Rocklin to get long-awaited bridge over troubled project

After decades of thwarted plans and frustrated neighbors, the City of Rocklin has finally agreed to build a Secret Ravine bridge in Granite Lakes Estates within two years. The residential project is located in the southern area of Rocklin, between Greenbrae Road and Monument Springs Drive. Originally approved more than two decades ago, the 116-lot Granite Lakes subdivision in Rocklin has suffered multiple ownership changes through unforgiving economic cycles, up against powerful forces such as the Great Recession and the Covid pandemic. Primary access was to be through the extension of Monument Springs on the north side of Secret Ravine to Greenbrae. The extension included a developer-funded bridge over the creek and a two-lane road to connect Greenbrae. While Phase 1 of the project with 48 lots was successfully completed, full build-out of the remaining lots had until last week remained contingent upon finishing the bridge that never came. After a two-hour public hearing April 14, the Rocklin City Council unanimously approved another development agreement to build the estimated $7.3 million bridge concurrently with some homes to help fund it. Voicing concerns at the meeting included Carol Rubin, Justin Rozek, Jessica Rozek, Eric Feller, Joe Drab and Placer County Supervisor Anthony DeMattei. The council action allows building permits and certificates of occupancy of the remaining 65 residences to proceed, only after completion of the bridge abutments next year. The agreement also extends the project life another 10 years. The City of Rocklin allocated $1.5 million two years ago to the bridge from the regular annual capital improvement fund. The seed is an advance, to be reimbursed through taxes and developers fees, staff said. "This has been one unique project, to say the least," said Rocklin Councilmember Jill Gayaldo. "I can't speak for what happened 24 years ago, but I can tell you we've never taken on something like building a bridge in advance of a project." Back in 2016, the bridge property was in an unincorporated county area known as Greenbrae. Rocklin has since annexed the county "island." Based on original approvals, developers were allowed to build up to a maximum of 40 homes in the first phase, to partially offset bridge costs, staff explained. The project has been delayed by a number of unforeseen obstacles, including ownership changes, road realignment, right-of-way issues and the stagnant economics of the Great Recession a decade ago. As if conditions were not bad enough already, along came the devastating Covid pandemic. The original developer, Alleghany Properties, was allowed eight more homes built before the bridge. Houses were completed on all 48 lots, but work on the bridge and roadway were later halted. The undeveloped lots went into receivership, unpursued. The fiasco was later acquired by Real Property Investment Pros and Capital Equity Management Group, staff said. Since then, the owners have been working with the city and the similar Vista Oaks and Highlands Parcel A projects to identify options to finally fund and build the bridge once and for all. The agreement establishes clear safeguards that tie occupancy to bridge completion while still allowing limited early construction activity to proceed efficiently once bridge foundations are in, said Rocklin Planner Nathan Anderson. "Ultimately, these houses will pay more than a third of the cost of the bridge over time," said Councilmember Bill Halldin. "I believe I was the only one on the council at the time that was against the city taking over the project for a lot of reasons," said Councilmember Greg Janda. "But now that we have done it and I see how it's coming together, it's really the only way this bridge would ever get done." Anderson said roughly 90 percent of the bridge design plans are done and construction is scheduled for spring 2027. The span is scheduled to be ready for use by the end of 2027, authorities said.