EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. (December 1, 2023) – In the ongoing saga surrounding the contentious Central El Dorado Hills project, a new chapter unfolds as El Dorado County reissues the environmental impact report (EIR), hinting at a potential final vote in early 2024.
From November 28 to January 26, the county is accepting comments on the third partial recirculated EIR for the housing project. This proposal, situated partly on a defunct golf course on El Dorado Hills Boulevard, has long been a source of community division.
Meanwhile, recent developments from the El Dorado Hills Community Services District could significantly alter the project’s course. The district’s board of directors recently greenlit the purchase of 55 acres of the former golf course for $10 million. If they secure an additional $10.32 million within the next 18 months, they have the opportunity to acquire the remaining 43 acres at a rate of $240,000 per acre.
While this move by the district aims to preserve the golf course as open space, questions arise regarding its inclusion in the 168 acres of open space mentioned in the EIR recirculation notice.
Parker Development Co., the El Dorado Hills-based company behind the Central El Dorado Hills project, remains tight-lipped, declining to comment on the recent developments.
According to the county’s description, the proposal, consisting of Pedregal and Serrano Westside, has seen no alterations since El Dorado County planning commissioners recommended rejecting it in May 2022. The overall project envisions up to 1,000 housing units, commercial spaces, public parks, and substantial open space.
The recirculated EIR primarily addresses potential impacts arising from legal decisions and state legislation concerning air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. The county emphasizes that comments should focus on these newly identified impacts.
The decision to recirculate the report suggests the county is gearing up for a final vote on a project proposed over a decade ago, which faced opposition in a 2014 advisory ballot measure.
Ultimately, El Dorado County supervisors will make the final decision, likely in spring 2024. The outcome remains uncertain, but historically, bodies like the county supervisors rarely vote against planning commission recommendations.
Regardless of approval, legal challenges loom on the horizon. The group Open Space El Dorado Hills, vocal opponents of the project, previously indicated expectations of litigation, although they have not provided comment at this time. As this evolving narrative continues, residents and stakeholders await the next chapter in the Central El Dorado Hills project saga.
