Larry Rolla, Diamond Springs / El Dorado Community Coalition

(PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA) July 3, 2022 — Why did we decline to join our Community Townhall meeting with Supervisor Thomas’ meeting with the Dorado Oaks Developer?

Two members of our Coalition (Larry Rolla and Alicia Selby) met with Supervisor Thomas on May 12th. We discussed the community’s concerns with the many development projects proposed for Diamond Springs and El Dorado, and explored ideas on where high density housing makes sense. We invited her to attend a Coalition meeting where she could share her vision, and the community could ask questions. She graciously accepted our invitation and we decided on July 21.

To better utilize our limited time with Supervisor Thomas, we chose to focus on two projects: Dorado Oaks, and Creekside Plaza Arco Station. In addition, we allowed time for questions about the local government’s role in applying the County General Plan and Measure E, as well as a period of time for Open Forum questions. We prepared a survey to collect questions from our community beforehand.

On Tuesday, June 28th we received an email from Supervisor Thomas stating that she could no longer commit to our Coalition Townhall meeting. The Diamond Springs – El Dorado Community Advisory Committee was holding a meeting the same evening, and had invited the Dorado Oaks developer Stonehenge Springs LLC to attend. She preferred that format, where the public could speak with the developer of the project directly.

The Diamond Springs / El Dorado Community Coalition is not focused on individual developers who desire to build in Diamond Springs or El Dorado. Our fundamental focus is on ensuring that our local government performs its duties, and applies the voter-approved General Plan and Measure E explicitly. The requirements in those documents protect us all. The only way to save our county is to ensure that our local government departments are doing their jobs. The cover page of the County General Plan states: “A Plan for Managed Growth and Open Roads; A Plan for Quality Neighborhoods and Traffic Relief”. How wonderful if our local government could live up to that vision.

The joint meeting with the developer of Dorado Oaks would not accomplish our objective, and clearly would not help us understand how our local government is doing its job. We are very disappointed that Supervisor Thomas has rescinded her participation in our community Townhall meeting. That meeting was created for each one of you.

We feel that Supervisor Thomas should hear from the people who live in or travel through our small historic towns. We also need to understand her thoughts on the proposed development projects, and how she is ensuring that the General Plan and Measure E are upheld.

We have offered to reschedule our Townhall meeting with Supervisor Thomas, and will provide an update should we receive a response.