Guest Opinion: Will Elk Grove Lose the Rural Area?
Per EG City website, during this period, the applicant contributed a total of $26,200 to four of the five council members.
As an advocate for the rural area, I am concerned when it comes to support for the rural area and the vision and policy statements laid out in the General Plan. These statements form, protect,and promote the rural area. Each council member and planning commissioner has been provided with a copy of 20 “vision/policy” statements taken from the General Plan.
These statements, developed over 20 years ago, are the result of rural area residents working collaboratively with staff. Not only are these vision/policy statements still in place, there is also a Rural Area Community Plan within the General Plan which is intended to strengthen these vision/policy statements. From a policy standpoint, a General Plan amendment to any of these vision/policy statements to support the approval of the proposed Summer Villas project will apply to the entire rural area.
For example, this project will require municipal water and sewer services to be extended to the project to service the proposed 499 homes. The General Plan does not allow municipal water or sewer service in the rural area. To provide these services, the lines must travel through portions of the rural area. This is one identified policy that will require amendment if this project is approved. There may be others depending on the project design and city standards requirements.
This is what I refer to as the “camel’s nose”. When will the next project proposal be submitted? Where will the next proposed project be located? What other General Plan amendments will be required if the proposed Summer Villas project is approved? There are yet to be determined consequences, both known and unintended.
When one reviews the chain of events that has led us to this point, sadly, I remain dubious as to council member support. In May 2022 the applicant repurchased this 116-acre parcel. Thus began a stream of 2022 election cycle campaign contributions that continued until the development application was submitted in January 2023. Per EG City website, during this period, the applicant contributed a total of $26,200 to four of the five council members.
The hearings on this project may come as early as fall of this year. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the city council about whether to approve or deny the project. The council can accept their recommendation, amend it or override their recommendation. Time will tell if there is a sincere commitment to the General Plan and community or whether that commitment is just so many words.
I'm asking all Elk Grovians, east and west of Hwy 99, to stand with the rural community in support of the rural area of Elk Grove!
George Murphey
Elk Grove Planning Commissioner, Retired
