EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. (October 18, 2023) – The latest developments on a controversial residential project in El Dorado County. In a recent decision that has sparked debate among residents, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to extend environmental work on the Central El Dorado Hills residential project.
The “Central El Dorado Hills Specific Plan,” proposed by Parker Development, covers a vast 341-acre area and envisions a mixed-use community, including residential, open space, and public service land uses. The project aims for a 20-year build-out if approved by the Board of Supervisors.
However, it’s important to note that this project has faced strong opposition from the community, and it was rejected by the El Dorado County Planning Commission back in June 2022. The rejection was seen as a significant setback for the developers, but county officials stressed that the Planning Commission’s decision was merely a recommendation. The developer still has the right to go through the due process before the Board of Supervisors.
The recent decision involved an amendment to a contract with ICF Jones and Stokes, an environmental consulting services firm, increasing the scope of their work from $261,000 to $363,000. The extension of the contract also pushes the term three months further, now set to conclude on May 22, 2024. The focus of the amendment was on updating two specific Environmental Impact Report (EIR) topics, namely greenhouse gas and air quality, with the costs being covered by the project applicant.
During the board’s discussion on the amendment, numerous residents voiced their concerns about various aspects of the project, including overgrowth, traffic impacts, water usage, and its alignment with the General Plan. Many expressed their dissatisfaction with the project’s presence on the consent agenda.
District 3 Board Chairperson Wendy Thomas acknowledged the strong emotions surrounding this project, saying,
“There’s a lot of confusion about what this is and what it isn’t.”
While the recent decision was a step forward for the environmental work associated with the Central El Dorado Hills project, it’s important to underline that it wasn’t a vote on the project itself. The community, developers, and county officials continue to grapple with the broader issues and concerns raised by this proposed master-planned community.
In the end, the amendment was approved by the Board of Supervisors with a 4-1 vote after an initial motion to deny it was not seconded. District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine emphasized that the decision didn’t constitute a vote on the project’s approval, but rather a step in the ongoing process, with an obligation to provide due process.
As the Central El Dorado Hills project continues to be a contentious issue in the region, it will be essential to watch for further developments and how the project’s fate unfolds in the months and years to come. Thank you for joining us for this report on this critical issue in El Dorado County.
