With pivotal votes coming in the next few months, the developers of a companion commercial project to Metro Air Park believe they can start construction in about a year.
Monthly Archives: November 2023
2040 General Plan Update: Missing Middle Housing & Maximum Floor Area Ratio
On November 28, 2023, ECOS submitted a letter of support for the City of Sacramento’s proposal for the missing middle housing ordinance as part of the General Plan Update. Below is an excerpt from our letter.
For over 50 years, ECOS has urged our region to increase infill housing as opposed to sprawl development, in order to preserve habitat and make our air healthier to breathe. More recently it has become clear that this is needed to limit greenhouse gas emissions that jeopardize the future of our species, and to deal with our #1 local issue: the lack of affordable housing and concomitant homelessness. For these reasons, ECOS has consistently promoted investment in public transit and light rail, and the development of transit-oriented infill development. Additionally, ECOS recognizes that our past discriminatory housing policy has caused a development pattern that must be adjusted to promote environmental justice and equity.
Subbasin Groundwater Monitoring, Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems, and the 3rd year GSP Annual Report
On November 16, 2023, the Environmental Council of Sacramento submitted our comments on the Subbasin Groundwater Monitoring, Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems, and the 3rd year GSP Annual Report.
Why are Sacramento County Supervisors pursuing a lame idea that’s bad for the region? Opinion by Tom Philp, Oct 24, 2023, The Sacramento Bee
An October opinion piece in the Bee states the Sacramento region has already approved more suburban projects than the region will need for the next generation.
“It is time for supervisors to think far more strategically about growth. They must acknowledge that there can only be so much growth and what growth is approved must happen in a way that minimizes congestion and maximizes affordable housing and transit opportunities. Otherwise, it simply doesn’t make sense for the Sacramento County of today. . .
According to the latest SACOG population projections, the entire six-county region is expected to grow by approximately 278,000 between now and 2050. But Sacramento County’s transportation staff is suggesting that nearly half of the region’s entire growth is about to happen in Supervisor Phil Serna’s district.”
Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article280893568.html#storylink=cpy
Click here to read the article: https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article280893568.html
SacRT Mobility Hub Implementation Plan application
The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) supports the SacRT Mobility Hub Implementation Plan application for the FY2022-23 Planning and Capacity Building grant program. The application is submitted by Civic Thread in partnership with Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) and Sacramento Building Healthy Communities (Sac BHC). On October 25, 2023, ECOS submitted a letter of support for this application.
Click here to read our letter of support for this application.
ECOS Climate Committee meeting 12/21/2023
Thursday, December 21, 2023 – 6 PM start (Zoom)
Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155
6:00 PM: Welcome and Introductions
6:10 PM: Alberto Ayala, Executive Director, Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District (AQMD) – will discuss applying for federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG), and the recent COP28 meeting in Dubai.
- The AQMD is working with agencies in our 7-county Sacramento region to develop a regional greenhouse gas (GHG) plan to include all desired climate pollution reduction strategies. The CPRG program provides $5 billion in grants to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing GHG emissions, authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act; pre-proposals are due Feb. 1. At a recent joint meeting of SACOG, SMUD, SMAQMD, and SacRT boards, Alberto discussed the idea of converting biomass utilization (from agriculture and forest thinnings) to green hydrogen fuel and sequestered biochar.
- At COP28, the final global agreement calls for transitioning away from fossil fuels.
7:00 PM: Updates and Announcements
Caltrans started construction on the I-80 Yolo Causeway between Sacramento and Davis. Caltrans released a draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report) for the larger project: adding lanes to the causeway. Comments are due January 5.
Sacramento County: “Notice of Preparation” released for “Subsequent Environmental Impact Report” for a revised Climate Action Plan: January 10 meeting to discuss; comments due Jan. 31. Also, their Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force is preparing to send recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for building electrification, air quality, and transportation.
Sacramento City: moving ahead with existing building electrification, and a Climate Action & Adaptation Plan. The City Council voted to move ahead with a Missing Middle Housing approach that would eliminate single-family zoning in its 2040 General Plan.
