City of Rocklin approves Clover Valley development

Posted by Sierra Nevada Alliance Weekly

September 6, 2007

After a decade of controversy, the Rocklin City Council voted late Tuesday to let developers build homes on one of the city's last natural open spaces.

It was a call to action for citizen groups hoping to stop development in Clover Valley.
While a nonprofit foundation pursues legal action against the city, volunteers are poised to do whatever it takes to gather enough signatures for a referendum repealing the decision.

"For a long time, the citizens of Rocklin have not had any true power to do anything other than educate the community and appeal to the City Council," anti- development campaign leader Rob Haswell said. "Now, they have the opportunity to take matters into their own hands, and they're excited about it."

Proponents of Clover Valley Lakes say a referendum would derail years of negotiation that resulted in a better project.

"The City Council looked at it from a ... logical standpoint and made the right decision," said Michael Bouchard, founder of Rocklin Taxpayers for Sensitive Planning. "The opposition is tempting fate. They're taking a huge risk we'll end up with more homes and less open space."

Since 1981, the land has been zoned for nearly 1,000 homes, and for a decade, Clover Valley Partners' Rick Massie and Dave Garst have had a development agreement allowing as many as 952 houses on the 622 acres.

Over the years, developers have scaled it back to 558 houses and 366 acres of open space.
"If a referendum were to pass, all that is washed away," project manager Al Johnson said. "We'll be back to a situation where the property is entitled for 952 units. ... A referendum will not take away the existing zoning."

Opponents have 30 days to gather roughly 2,700 valid signatures to place the referendum on the ballot either in February or June, according to Haswell.

If approved by a simple majority, the referendum would prohibit developers from approaching the city with the same project for a year, he said.

"It would stop the project for now," Haswell said., "and if future councils want to revisit it, they do so at their own peril."

Opponents have a back-up plan should a referendum fail.

Clover Valley Foundation President Marilyn Jasper said her group plans to file a lawsuit within 30 days, alleging the project's environmental analysis does not meet California laws.

About 135 people attended a two-day public hearing.

"People here do not want traffic and 7,500 trees cut down," resident Elaine O'Deegan said at the hearing. "They do not want their ancient history paved over. The vast majority of people in Rocklin want to save Clover Valley."

Councilman George Magnuson, who lives near the property, abstained, but the remaining members unanimously certified the environmental analysis and approved the project.
"This development agreement is a good compromise," Councilman Scott Yuill said. "It brings a balance of open space and quality homes, improves fire safety and preserves historic sites."

{Source:Sacramento Bee, By Jennifer K. Morita, August 30, 2007 ]