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Agreement reached to preserve Clover Valley
City, UAIC, developer announce deal that will increase open space
Placer Herald file photo
Clover Valley currently sits as 622 undeveloped acres in the Northeast corner of Rocklin.
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The city of Rocklin, the United Auburn Indian Community and Clover Valley Partners announced that the UAIC has contracted to purchase 154 lots of the valley floor area of Clover Valley.
An open space conservation easement will be placed over 142 of the purchased lots and a long-term open space management contract has been negotiated with the Wildlife Heritage Foundation, officials said in a press release.
The conservation easement will increase open space in the Clover Valley development and provide further protection from development to Native American sacred sites in the valley, officials said.
The purchase agreement and conservation easement cannot be recorded, however, until resolution of a pending lawsuit filed by the Clover Valley Foundation and the town of Loomis, according to a press release.
“This is one small step in the right direction,” said Maryln Jasper of the Clover Valley Foundation. “The groups that I work with feel that it validates what we have been saying for 10 years.”
Jasper said, however, that the agreement still does not address issues such as the loss of native oak trees and a two-lane road that will bring extra traffic to the area.
“There is a long way yet to go,” Jasper said.
Clover Valley Partners announced it plans to submit a revised project to the city reducing development from the approved 558 homes down to 404 homes, increasing open space to 406 acres of the 622-acre site, and eliminating the majority of traffic from the Clover Valley floor.
“The Conservation Easement will ensure that the sites protected by the approved project, and deemed sacred by the United Auburn Indian Community, will be retained forever in their scenic natural valley setting,” said Jessica Tavares, chairwoman of the United Auburn Indian Community, in a press release. “In addition, our tribe will also construct a cultural center where people of all ages will be able to gain a greater understanding of the rich cultural history of the area.”
The purchase agreement and open space conservation easement is an outgrowth of the Measure H campaign in February in which voters approved a community plan to:
n Protect Clover Valley against sprawl while protecting private property rights
n Guarantee that 60 percent of Clover Valley will be preserved as permanent open space without new taxes or higher fees –more than a 500-percent increase over earlier proposals
n Construct a new two-lane road connecting Park Drive and Sierra College Boulevard – reducing traffic congestion throughout the city and improving emergency response time
n Create more than two miles of hiking and biking trails in Clover Valley with full public access
n Provide a site for the fourth Rocklin fire station
“The city of Rocklin and the community worked very hard over many years and got major concessions from the land owners of Clover Valley which resulted in the approved project endorsed by the voters,” said Rocklin Mayor Brett Storey. “This planned purchase of the valley floor by the United Auburn Indian Community is even better for Rocklin. A further reduction in homes equals a further reduction in environmental impacts, such as saving over a thousand oak trees, reduced traffic on Park Drive and Sierra College Boulevard, and additional protection of Clover Valley’s Native American sites.”
CLover Valley, Measure H, City of Rocklin, United Auburn Indian Tribe, Clover Valley Foundation
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What about that highway that will bring in 14,000 cars a day from Lincoln and surrounding communities?
Let's get this highway out of the city's plan - it is unnecessary and a safety nuisance for those who live on the Whitney Oaks side of town. Especially the school kids and senior citizens along Park Dr.
Get rid of Valley View Parkway.
It’s difficult to read Storey’s quote and keep a straight face. The city of Rocklin did absolutely nothing to get “major concessions” from the land owner. Only active citizens had some modicum of success due to their hard work. In fact, they are still working to save the precious environmental resources.
The city not only was an obstacle, but it “worked very hard” to give the developers whatever they wanted. The city did just the opposite of getting concessions. They enforced traffic Level of Service as little as possible, bent over backwards to give approvals, amend the city plans, and gave away the farm! Just look at all the “overriding circumstances” they used in the environmental documents to prove the point.
Why didn’t the city enforce their own tree ordinance instead of giving what amounts to “waivers” to the developer? Why did the city allow encroachment in Clover Valley Creek’s required set back? Why isn’t the city trying to protect the scenic ridges? Or all the prehistoric sites? Or historical walls and stone corral? Why? Because the developer doesn’t want them to.
Instead of fighting for a stronger development agreement when the old one expired, the city rolled over and gave away even more. One can only wonder who the city council really works for. We know it isn’t citizens….
Fortunately, a number of groups are still in the trenches, working to save Clover Valley as it should be saved. A few lots near prehistoric sites, or land that is steep sloped or wetlands (that cannot be built on anyway) is hardly “working very hard….”
What an appalling load of bull from Storey. Council would have gladly given everything to the developers if not for a devoted band of citizens who fought back. Everyone in Rocklin and Loomis should give these dedicated people a round of applause, and help them continue the fight. And Loomis should continue its lawsuit to get reasonable mitigation from the deal. Rocklin continually chooses to sell Loomis down the river, and if a lawsuit is what it takes, a lawsuit it shall be.
Rocklin voters, do your job and vote the incumbents out in November!
Bret Story along with Kathy Lund (not the only Rocklin officials) were essentially agents for the developer of Clover Valley. Indeed, their signatures and comments of support were included in slick mailers from the developer. They acted like cheerleaders for thier team; not the ciitizens of Rocklin. Talik about a conflict of interest. Lund and company have destroyed any semblence of character Rocklin had with endless unbridled gross develpment. The only good thing about Rocklin is fantastic public safety and high test scores in the schools.
What is this garbage? I vividly remember Storey sending a letter out to all of the Placer County voters last summer saying "Don't be swayed by those who are against Measure H because their arguments are irresponsible." What's more is that when Rocklin was somehow named one of the Top 10 Towns in America to Raise a Family, one thing the Magazine mentioned was how Rocklin was, what was it, preventing lumbering of nearby forests? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
I'm glad I don't live here anymore. Nobody believes Storey's crap.