Tag Archives: Smart Growth

ECOS’ Comments on the 2017 SB 375 Update

July 28, 2017

The Environmental Council of Sacramento, along with Organize Sacramento, the Sacramento Housing Alliance, the Planning and Conservation League, Mogavero Architects, 350 Sacramento and the California Bicycle Coalition submitted our collective comments on the recent update to SB 375, The Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008. Below are our opening comments, with a link to the letter in full. 

Dear Chair Nichols, Air Resources Board Members, and Staff:

In 2004, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) adopted the Blueprint. This plan provided vision for how the region would integrate land use and transportation planning to curb sprawl, reduce vehicle emissions, and cut down on traffic congestion to improve quality of life. This is to be accomplished by encouraging a sufficient variety housing options close to jobs, schools, and other critical community amenities. The adoption of the Blueprint—and subsequent Metropolitan Transportation Plans/Sustainable Communities Strategies (MTPs/SCSs)—has made SACOG a leader in the state and the nation in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and build more equitable communities.

While we support the recently adopted MTP/SCS, we also believe there is tremendous room to improve the plan. We believe that neither the SB 375 target recommendations made by SACOG staff (-18%) or Air Resources Board (ARB) staff (-19%) represent the full GHG reduction potential from improved land use and transportation behavior in the Sacramento region. Considering the substantial amount of greenfield development anticipated in the current SACOG MTP/SCS and the extremely low densities of the existing urban footprint, we feel that a stronger GHG reduction target is very feasible.

Read our full comment letter by clicking here or on the image of the letter below.

Photo: Smog over LA – is this what we want for the Sacramento region?

Sprawl Control Ballot Initiatives Introductory Discussion

If you are interested in stopping urban sprawl please come to a meeting to discuss possible ballot initiatives on Wednesday, June 28th, 2017, 6:00pm – 7:30pm at Mogavero Architects, 2012 K Street, Sacramento, CA.

Background: Low-density sprawling suburban communities cause automobile dependency and large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as many other negative impacts on our communities. Redirecting growth into existing neighborhoods has synergy in many areas of social, economic, and environmental aspects of daily living. Currently there is zoning for nearly 120,000 new single family homes already approved in the Sacramento region, not counting the much larger number of residences that can be built on empty lots in existing neighborhoods. Nonetheless, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, Placer County, El Dorado County, and Sacramento County are working to approve development for over 50,000 new single family homes in remote areas.

This Meeting: the purpose of this meeting is to gauge the level of interest in undertaking a campaign to run ballot initiatives to control sprawl boundary and urbanization expansions by regional cities and counties over the next few years. If you would like to stop this egregious violation of the public trust and public value giveaway to land speculators please join us.

Stakeholder Meeting for the Downtown Specific Plan

Wednesday, March 29, 2017
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Hacker Lab, 1715 I St, Sacramento, CA 95811
 
The City of Sacramento is developing the Downtown Specific Plan.
 
The plan will focus primarily on:
 
  *  Identifying and evaluating a number of urban infill sites within the project area
  *  Removing barriers to housing development by streamlining the development and environmental review process
  *  Incentivizing Transit-Oriented Development throughout the Central City, including along the streetcar corridor
  *  Maintaining and improving the quality of life for Central City residents, and furthering neighborhood livability by including additional amenities and housing opportunities
 
The project team is hosting a focus group meeting to discuss community amenities, historic preservation, arts and culture, and public health as they relate to increasing Downtown’s housing supply. Take part in developing the plan, and find out the results of a recent community survey.
 
Please RSVP by March 24th by responding to Salvador Ramirez at sramirez[at]aimconsultingco[dot]com or calling 916-442-1168.  If you have any questions regarding this meeting, please contact Gladys Cornell at gcornell[at]aimconsultingco[dot]com or at 916-442-1168.

The Arch Nexus building at 930 R St

By Mark Glover

March 1, 2017

The Sacramento Bee

A Sacramento architectural design firm will host formal grand opening ceremonies Thursday at its newly renovated building along the R Street corridor, with hopes that the structure will be certified a world leader in sustainability a year from now.

 

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article135766848.html#storylink=cpy

Glover, Mark. “Downtown Sacramento building aims for gold standard of green.” Sacbee. N.p., 01 Mar. 2017. Web. 14 Mar. 2017.

Downtown Specific Plan NOP

The City of Sacramento, Community Development Department, as Lead Agency, has issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report for the Downtown Specific Plan.

The comment period is from February 15, 2017 to March 17, 2017.

The issuance of the NOP is to inform all responsible agencies of the decision to prepare an EIR. The purpose of the NOP is to provide information describing the project and its potential environmental effects and to seek input from responsible agencies as defined by CEQA (PRC Section 21069) and the public. Agencies should comment on such information as it relates to their statutory responsibilities in connection with the project. The full NOP is attached here and is available at the City’s Community Development Department webpage at:
http://portal.cityofsacramento.org/Community-Development/Planning/Environmental/Impact-Reports

A public scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, March 2 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Sacramento City Hall, 915 I Street, Room 1119, Sacramento, California 95814. Responsible agencies and members of the public are invited to attend and provide input on the scope of the EIR. Written comments regarding relevant issues may be submitted at the meeting.

Comments and suggestions as to the appropriate scope of analysis are invited from all interested parties. Written comments or questions concerning the proposed project should be submitted to the following address no later than March 17, 2017 (Public counter hours are between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.):
Tom Buford, Senior Planner
Community Development Department
300 Richards Boulevard, Third Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
Email: tbuford[at]cityofsacramento[dot]org