EDH development raises concerns

The El Dorado County Planning Commission held its third of four public hearings Monday, Jan. 13, on the possible development of two housing developments in El Dorado Hills that have received much pushback from residents. In 2015, Measure E was an advisory vote put on the ballot to obtain public input on rezoning 100 acres of what was the executive golf course in El Dorado Hills, located on El Dorado Hills Boulevard off Highway 50. The land use is designated for 'open space recreation,' and the rezoning would allow residential housing and commercial development on the property. The results came back with 91.04 percent of voters opposed to the rezoning. On Nov. 14, 2019, the El Dorado County Planning Commission held the first public hearing on the project, the Central El Dorado Hills Specific Plan project (CEDHSP), which was continued to a Dec. 12, 2019 meeting. CEDHSP consists of 336 acres with land within two planning areas – the Pedregal Planning Area, with 102 acres, and the Serrano Westside Planning Area, with 234 acres. The Pedregal Planning Area is the remainder of the Ridgeview East subdivision, and previous applications for residential development did not move forward due to a water moratorium and the 1999 General Plan Writ of Mandate. The proposed specific plan would include low and high density residential housing, as well as open space. The Serrano Westside Planning Area includes portions of the EDHSP that consists of planned Serrano Village D-1, Lots C and D, the former El Dorado Hills Executive Golf Course, and a 100-acre recreational amenity constructed in the 60s. The proposed specific plan would include medium-low, medium-high and high-density residential housing, civic-limited commercial, a community park, as well as open space. According to El Dorado County, the maximum development potential for this land is up to 759 dwelling units and up to 50,000 square feet of limited commercial or civic uses. A 15-acre community park site and 175 acres of open space are also proposed in the project, totaling 52 percent of the area. According to Andrew Howard, principal planner for Serrano Associates, the county, EDHCSD and EDH Fire Department will remain fiscally neutral with the proposed project. During the Jan. 13 public hearing, the room was packed with concerned residents eager to speak before the commission. A number of residents also sent in emails. Among the residents' concerns were school sustainability, water supply, infrastructure, construction and road closures, traffic and loss of open space. "I am not opposed to all growth. I understand that our county needs more housing. That housing should be built in areas designated as residential," read an email from El Dorado Hills resident Melissa Swart-Weikel. "Our few remaining open spaces and nature areas should be preserved and protected. Once these spaces are lost, they are gone forever." Cory Smart sent an email to the county stating this land is one of the last places the community can enjoy open space, as well as the possibility of a park and sports area. "Our kids and future deserve more than stuffing more houses wherever they will fit," Smart wrote. "Please consider the vote of 91 percent opposition from a couple years ago regarding this rezone. This development will completely change the look and feel of our community for the worse." El Dorado Hills resident Laura Patani stated during the meeting her opposition of the rezoning and project. "I am in opposition of the rezone. I am in support of the sustainable growth of El Dorado Hills, but do not consider this rezone to be sustainable to the community, nor our school systems," she said. "The rezone will be detrimental to the sense of community, the reasonably accessible recreation space, the highly rated school system and the overall plan for the future generations of El Dorado Hills. The removal of useable open space is the removal of opportunity for our community to form connections and build a safe environment to form friendships and bond, which was a purpose the golf course served." A date has not yet been set for the fourth meeting on this item.