The Liquid Management System would replace the current costly method of disposing of the wastewater, saving well over $1 million per year. The proposed new system would consist of two injection wells which would inject the wastewater to a low permeable salt-water level below the Aquifer system. Details of the plan were presented to the Council, and can be seen as represented to the Roseville Public Utilities Committee on June 26, 2012 and a FAQ from Roseville Electric at the City’s website.

WFFNA President Sue Hallahan-Cook addressed the Council with concerns over any long range effects of injecting the wastewater into the Aquifer system and any other environmental impacts to the area. The West Roseville area will have 11 injection wells into the Aquifer System which will store drinking water when needed for the City’s residents.

Assurances were made that full CEQA studies will be done by both the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the California Energy Commission. As part of the public outreach, the CEC will participate and meet with neighborhoods to answer questions and concerns about the Liquid Management System. Although one public meeting had already been held at Sun City, Mrs. Cook asked that all neighborhoods and residents, especially those in the West Roseville area adjacent to the power plant, be kept in the public process. WFFNA will keep you informed as we hear further.

City of Roseville

My name is Sue Hallahan-Cook and I am the current president for the WestPark – Fiddyment Farm Neighborhood Association. My comments will be on behalf of a list of over 400 of our WFFNA residents who have expressed concerns about the increasing density of the West Roseville area in general.

Our homeowners bought in the West Roseville area based on a specific plan concept we agreed to, and accepted the extremely high Mello Roos assessments based on that concept. The WRSP states that “Emphasis has been placed on creating a vibrant, comprehensively planned community: one that generates a sense of place for residents and users, complements the existing community, ensures realization of City policies and defines Roseville’s western edge. All subsequent development projects and related activities in the WRSP area are required to be consistent with this Specific Plan.”

In the five years that we’ve lived there, we’ve been notified of several changes to the WRSP, at first just minor changes. Then we received a proposal for Fiddyment Farm’s SPA 3 which would increase the overall density by 45% in the same area. Then we received plans of the Sierra Vista Plan which proposes another 8,679 homes, larger than the population of WRSP but with 1/3 less the area. The whole individual housing in that development is proposed to be built at a crammed density of 5-units per acre.

The two specific plans (WRSP and SV) are currently proposed to include 26 high density apartment type complexes, about 25% of the offered area housing. Given the increased concentration of high density units, we are concerned that full consideration for all HDR facilities city-wide be mandated for ample on-site parking and accommodations for children and pets, things which are lacking in some current facilities.

City representatives have expressed the City’s intent to expand the population to 300,000, more than twice its current population. Most of that building will obviously be heading towards West Roseville, where new building continues to expand. The residents of the West Roseville are already experiencing increased traffic issues, crowded school impacts and high school students having to travel up to 11 miles each way for school. Even with the proposed aquifer system for a series of wells in the West Roseville area, residents across the city have expressed growing concerns for the continued availability of good water given the expected population growth.

We realize the City must meet certain state mandated growth expectations, but we ask that the City of Roseville reconsider the long-range effects of its expansion within the city and surrounding areas, especially towards over-crowding conditions which will contribute to traffic congestion and other negative environmental and social impacts and decreased property values. These items affect the well-being of the entire City of Roseville. Thank you for your consideration."

Wednesday April 6, 2011 -- 7 pm

Notice is hereby given that on April 6, 2011 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, the City Council of the City of Roseville will hold a Public Meeting at the City Council Chambers located at 311 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA for the purpose of a WORKSHOP ON THE CREEKVIEW SPECIFIC PLAN - 3000 BLUE OAKS BOULEVARD - FILE #2007PL-05 (ANN-000003. GPA-000037. SPA-00026. RZ-00OO40 & DA-000031).

More information can be found in the attached letter from the city.

Creekview SP - Approval Meeting.pdf

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING FOR CREEKVIEW SPECIFIC PLAN

Notice is hereby given that the City of Roseville will host a public informational meeting on the Creekview Specific Plan, a proposed annexation area located on the northwest corner of the City. Information about this proposal will be presented and an opportunity will be given to ask questions. The meeting will be held at the following time and place:

Monday, January 10, 2011 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Martha Riley Community Library, 1501 Pleasant Grove Bl.

