The Elk Grove Planning Commission met on Thursday, August 1, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 7:50 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included four public hearings: a tentative parcel map for 8767 Excelsior Road, a tentative subdivision map for Stone Springs Estates, an appeal of the Coral Blossom Apartments project, and a continued hearing on residential lighting standards. All items were approved, with the lighting standards passing 4-1.
Okay. Good evening. I will call to order the Elk Grove Planning Commission regular meeting of Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 6 PM. Let me start with the land acknowledgement. We honor, respect, and acknowledge Elk Grove's first inhabitants, the Plains Maywalk, 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 only federally recognized tribe in Sacramento County, who endure because of their bravery, resiliency, and determination of their ancestors, tribal members, and leaders. At this time, would you please silence your any of electronic devices, cell phones, et cetera? And I will ask the clerk to read our customary greetings. The Growth Planning Commission welcomes, appreciates, and encourages participation in the meetings. The Commission reserves the right to reasonably limit the total time for public comment on any particular noticed 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. Sandra Poole. Present. And Chair Sumensinger. Present uh I invite Christopher Jordan to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda? Chair Singer, I move to approve the agenda as presented. Do we have a second? Second. All those in favor? Please signify by saying aye. Aye. The motion carries. Thank you. At this point, uh members of the audience may comment on any item not 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 item raised under public comment until the matter has been specifically included on an agenda item as an action item. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Lynn Wheat. Our city has had a dismal land use history as described by one UC Davis professor, poster child for poor land use planning. Tonight I'm going to present past examples, which will bring us to the latest events, which of course our leaders will choose to blame someone else because in our city the buck stops no place. Example one, the Ventara Park project. Once again, the community rallied around protecting the deterioration of the rural community, the increased congestion and poorly planned project. The community sued and won the lawsuit, not stopping the project completely, but at least a water source had to be identified, and the community fought to have a better residential plan. Example two, the Laguna Ridge specific plan, which was to be the diamond of Elk Grove. The numer three zones led to more peaceful projects and a zone change, allowing a hospital to be built. Now we all need a hospital, but many of the home buyers bought believing that they'd have a wonderful shopping community in smaller businesses. Now they will look on a five-story parking structure in a hospital with a helipad. Complementing this locally crowded Costco shopping area. At the time of the Costco project hearing, the neighborhood had rallied to fight having the truck loading zone and gas station along Civic Center Drive and right next to the neighborhood. The cheaply designed Costco was improved upon when it was brought to the attention of council, the better design Costco's in other local cities. When questioned by a council member, the Costco representative's response, we belt it to your standards. In my opinion, not much has changed. As the Nordstrom Rack, without residents being aware, has the loading docks along Civic Center Drive and their neighborhood, plus the very sterile wall. Example three, Sterling Meadows, a specific planned community, rezoned, of course, to eliminate business sites for more homes. Homeowners who purchased in the community and pay the high assessments will be looking out at a zoo employee parking lot instead of the fire station as described when they purchase their home. Who will take responsibility for the continued poor planning rezones and bundle general plan amendments?