Traffic Safety, problems continue

Within one week in July there were two accidents just on Lakehills Drive, which separates Equestrian Village from Winterhaven, Waterford, and part of Lakehills Estates. One was a serious injury accident, involving rollover of a station wagon. The driver was hospitalized for a total of 5 days with a concussion and torn ligaments in her neck. The other, known only from skid marks at the intersection of Lakehills and Salmon Falls Road, appeared to be an unusual fender bender in a two-car collision.

EDH continues to lack the ultimate traffic calming measure: Traffic patrol. The CHP has somewhat increased its presence by bringing in units from Sacramento County, but its presence is still far below the level that is adequate to deter the most common driving problems. Waterford's experience with hiring CHP service through a Reimbursable Services Agreement has been that it helps but the level of service available is still extremely inadequate. Within the past year the Citizens Alliance adopted a position to urge our local government, El Dorado County, to push for changes in state law to allow traffic control in EDH by the El Dorado County Sheriff. So far there has been no response.


Connector JPA moving toward environmental studies

The Elk Grove/Rancho Cordova/El Dorado Connector Join Powers Authority took initial steps to authorize start of work on environmental studies. at its July 20th board meeting. Comments by the Citizens Alliance at this meeting were:

• For clarity, these are initial environmental studies which are part of the earliest part of the project planning cycle, beginning with requirements analysis. These are not for CEQA certification, which occurs at the end of the project planning cycle.
   
• As noted in an earlier SACOG meeting on its Public Participation Process, it is important tor receive public input at this time, early in planning, instead of in public hearings during CEQA certification. By that time all major details would be substantially final.
   
• The Citizens Alliance offered to assist Connector public outreach in El Dorado Hills. We suggested that this be the topic of a Citizens Alliance meeting in September or October, with speakers who would be directly involved in Connector Planning. Initially suggested speakers include Rusty Dupray, District 1 County Supervisor and the County's representative on the JPA board; Richard Shepard, Director of the County DOT; and Russ Nygaard, Director of the County DOT's Foothill Division.

Equestrian Village subdivisions

In offline conversation after the Connector JPA meeting Suprevisor Dupray confirmed that review of past Salmon Falls Area plans at the County has led to a conclusion that the County must approve subdivisions to parcel sizes in the range of 3 to 5 acres in Equestrian Village. Such subdivision has been advocated recently and strongly by development consultant Art Marinaccio, particularly on behalf of Cemo Commercial Real Estate.

Until recently Equestrian Village has been zoned almost entirely as RE-10, Rural Estate parcels of 10 acres or more. Some of its owners keep horses, one keeps a cow, and past livestock has included sheep and ostriches. It is still supplies a habitat favored by deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, skunks, and possibly still opossums. Other critter sightings have diminished as building in the area has progressed.

Should the Citizens Alliance consider taking a position on Equestrian Village land use policy? If you think so please comet to our meeting on Thursday and let's talk about it.