The Sacramento Housing Alliance, a member of ECOS, is hosting a free workshop on July 22, 2015 to learn how to talk about housing. As the city of Sacramento looks at revising its Mixed Income Housing Ordinance, the Sacramento Housing Alliance is offering this timely chance to learn effective ways to discuss and frame affordable housing issues. Register to save yourself a space at this valuable workshop, so you too can be ready to advocate for a just affordable housing ordinance in Sacramento. To register and learn more about the workshop, please click here.
Congratulations to ECOS Member organization Mutual Housing California for being the first multi-family affordable rental development in the nation to receive the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Homes certification. California Housing Partnership Corporation’s (CHPC) Green Rental Home Energy Efficiency Network released a case study that highlights Mutual Housing’s success in designing Spring Lake, a 62-unit development for farmworkers in Woodland.
Spring Lake produces as much energy as they use, and has reached between 36.5% and 40.8% above 2008 Title 24 energy requirements. The property received $5.5 million in permanent funding from the USDA by committing to Zero Net Efficiency.
Ron Alvarado looks over a portion of his Cordova Hills property. (Photo by Randy Pench, Sacramento Bee, 2012.)
This project is classic leapfrog sprawl development with no adjacent development, and lies outside of the recently adopted Sacramento region Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (MTP/SCS). The enticement of the major regional amenity of a private university gave the Sacramento County Board of supervisors cover to approve the destruction of some of the finest remaining vernal pools in the Sacramento Valley. However, there is currently no university interested in the site, and there is general consensus that finding such a university is unlikely at best. The Environmental Impact Report only analyzed the “project as proposed” which included the university, ignoring significant additional impacts associated with the “no university” scenario and the mitigations to address them.
On March 1, 2013, ECOS and the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit challenging Sacramento County’s approving the Cordova Hills project. You can help support our effort by donating to ECOS’s legal fund (see sidebar).
In May 2014, ClimatePlan covered Cordova Hills in their review of statewide implementation of Sustainable Communities Strategies.
Final EIR: Revisions and corrections to the Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report for Elk Grove’s Proposed SOI Amendment (Sept. 27, 2013).
Comment letter in response to the Final EIR (November 4, 2013).
Draft EIR: Elk Grove Proposed Sphere of Influence Recirculated Draft EIR (March 21, 2013).
Comment letter in response to the Recirculated Draft EIR (May 20, 2013).
Article: “Elk Grove wants to expand its boundaries by 8,000 acres” (Sacramento Bee, Oct. 7, 2013).
Editorial: “Elk Grove should concentrate on jobs in its existing core” (Sacramento Bee, Sept. 25, 2013).
Editorial: “Elk Grove’s growth plan is an overreach” (Sacramento Bee, March 26, 2012).
Article: “Elk Grove’s proposal to expand encounters early questions” (Sacramento Bee, Apr. 7, 2012).
Elk Grove wants to expand its size by 30 percent
What’s really scary? Elk Grove wants to expand its size by 30 percent, with concrete covering the farmland and wildlife habitat south of the City. That is the plan that Elk Grove has submitted to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), a little known public agency responsible for ensuring orderly development and protection of open space and farmland. You can help defeat this proposal and help LAFCo make better choices for our region. Check the LAFCo website for updates and sign up at the ECOS website for action alerts.
We need your help NOW!
LAFCo begins hearings soon on Elk Grove’s request to include 8,000 acres south of its current city limits within its Sphere of Influence. Approval would give the city a green light to annex and develop the land. This request is the largest urban expansion ever to come before LAFCo.
LAFCo staff recommendation includes a “Regional Enhanced Alternative,” which is a reduced footprint scenario for the SOI of 4000+ acres. Since there has been no demonstration of any need for expansion beyond current Elk Grove’s city limits to accommodate growth, ECOS remains in full opposition to the alternative recommendation as well.
Please send a letter or email to the Commissioners at:
Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission.
1112 I Street, Suite 100 , Sacramento, CA 95814-2836
Fax: (916) 874.2939 Email: commissionclerk[at]saclafco[dot]org
Top Ten Reasons for Denying Elk Grove’s Overreach
By Rob Burness, ECOS Board member & Habitat 2020 Co-chair
Elk Grove’s leaders would have us believe they simply want to plan for their future and improve their job housing balance. Others have tried to characterize the issues as jobs vs. environment. But there is regional significance far beyond that simple calculus. Here are ten reasons why LAFCo should turn down Elk Grove’s overreaching request:Continue reading→
