More homes coming to Mill at Broadway development

By Ryan Lillis

December 21, 2016

The Sacramento Bee

The developers behind the growing Mill at Broadway neighborhood south of downtown Sacramento have sought the city’s approval to begin the next phase of the project.

Bardis Homes has applied to construct 55 condominiums on the site in northwest Land Park, just south of Broadway. Of the new homes, 39 will be single-family residences and the rest will be duplexes, according to the application filed Wednesday.

The Mill is among the most significant recent housing developments near Sacramento’s central city.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/city-beat/article122311714.html#storylink=cpy


Lillis, Ryan. “More homes coming to Mill at Broadway development.” Sacbee. Sacramento Bee, 21 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Jan. 2017.

Hard work, smart science contribute to salmon’s success on Cosumnes River

December 16, 2016

By Mike Eaton

The Sacramento Bee

The Cosumnes River, the natural jewel on Sacramento’s southern flank, is enjoying its best run of Chinook salmon in years. The count so far is impressive, upward of a thousand. Their journey from the ocean toward the mountains is measured by a device mounted above a fish ladder that counts and photographs fish as they follow their ancient genetic drive.

Mike Eaton [is a long-time member and supporter of ECOS and also] worked for The Nature Conservancy from 1995 through 2007. He now advises the Cosumnes Coalition, a watershed restoration partnership. Contact him at michaelreaton[at]fastmail[dot]com

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/california-forum/article121358088.html#storylink=cpy

New Cohousing Planned for West Sacramento

November 15, 2016

Called Washington House (formerly known as Renaissance Village Homes), the project will be a 4- to 5-story cohousing condominium building at 4th and G Streets in West Sacramento. The site is a block from the Sacramento River and River Walk, 3 blocks from Raley Field, 6 blocks from The Barn, about 10 blocks from West Sacramento City Hall and Carol’s Restaurant. Being less than a half-mile from Tower Bridge, the site is also within easy walking distance of downtown Sacramento, including the new Golden 1 Center.

A co-housing community is one where every household has its own private living space, and the group shares large areas of common spaces, usually including an industrial-strength kitchen and dining area, “club [multi-purpose] room”, and a unique arrangement of additional amenities as determined by the planning group. There are usually 2-4 common meals a week, and other shared resources. In the case of an urban community like this one, shared bicycles, and perhaps even a car or two, are distinct possibilities. It’s all up to the core group of members/planners who begin the project.

Typically, a small number of households (6-12) form the core of the community and they are the ones to obtain the land, hire the developer/architect(s), obtain the entitlements and arrange for construction financing and completion. Other participants can buy in at any time, with all funds being credited toward the final purchase price of the private unit upon project completion (usually 2-3 years). In addition, there are often incentives for early buy-in, such as an additional credit toward purchase (some fraction of the amount, possibly up to 100% at various points in the process), to provide up-front capital. These early members also have first choice of the private units.

This project is intended to be adult-oriented, but not age-restricted. While it will not have playground equipment or other child-oriented amenities, families with children are welcome to join if they wish. They anticipate a mixture of retired and working families, and diversity in all its dimensions will be welcomed. The first phases of the group planning process, during which the power and promise of cohousing emerge, are scheduled to begin in November and December, so this would be a great time to explore the possibilities!

Contact Alex Kelter at akmd@mac.com for more information.

Clearing CEQA: Study vindicates California environmental law

November 3, 2016

By Matt Kramer

Sacramento News & Review

CEQA gets a bad rap but it’s what allows people to provide feedback on plans for development in CA.

Many critics of CEQA [the California Environmental Quality Act] say that the it impedes business and ties projects up in litigation. However, a new Rose Foundation study places the percentage of projects that end up in litigation at only 0.7 percent. This helps shed light on a much-misunderstood law. “CEQA isn’t just about litigation; it’s also about having to do … reviews on projects that have a significant impact on the environment … It’s really the state’s bedrock environmental law.” says Ethan Elkind, director of the Climate Change and Business Program at the UCLA and UC Berkeley schools of law. #CEQA helps us protect our environment by requiring “that state and local agencies assess the potential significant environmental impacts of proposed development projects and work to minimize such impacts when practical.”

Read more here: https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/clearing-ceqa-study-vindicates-california/content?oid=22662052

“Leading the Way” on strategies for a more sustainable California

October 27, 2016

Matthew Baker of ECOS led the research for a new report by ClimatePlan called “Leading the Way” on strategies for a more sustainable California

OVERVIEW 

California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (SB 375) connects land use and transportation planning with California’s ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals. This innovative law requires the state’s 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to create Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCSs) showing how their regions will meet statemandated GHG reduction targets through changes in land use and transportation.

In many regions, the SCS process has led to innovative policymaking to support healthy, equitable, and sustainable patterns of development. Drawing on reviews of adopted SCSs, as well as extensive input from ClimatePlan partners, transportation planners, and others, this report highlights some of the leading practices that have emerged so far. It also offers recommendations that go beyond existing SCSs in areas such as climate adaptation, water, and affordable housing.

This report was prepared for ClimatePlan by Adam Livingston of Sequoia Riverlands Trust with expert input gathered by Matt Baker of the Environmental Council of Sacramento.

Read the full report here: http://www.climateplan.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Leading-the-Way-Full-Report.pdf