 Promoting sensible growth that preserves the unique rural character of our community and maintains our scenic, tranquil family-oriented rural/residential environment. |
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MAC Meeting Report (March) NEW The Granite Bay Community Plan Uhler Involvement in the Solar Power Boondoggle Tell the Board of Supervisors what you think about the Update Uhler's Failures as Supervisor (coming soon)
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Save Granite Bay from what? The County is overhauling the Granite Bay Community Plan. The very Plan that created the community that we love and enjoy. The result could be much greater housing density on all undeveloped land and massive rezoning along Douglas Blvd, removal of the remaining 300 foot setback, and turning Douglas into another Greenback or Madison Avenue. Traffic will worsen and property values will drop and our way of live will change if the Plan overhaul continues on its current path. The History in Brief In late 2008 our District Supervisor Kirk Uhler convinced the Placer County Board of Supervisors that the Granite Bay Community Plan needed an overhaul in spite of the awards it has received and the frequent updates that have occurred and it's overwhelming success since it was prepared by Granite Bay Residents in 1989. He has since presented multiple reasons for the overhaul and all have proven untrue. There is but one reason for the CP overhaul and that is his pleasing the developers that fund his political campaigns. Follow the Money! The Community Plan overhaul process has favored developers from the outset. Community involvement has been strictly limited. Unlike the community groups that wrote the plan and participated in previous updates, community groups wishing to participate in this overhaul have been labeled “special interest groups” by Uhler and the MAC and have been denied involvement. Some individual community member input has occurred but has been ignored. Where Does the Process Stand? We are now 15 months into the Community Plan overhaul and County staff are 15 months into a focus on developer wishes rather than on the Policies and Goals of the CP or the community's wishes. If an overhaul is needed, it should logically start with a review of the Plan's goals and policies and any zoning changes should heed those updated goals and policies. That is not happening. Instead the focus is on the developers, all but one of whom are from outside of Granite Bay. This month the County staff is holding private meetings with developers to “clarify” their wishes. At this point our Supervisor and the County Staff are proceeding with little resistance from the community and ignoring what resistance and input they have received. Uhler appointed all new MAC members in Jan. 2009, choosing only applicants that support the Community Plan overhaul. That support has been painfully obvious, with community members arguing against the Community Plan overhaul being criticized and ignored. What Can I Do? Please do the following:
Important … BOS Meeting The County Staff will provide the Board of Supervisors with an interim report on the Granite Bay Community Plan overhaul at the March or April BOS meeting. The BOS will in turn give County Staff direction for further work on the Community Plan overhaul. This is an opportunity to let the BOS that we do not want our Community Plan overhauled for the benefit of developers! Come back to this website or sign up for our email updates to receive information on this important opportunity. Other Issues Transitional Housing in Granite Bay: The county is preparing an amendment to the Housing Element of the Placer General Plan that will allow emergency, residential and transitional housing in each supervisory district in compliance with State law. This zoning change has been in process for more than one year without our Supervisor bringing it to our attention! It came to light only when County Staff made a presentation to the Granite Bay MAC, the first step in finalizing and approving the housing amendment. The zoning adjustments are likely to affect Auburn-Folsom Road and Douglas Boulevard, Sierra College and Eureka and possibly elsewhere. The result could be felons, pedophiles and individuals with severe mental disorders being housed in our community. We are concerned because there is no Sheriff Substation in Granite Bay, no suitable shopping, no employment opportunities and no transportation for such residents. The final wording is yet to be defined. The 14 MACS in the county can only make recommendations. The Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors have final decision-making power. Save Granite Bay will monitor this situation and advise members when it is next discussed at the MAC. |