Jackson Township DEIR Comments

Posted on October 31, 2019November 18, 2019 by Savanna Sanders

On October 31, 2019, Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS), Habitat 2020, 350 Sacramento, and Sierra Club provided comments on the Jackson Township Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Below are some excerpts from the letter, followed by a link to the letter in full.

Agricultural Resources

There is insufficient mitigation for farmland lost in the Jackson Township Specific Plan DEIR [Draft Environmental Impact Report]. By converting all this farmland to urban/suburban uses, the GHG emissions will increase due to the increased number of motor vehicle trips (more vehicle miles traveled). Moreover, loss of agricultural resources will reduce the potential for carbon sequestration in the soil by application of compost or regenerative agriculture methods, in addition to the natural processes of plant growth and soil microbial action from farming. There needs to be better mitigation measures to ensure carbon soil sequestration occurs at least as much as it would if the agricultural resources were preserved.

Biological Resources

Use of the South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan (SSHCP) was offered as one of the options for dealing with California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) impacts, and it was clearly stated that the hardline preserves identified in the SSHCP conservation strategy would be provided. Since the SSHCP now has its permits and is in the implementation phase, we are assuming that the Jackson Township will be affected by and compliant with the SSHCP.

Climate Change

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on Chapter 9, “Climate Change”, of the County’s Jackson Township Specific Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). Our greenhouse gas (GHG)-related comments are presented in the following seven sections. We first discuss the County’s past GHG-reduction commitments, because the DEIR:
I. does not accurately describe County climate planning;
II. uses inappropriate baseline data based on past planning;
III. applies inappropriate thresholds of significance; and
IV. is inconsistent with the County’s 2011 General Plan Update, associated Final Environmental Report (GP/FEIR), and Phase 1 CAP.
We also present,
V. other DEIR-related concerns.
We conclude:
VI. the DEIR is legally insufficient
VII. the County’s failure to provide promised mitigation is contrary to the General Plan.

Click here to read the letter in full
Attachment 1
Attachment 2
Attachment 3
Attachment 4
Attachment 5

Sacramento City General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan – Comments due Nov 4, 2019

Posted on October 7, 2019October 16, 2019 by Alexandra Reagan

The City of Sacramento has issued a Revised Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR) for the City of Sacramento 2040 General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan.

The City is initiating the 2040 General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan, consistent with the City’s requirement to revise and update the General Plan every five years, as necessary, to address significant emerging trends, recent state statutes, new issues, and to update the status of implementation measures.

As lead agency, the City of Sacramento has issued a Revised NOP to inform trustee and responsible agencies, and the public, of the decision to undertake preparation of a MEIR and to provide information and clarification for the General Plan Update and MEIR as to the existing designated Special Study Areas that are in physical proximity to the city limits. These study areas on the edge of the city were previously defined by the City over a decade ago as unincorporated areas that are of interest to the City, as the planning of the areas necessitates interjurisdictional cooperation with Sacramento County and other entities.

The Revised NOP is available on the City’s Community Development Department webpage.

The Revised NOP circulation period is from October 3, 2019 to November 4, 2019. Written comments on the scope of the MEIR will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Monday, November 4, 2019.

Please submit comments to:

Scott Johnson, Senior Planner
Community Development Department
300 Richards Boulevard, Third Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
Email: srjohnson [at] cityofsacramento [dot] org

Additional information on the 2040 General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan is available here.

Image found at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sacramento_from_Riverwalk.jpg

Sacramento City General Plan Update and Climate Action

Posted on April 17, 2019June 15, 2020 by Alexandra Reagan

Be a part of history and join the kick-off of the General Plan Update! Sacramento 2040 is the City of Sacramento’s blueprint for how and where Sacramento will grow over the next 20 years. At these family-friendly events, light food will be provided. A brief presentation will begin at 5:45 p.m. Hosted by the City of Sacramento.

The workshop dates, times and RSVP links are below. RSVP’s are requested, but not required.

April 22 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Hagginwood Community Center, Auditorium
3271 Marysville Boulevard, Sacramento 95815

April 25 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The Sam & Bonnie Pannell Community Center, Conference Room
2450 Meadowview Road, Sacramento 95832

April 29 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Oak Park Community Center, Room A/B
3425 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Sacramento 95817

Click here to read ECOS member Sacramento 350’s “Action Alert” for the workshops.