558 Home Development Approved for Clover Valley

Posted by Sierra Nevada Alliance Weekly

February 14, 2008

Rocklin voters approved a development plan of Clover Valley after a decade-long fight over the future of the oak-studded land.
 
With all 45 precincts reporting, Measure H was approved by 52.8 percent of the voters casting ballots in favor of the hotly contested measure.
 
Measure H ratified the Rocklin City Council's approval of a 558-home development in Clover Valley, proposed by developer Rick Massie.
 
Elaine O'Deegan, chairwoman of Save Clover Valley, said Wednesday that her side was outspent but she was proud of how hard they fought.
 
"Power and influence came in and controlled an election," she said. "I'm disappointed but I'm very proud of the volunteers who spent hundreds of hours working on the campaign."
Leaders of the various citizens groups opposing the project, had claimed that the council's development approval did not reflect the wishes of the people for the 622-acre valley known for its meadows, oak trees and sacred American Indian sites.
 
They lamented the vehicle traffic that would come to the valley and the cutting down of thousands of oak trees.
 
Rocklin Mayor Brett Storey, a supporter of Yes on Measure H, didn't deny that his side benefited from deep pockets. But he said that there was plenty of support from Rocklin residents
 
"It is a balanced plan," he said. "Our role now is to make sure that the deal that was put forward happens. They have things they said they are going to do and our staff will make sure it happens.
 
"For example, they are going to plant more trees than they take out. We are going to make sure that happens. The protection of cultural, historical artifacts, the open space - we are going to make sure that happens."
 
Measure H backers say the plan - which calls for construction of homes and trails and the preservation of public open space - balanced property rights while protecting the valley from sprawl.
 
Developer Massie has agreed to donate 1 acre to the city for a fire station and pay $1 million toward its construction and pay for a $15 million road connecting Park Drive and Sierra College Boulevard.
 
Yes on Measure H supporters appeared to outspend their opponents, making sure their message got out in hundreds of television ads.
 
Measure H had the support of business and community leaders. Also, the United Auburn Indian Community, the Placer County tribe that owns Thunder Valley Casino, supported the measure.
 
Mayor Storey had said he was sure that Clover Valley would have development within five years, regardless of the election's outcome.
 
However, anti-development forces said they had spoken to unnamed state agencies and private organizations interested in purchasing the property to keep it undeveloped - a claim Measure H backers doubted.
 
Placer County voters also weighed in on two school bonds, a park tax and a fire district tax.
 
• Measure E, Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District's $67.3 million bond measure to improve existing schools and complete or build new campuses, appeared to win by the narrowest of margins, getting 55.2 percent approval from voters in both Placer and Sacramento counties. The measure required a 55 percent yes vote to pass.
• Loomis Union School District's Measure G, a $17.7 million bond to improve the district's five schools, failed after gaining just 51.9 percent of the vote. This bond also needed a 55 percent majority to pass.
• In Rocklin, yes on Measure J had 59 percent of the votes with all 45 precincts reporting. The measure, which needed a two-thirds majority to pass, would have extended a park development and maintenance tax by 15 years and increase the annual assessment.
• The South Placer Fire District's Measure F, to extend an existing special tax by four years, easily passed with 63 percent approval with all 36 precincts reporting.

Source: Sacramentno Bee

By Bill Lindelof and Jennifer K. Morita