Elk Grove Planning Commission Approves New Zoo at Elk Grove, April 4, 2024
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Elk Grove Planning Commission Meeting Summary – April 4, 2024
The Elk Grove Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The primary agenda item was a public hearing on the proposed New Zoo at Elk Grove, a major project that would replace the existing Sacramento Zoo. After a detailed staff presentation, extensive public comment, and commission deliberation, the commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the project to the City Council. The meeting also included a farewell tribute to outgoing Commissioner George Murphy, who served for 17 years.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were on the agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment (Non-Agenda): A union carpenter spoke on the importance of apprenticeships, healthcare benefits, and fair wages for carpenters, emphasizing his personal experience as a union member.
- Public Comment on the Zoo: The hearing drew numerous speakers, overwhelmingly in support of the project.
- Supporters included:
- A Glenbrook community member who reported raising over $14,000 from 631 homes in two weeks for the zoo.
- A Sacramento businessman whose daughters work in animal care and veterinary medicine, praising the project's vision.
- A lifelong Elk Grove resident who volunteered at the zoo for nearly two decades and now has twins.
- A UC Davis veterinary faculty member who expressed the school's enthusiastic support, citing the long collaboration with the Sacramento Zoo and the new facility's potential for advancing zoological medicine.
- A retired judge and former Sacramento Zoological Society board trustee who personally donated to the capital campaign.
- The executive director of Explore Elk Grove, the city's tourism agency, highlighting educational, economic, and community benefits.
- A nature photographer and zoo member who stressed conservation and the need for modern facilities.
- The executive director of the Sacramento-Sierra's Building and Construction Trades Council, noting excitement among members to build the project.
- A District 4 resident and young professional planner who supported the project but raised a minor concern about the naming of Bilby Road, which will be discontinuous due to the zoo.
- Opposition/Concerns:
- One speaker (Michael Monaski) opposed the project, raising concerns about taxpayer funding, the lack of public input on level two design reviews, and the proposed employee parking lot on the CSD site. He also criticized the EIR process.
- Another speaker (Lynn Wheat) expressed concerns about changing land use plans, the impact on existing neighborhoods, and the city's consistency in land use decisions.
- Supporters included:
Discussion Items
- The New Zoo at Elk Grove (SP0009): Staff presented a comprehensive overview of the proposed zoological park on a ±103-acre site at Kammerer Road and Lotz Parkway. Key elements included:
- A Special Planning Area (SPA) zoning district to replace existing zoning, which was not suited for a zoo.
- A master plan featuring a "green corridor" with four themed zones: Green Corridor, Africa, California, and Australasia.
- Phased development: Phase 1A/B would include the entry complex, a restaurant, a gelato café, a veterinary hospital, and key habitats, with an estimated annual attendance of 850,000 to 935,000 visitors initially, building to 1.6 million at full build-out.
- Parking: 1,620 spaces, with the north lot serving 75% of operating days and a gravel south lot for peak days.
- Environmental review: A Final EIR identified two significant unavoidable impacts (greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled), but staff recommended the City Council certify the EIR and adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations.
- Financing: Total construction cost of $302 million for Phase 1A/B, funded through a mix of city reserves, casino tax payments, developer impact fees, debt, and $50 million in zoo fundraising. No Measure E funds would be used.
- Commission Questions: Commissioners asked about greenhouse gas analysis, accessibility for mobility-impaired visitors, traffic signal timing, veteran discounts, farm animal interactions, and community liaison for neighborhood concerns. The zoo director addressed these, noting potential for veteran pricing and a community liaison.
Key Outcomes
- The Planning Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to adopt a resolution recommending that the City Council:
- Certify the Environmental Impact Report, make findings of fact, adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
- Adopt the Zoological Park Special Planning Area and rezone the site.
- Amend the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan.
- Approve the Conditional Use Permit, Tentative Subdivision Map, District Development Plan, and Level 1 Design Review.
- Adopt the Public Art Plan.
- Recommend inclusion of the project in the Capital Improvement Program as consistent with the General Plan.
- The public hearing was closed after public comment.
Other Matters
- Director’s Report: Noted the application period for the new Planning Commissioner closed, with the Mayor to appoint on April 10. A commission/committee mixer is scheduled for April 22.
- Planning Commission Matters: The commission paid tribute to outgoing Commissioner George Murphy, who served from 2007 to 2024. Staff shared memories and presented a plaque. Chair Singha noted the commission would miss his mentorship.
- The meeting adjourned at 9:24 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I will call to order the Elk Grove Planning Commission regular meeting of Thursday, April 4th, 2024 at 6 p.m. Let me start by reading the land acknowledgement. We honor, respect, and acknowledge Elk Grove's first inhabitants, the Plains Mewalk, who lived as sovereign caretakers of this land and these waterways since time immemorial. We commemorate and advocate for the descendants, the Wilton Rancheria tribe, the only federally recognized tribe in Sacramento County, who endured because of their bravery, resilience, and determination of their ancestors, tribal members, and leaders. Would you all please silence your electronics, cell phones and other devices? Thank you. And will the clerk please read our customary greeting? The Elk Grove Planning Commission welcomes, appreciates and encourages participation in the meetings. The Commission reserves the right reasonably limit the total time for public comment on any particular notice agenda item, as it may deem necessary. If you wish to address the commission during the meeting, please complete a speaker card. They're located in the back of the room and give it to the clerk prior to consideration of the agenda item. Thank you, Sandy. Uh, would you please call the role? Planning Commissioner is George Murphy. George Murphy. Thank you. I'll try that again here. Oscar O'Khan. Here. Sandra Poole, present, Vice Chair Warren Fernandes, present. And Chair Suman Singer. Present. Please rise. Hand over heart. Pledge. And to the republic for which stands one nation under liberty and justice for all this. At this time, would you please join us in a moment of silence? Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda? So moved. Seconded. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. I hear no oppositions. The agenda is approved as presented. We will now move to the public comment. Members of the audience may comment on any item not on the on the agenda that is of interest to the public and within the jurisdiction of the planning commission. The planning commission cannot take action on non-agendized items raised under public comment until the matter has been specifically included on an agenda as an action item. At this point, I open the general public comment opportunity. First and foremost, apprenticeships are the cornerstones of our trade. They represent the passing down of knowledge from one generation to the next, ensuring that the artistry and expertise of carpentry endured though endured through time. Apprenticeships instill discipline, dedication, and a deep respect for the work we do. They provide aspiring carpenters with hands-on experience and mentorship, molding them into skilled professional professionals who take pride in their craftsmanship. Furthermore, healthcare benefits are not just a luxury, but a fundamental necessity for every carpenter and individual in general. Our line of work is physical, demanding, often subjecting us to the risk of hazards on the job. Access to health care ensures that we can tend to injuries, protect our well-being, and continue to provide for our families without a fear of financial ruin. It is not just a matter of convenience, it is a matter of dignity and security for every member of our community. Finally, um fair wages are not merely a bargaining chip, but a reflection of our value we bring to our society.
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