Auburn residents oppose proposed storage facility project

Residents of the Train Village in Auburn have been rallying to oppose a storage facility project proposed for an empty lot within the neighborhood. The project, known as Foothill Storage, would feature a three-story self-storage facility with 840 storage units, 23 parking spaces and an EV charger. According to Mitigated Negative Declaration documents, the project site, located on the corner of Dolores Drive and Terry Lane, is currently an undeveloped 2.36-acre site that is designated General Commercial in the Auburn/Bowman Community Plan. "Regardless of the existence of the commercial zoning, county staff nonetheless undertook CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) analysis to ensure project effects were sufficiently analyzed, disclosed and mitigated to less than significant level through the imposition of appropriate and feasible mitigation measures," Alex Fisch, principal planner for Placer County, said in an email to the Auburn Journal, confirming the completion of the analysis does not result in an action to approve or deny a project. Fisch confirmed county staff received 26 letters during the public comment period that ended April 23. The letters raised various concerns, including scenic impacts, safety, traffic, building massing and effects of the project's operation. "It would be a great project somewhere ... this just isn't the place for it," Steve Rigney, a resident of Train Village, told the Auburn Journal as he provided an overview of residents' concerns at the proposed project site. Rigney noted he verified online other self-storage facilities in Auburn that have spaces available so, "There's not a pressing need for this." A Charge.org petition was launched in opposition of the proposed project. In addition to an overview of Foothill Storage and information on how to share opposition, the petition includes renderings of alternatives residents feel would be a better fit in the Train Village neighborhood, to include an apartment complex, a town square or a few single-family homes. As of Friday afternoon, the petition had 369 signatures. Additionally, the petition was shared to Reddit and the Auburn, CA and the Auburn, CA - Support Our A-Town Facebook groups: "There are already so many storage places within a 10 mile radius! 3 stories! 🙄 This is ridiculous!" Jayme Jackson commented. Meg McGuire stated, "We need more housing in Auburn, no more storage. Also right off the freeway will look bad as people drove through." Some comments on the Facebook posts challenge the opposition, noting that "something worse" could be approved for the site instead. Fisch confirmed the project is scheduled for a public hearing before the Placer County Zoning Administrator to consider the adequacy of the CEQA analysis and staff's analysis and recommendation on the project's minor use permit and design review agreement. Adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration will also be considered. The hearing is scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 21. The public is invited to attend in the Planning Commission chambers, 3091 County Center Drive in Auburn or online at placer-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/98852109760. More information about the project can be found in the agenda and staff report at placer.ca.gov/AgendaCenter/Zoning-Administrator-Parcel-Review-Commi-20.