Placer County Supervisors approve Hidden Falls Trails Expansion project in close vote

The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved components of the Hidden Falls Regional Park Trails Expansion reduced project during a special meeting Monday. The board's approval certifies the Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report and authorizes the modification of the conditional use permit to account for the expansion. The project, which was reduced last fall, proposes to expand the regional park to 3,395 acres, including doubling the trail network from 30 to 60 miles and adding vehicle, ADA and equestrian parking. According to the staff report, the project also proposes the following: The construction of supporting facilities such as restrooms, viewing platforms, picnic areas, benches, drinking fountains, wells, stream crossings, signage, animal-proof trash and recycle receptacles, equestrian facilities, fencing, fire suppression facilities and emergency and maintenance access roads. The construction of two bridges over Raccoon Creek and one major culvert crossing over a tributary to Raccoon Creek. Management methods including hours of operation, use of reservation system, operation of public water supply permits and Transient Non-Community Water System permits, as well as regulatory compliance. Allowed uses within county-owned properties to include recreation, agriculture, grazing, film and theater production, nature and cultural education, organized events like docent-led tours and cross-country track meets, fishing according to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Freshwater Fishing Regulation and depredation hunting only by county and federal wildlife specialists. "This is it, this is all you will see from this," Placer County Parks Division Senior Planner Lisa Carnahan said, addressing concerns regarding whether the full project could be approved later. "We're considering this our generation's project, this reduced project. We're not going to be coming back asking for any more. In fact, we've put conditions of approval for your review in the use permit that would limit it to this project. … If sometime in the future our children's children want to come back and take a second look at it ... they'd have to go back through environmental review, they'd have to go back to public hearings and come before the board again for another decision." The board received 51 comments in person and via Zoom, including 27 in favor of the expansion and two undecided, asking the board to consider all effects of the project; and 22 opposing the project, with some commenters receiving applause after voicing concerns of the residents neighboring the park. Most opposing comments shared concerns regarding road conditions, fire safety and destroying the quality of life in the area, and asked the board to consider mitigating concerns before voting on the item. According to Placer County Parks Administrator Andy Fisher, fuel load reduction and vegetation management, the reservation system, closures during extreme fire weather and ranger patrol would continue with the expansion. "... I hope regardless of what the outcome is today that we have enough relationship with these folks (community), we're still going to be landowners in any event," Fisher said. "Out in that neighborhood, we're still conservation easement holders and we are dedicated to continue to help those folks with messaging, with signage, with being good neighbors regardless of where this project goes." The staff report also notes the expansion will provide emergency responders with better access to trail expansion areas than what is available currently. According to CAL FIRE/Placer County Fire Department Deputy Chief Jim Hudson, "There's no cookie-cutter answer" on an exact evacuation route in the event of a fire, as most decisions will be made at that time according to situational conditions but will be implemented with unified command, including the Placer County Sheriff's Office and park rangers, to get visitors safely out of the park during an emergency. District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson asked staff to continue to work with community members to address concerns, stating she will always "demand" county staff collaborate with the community. "It's not going to be perfect," Gustafson said before the vote. "I know it's devastating to people to see change, but I've built a lot of parks, I've managed parks. My history has been it's never as bad as you think, and we do fix it. And what you can be assured of is that we as your public neighbors are going to take better care of that property than private interest will. … We have got to be good stewards of this property and help make sure that we are a model for taking care of property so that people trust us to continue to protect Placer County and the benefits for all residents." Following public comment and discussion, the board considered both items in separate votes. The board certified the Final SEIR with the motion passing 3-2, with Supervisors Jim Holmes and Suzanne Jones submitting nay votes. The board also approved the modification of the conditional use permit in a 3-2 vote, with Holmes and Jones again submitting nay votes.