Members of the public are invited to attend. Representatives from other City departments will also be present. The latest information on the Creekview Specific Plan can also be found on the City's web site at: http://www.roseville.ca.us/creekview

An informational session will also be held to present the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to members of the City's advisory commissions. The public is also invited to attend this presentation, which will be during the Thursday January 13, 2011 Planning Commission meeting, at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 311 Vernon St. Roseville CA 95678.

Public Comment Period: Public hearings concerning the proposed Creekview Specific Plan are tentatively scheduled for the following dates:

Tuesday, January 18 Transportation Commission

Thursday, January 20 Design Committee

Tuesday, January 25 Public Utilities Commission

Monday, February 7 Parks & Recreation Commission

Thursday, February 10 Planning Commission

Thursday, February 24 Planning Commission

Thursday, March 10 Planning Commission

All public hearings will take place at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 311 Vernon St. Roseville CA 95678. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the Draft EIR by February 11, 2011 at 5 p.m. City Council action is tentatively scheduled for April 2011. Written comments may be submitted to the City of Roseville Planning & Redevelopment Department, 311 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA 95678. Please direct questions and comments to: Nela Luken, Senior Planner, (916) 774-5276, nluken@roseville.ca.us or Steve Lindbeck, Project Planner, (916) 774-5276, slindbeck@roseville.ca.us

Dated: December 22, 2010

Steve presented updates on the overall WRSP development, including Norm Fratis park, Blue Oaks bridge, the Fire Station, and progress of bike trails. In addition, he pointed out the amenities of the current Fiddyment Farm development that will continue throughout the rest of the development, including the extension of Hayden Parkway with median strips; streets fronting along all open spaces; and the beautiful tree-lined parkway strips throughout. He also proudly referenced the inclusion of 4 neighborhood parks with restroom facilities and 8 pocket parks (like Burner Park near the Shea and Morrison homes). These pocket parks are above and beyond any city requirements. Also noted were the 3 regional park sites which will include a 75 acre sports complex. All these amenities are detailed in the slide show mentioned above for your reference.

Steve then explained the design review process and described the differences in the various categories of residential [Low Density (LDR), Median Density (MDR), High Density (HDR)], and commercial zoning designations. SPA #3 represents some major changes by increasing the number of units by about 1905 units to the Fiddyment Farm development, mainly north of Blue Oaks. These units would include 580 additional LDR, three additional neighborhoods of MDR (609 units) and 2 additional sites of HDR. The HDR would also increase their density from 20 units per acre to 25 units per acre (and could still be subject to further increase in the future until built). The purpose of the proposed changes is to restore ‘density’ to levels which would support the infrastructure costs. While the projected time to actual construction of these changes in phases 2 and 3 could be 15 years, it was stated that they “must plan for the future to meet correct infrastructure needs”. One positive result noted would be that the school requirements would be increased from the 3.2 to 4.0, assuring the fourth school would get built.

During the question and answer period which lasted over one hour, numerous residents reflected concerns over the increased traffic in the area — the limitations of Hayden Parkway, safety needs of emergency exit routes in the area, and the need for public transportation (many of the same concerns raised at the recent meeting with WestPark Associates at Chilton Middle School). Chris Kraft of the Engineering Department related plans for the expansion of Blue Oaks up to 6 lanes all the way to Highway 65, the addition of two lanes on Fiddyment Road to Baseline next year, and further expansion of Baseline Road with the Sierra Vista project.

A great many comments concerned the future needs of high density facilities given the current problems of the Siena Apartments (mainly insufficient parking allowance). When questioned about any increased costs and fees for residents, the response was that higher population requires more services and fees would probably increase to provide them.

For any further information, you may contact Steve Hicks at shicks@sighomes.com.

Please find below the Signature Properties presentation from the SPA 3 First Public Meeting - Oct 26, 2010.

