this: Had members of EGCPAC and the vocal voices in the community not objected to this, who knows if if we ever would have had a new library in Old Town Elk Grove. Worse, we would have another prime corner occupied by just another gas station.
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