On Nov 6, 2024, ECOS submitted to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors a comment letter on the County of Sacramento Climate Action Plan, Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR).
The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) appreciates that County staff have developed a better Climate Action Plan than its 2022 version. However, we still have major concerns that must be addressed before we can support it.
November 1, 2024
The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) opposes the request by Crocker Village Residential Development to construct 61 housing units on ±4.86 vacant acres within the R-4A-PUD and SC-PUD zones and Curtis Park Village Planned Unit Development (PUD), located at 2325 10th Avenue.
This acreage has a Multi-Family Housing designation, which is appropriate considering its proximity to Sacramento Regional Transit’s light rail station at City College. SACOG supported funding for the bike/pedestrian bridge from this development to the light rail station based on the understanding that this would be a transit-oriented development.
ECOS is opposed to a PUD Schematic Plan Amendment to develop single-unit dwellings instead. We have two crises that must be addressed: our severe shortage of affordable housing, and climate change. In Sacramento, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions is from cars. Multi-Family Housing near a light-rail station addresses both these crises, and therefore this designation must be preserved.
From the City of Sacramento:
The [City of Sacramento] Department of Public Works’ Transportation Planning team invites community members to participate in two upcoming virtual workshops to review and provide input on the latest piece of the Streets for People Active Transportation Plan.
The Streets for People Plan is based on over two years of community engagement that included attending over 70 events and countless conversations with community members about their vision.
One aspect of the plan includes identifying the Neighborhood Connections network that will create low-stress, comfortable connections on neighborhood streets by identifying key corridors for traffic calming to reduce driver speeds and improve quality of life.
Earlier this summer, staff released initial draft recommendations and are now presenting the Neighborhood Connections Public Draft Plan for additional discussion.
“These workshops are an important opportunity for community members to share their perspectives, ask questions, and help shape the plan, specifically for their needs and priorities in their own neighborhoods,” said Jeff Jelsma, transportation planner with the Department of Public Works. “We believe that the more voices we bring into this process, the stronger and more inclusive the final plan will be for Sacramento.”
Neighborhood Connections Public Draft Plan Virtual Citywide Workshop #1
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6-7:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Connections Public Draft Plan Virtual Citywide Workshop #2
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 12-1:30 p.m.
The Neighborhood Connections Public Draft Plan will be available from Nov. 4 to Dec. 1 for public review and comment.
The Neighborhood Connections, when implemented, will encourage more active transportation, such as walking and bicycling, allowing the city to reach climate action goals set in the Climate Action and Adaption Plan.
For more info, please visit https://sacramentocityexpress.com/2024/10/30/learn-how-the-city-plans-to-improve-neighborhood-mobility-and-reach-climate-action-goals-at-these-virtual-workshops/.
Join us Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 6:00 pm on Zoom!
Highlights:
Click here to view the agenda.
To join the meeting
Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155
SB 375 has been the “North Star” of regional climate action in California since Darrell Steinberg got it enacted sixteen years ago.
With half of State GHG emissions coming from vehicles, it requires State transportation funds to only go planning agencies (SACOG here) that show how they can fund transportation systems in a way that can achieve State-mandated GHG reductions.
This has been challenging, as we see Caltrans continue to expand freeways, and as Sacramento County supervisors continue to approve sprawl development.
After 16 years, a lot has changed — SACOG wants SB 375 to be paused until it can be revised.
On Monday, let’s hear why – from SACOG’s leader. And also – from an academic leader – should it be revised, and if so, how?
6 PM: Welcome and Introductions
6:10 PM: Why does SACOG want the State to pause its SB 375 target setting process?
CA Senate Bill 375 (Steinberg, 2008) provides the framework for reducing GHG emissions, requiring the Air Resources Board to set regional targets: for SACOG, 19% per capita vehicle GHG emission reduction, from 2018 to 2035. CARB is now working on establishing future targets for CA regions. In his last “State of the City” address, Sacramento Mayor Steinberg cited SB 375 as a notable legislative achievement.
7:20 PM: Q&A, Discussion
7:50 PM: Updates
• Lawsuits over Caltrans’ plan to add lanes to I-80 in Yolo County
• Sacramento County Climate Action Plan, & County’s Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force
• ECOS’ work with SacRT to highlight benefits of public transit
• Election Recap – Sacramento Region
Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155
On October 28, 2024, the law firm Soluri Meserve submitted on behalf of the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS), Friends of Swainson’s Hawk, and Natomas resident Brandon Castillo, comments on the Upper Westside Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).
Mailing address: PO Box 1526, Sacramento, CA 95812
Email: office [at] ecosacramento [dot] net
909 12th St., Suite 203, Sacramento, CA 95814