CPAC nixes
Dry Creek apartment complex
Traffic concerns cited
By Jay O'Brien
The Rio Linda/Elverta Community Planning Advisory Council (CPAC) voted
unanimously on May 10, 2005, to deny the 70 unit apartment complex
proposed for the southwest corner of Dry Creek Road and E Street. Sixty
people attended this meeting at the Community Center.
The project was first heard by CPAC as an "information only" item on
December 14, 2004; at that time CPAC expressed concern about the
gridlock situation on Dry Creek Road that would be worsened by this
dense development. CPAC members now voiced their disappointment that
the developer's response to their previous concerns was "The County is
going to tell us what to do" and that no changes were proposed by the
developer to mitigate the traffic situation CPAC identified in
December.
CPAC members cited the County's decision to use Dry Creek Road as the
main north-south route into the new Elverta Specific Plan (ESP) area,
differing with CPAC's previously stated desire that the ESP traffic be
routed via 16th Street, using a low level crossing of the Dry Creek
Parkway as recommended by County Transportation Planner Steve Hetland
during the ESP approval process. When added to the expected ESP traffic
on Dry Creek Road and the nearby elementary, junior high and high
school traffic, CPAC agreed the proposed apartment complex would make a
very bad situation even worse.
Adjacent neighbors submitted a petition with 60 signatures opposing the
project; they expressed opposition to the proposed reduced setbacks
that would place carports, two-story apartment buildings and dumpsters
close to their existing homes. The apartment complex would rezone the
property from its existing agricultural-residential and commercial
zoning to RD-25, allowing the proposed 16.3 residences per acre.
Neighbors support the existing zoning and strongly oppose the proposed
zoning change.
The CPAC's vote is only advisory; the project will next be heard by the
County's planning commission. Public testimony will be taken by that
commission.
CPAC proposed conditions to be applied should the planning commission
and/or the Board of Supervisors approve the project, overruling CPAC.
Proposed is a 8' high masonry wall surrounding the project; landscape
trees to be a minimum of 16' high in two years; dumpster locations to
be reviewed; entry and exit traffic to be assisted with turning
lane/traffic light; open space to be increased, providing play area for
children; parking to be increased from 128 to at least 140, providing 2
spaces per apartment; west facing windows on second story apartments to
be reduced; and, setbacks from property lines to be no less than 10%
below code.
The project, if approved, will be a fully fenced and gated two-story
complex with a clubhouse and swimming pool. Architect Bob Kuchman said
there would be 24 one-bedroom 717 sq.ft. units, 24 two-bedroom 2 bath
1015 sq. ft. units, 8 double-master bedroom 2 bath 1043 sq. ft. units,
8 three-bedroom 2 bath 1253 sq. ft. units, and 6 town home two-bedroom
1178 sq. ft. units. The rents were estimated to range from $900 to
$1100 per month, said developer Eric Nejadian.
At the December presentation to CPAC, Nejadian introduced Cortez Quinn,
Sacramento County First District Supervisor Roger Dickinson's Chief of
Staff. In December, Quinn told CPAC, "Roger did believe that this
project would fit, here, and he is supportive of it."
Other actions taken by CPAC May 10th included approval of several
proposed lot splits and approval of a subdivision creating six
residential lots on the southwest corner of 4th Avenue and N Street.
The subdivision would complete the paving of 4th Street from its
present dead end north of M Street through to N Street. Reza Valizadeh,
representing the developer, agreed to contact the property owners on
the east side of the project on 4th Avenue and offer them an
opportunity to pave their side of the road when the new paving would be
placed. CPAC's suggested conditions included a requirement that all
construction access be via N Street, not 4th Avenue.
CPAC heard two information only presentations on projects. Jesse
Bradman proposes a two lot addition to his subdivision on N Street
between Front Street and 7th Avenue; CPAC voiced no objections. A
proposal for "Dry Creek Meadows", a 43 home subdivision on 4.25 acres
on the southeast corner of Dry Creek Road and C Street elicited CPAC's
suggestions that neighbors be contacted and a less dense development be
considered.
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