You will need Acrobat 9 to view this (available here) and the presentation download is just under 8 MB.

SPA 3 Presentation October 26.pdf

Our representatives expressed its concerns and opposition over the proposed SPA 3 as it is currently submitted. While we understood possible modifications to coincide with the downturn in the economy in recent years, we raised our concerns over the impact a nearly 50% increase in the number of residences from the original West Roseville Specific plan for the Fiddyment Farm area. We expressed our concern that an increase of this order of magnitude will fundamentally change the nature of the neighborhood that we chose to live in. We also stated concerns over the various environmental impact issues of increased traffic, school overcrowding, water shortages and impact on air quality. We were assured by the City that a new environmental impact report (EIR), currently in process, will examine all these issues and more.

Our WFFNA members openly expressed their concerns that the City of Roseville is trying to take the easiest way to meet its state mandated SACOG (Sacramento Area Council of Governments) needs for affordable multiple housing units by placing them all in the West Roseville area where there is already current construction going on. Our representatives expressed their beliefs that continued amendments to dump large amounts of HDR units in this area are not consistent with the original West Roseville Specific Plan, but rather represents a large scale “bait and switch” to the homeowners who bought their homes under the original Specific Plan and neighborhood it represented.

Mike Isom stated the City would like to work in cooperation with our neighborhood’s citizens and would be willing to hold further meetings to discuss other possible alternatives. Rich Fabbre made a suggestion that the City might be able to fund an in-depth, independent survey of possible sites throughout Roseville where some of the proposed high density units could be built, areas more conducive to the city’s services than found in the West Roseville area. Mr. Isom indicated the City was not prepared to give a blanket approval of SPA 3 and that the City continues to look for other areas.

Read more for other issues that were also discussed at this meeting...

Other topics discussed with Steve Hicks were:

Siena Apartments -- inadequate parking continues to be a problem. Mr. Hicks said the previous resolution for the parking problem fell apart and they are still looking for a solution.

Fire Department -- is in the design phase. To coincide with the Fire Department’s needs for access, Signature Properties will advance the Blue Oaks bridge construction up to next year. Construction on the southern bridge (3 lanes) will start in spring of 2011 and allow one-lane traffic in each direction west of Fiddyment to Hayden Parkway. The northern 3 lanes of the bridge will follow as home sales and traffic requirements warrant. The Blue Oaks-Hayden Parkway corner has already been fitted with signal light equipment.

Schools -- St. John’s has continued use of Chilton for this next school term only. Further plans have discussed the opening of Chilton in part for use for expansion of Junction Elementary—[possibly using half the facility for 4th, 5th and 6th grades. Steve Hicks assured us that even with the proposed SPA 3 expansion, when the other elementary schools were built, they would still be within the student quota limits. The high school is still looking at possible construction activity by 2011.

Parks -- the 2nd Fiddyment Farm park near Corin Drive may start construction in early 2011. SPA 3 proposal would still provide a large number of pocket parks, but the overall sizes of the parks would be slightly reduced.

Bike Trails -- Signature is working to connect with the Crocker Ranch bike trails. The economic downturn in sales has delayed the $635 per house bike trail fee and money needed to construct the bridge underneath Fiddyment Road to enable the connection of trails.

SPCA -- one of the proposed properties out near the recycling containers would be for an animal shelter.

Submitted by Sue Cook

The city planning group is evaluating two sites for the shelter: the Westside Drive site (adjacent to O'Brien) and the Westpark Drive site (near the recycling lot). Both are zoned Industrial.

As soon as that information is official we will post something here.

Of the additional 1,915 units, 586 units are proposed as low density residential (LDR), 609 units are proposed as medium density residential (MDR), and 720 units as high density residential (HDR). The majority of the units will be located within the Phase 2 and 3 portions of the project area, with a portion of the HDR units being proposed within Phase 1 (HDR parcels at the corner of Fiddyment Road and Blue Oaks Boulevard).

More Info: http://www.roseville...cts/default.asp