32 replies to this topic

[kanda]

I just read the following in a Yahoo Groups group for the ER subdivision I live in (Renaissance Foothills). It's probably not applicable to most subdivisions in ER, but I think there are a few others that would also be affected:

Someone attached a flier to our block's mailbox yesterday. Apparently there are plans to build a very large lighted sports complex in the Promontory area, which is just to the east of RFH. According to the flier:
o There could be 5 lighted sports fields.
o Lights will be placed on NINETEEN 70' high poles.
o Lights can be used until 11 pm (or later).
o May include large PA (public address) systems.
o More lights & more noise than Lembi Park.

According to the county's website:
http://www.edhcsd.org
the park will be located off of Alexandra Way. I don't know where that is, but since it's referred to as the Promontory Community Park, I assume that it's close to us.

You can go to:
http://www.edhcsd.or...me/new/prom.htm
and sign up for an email list to be notified of future meetings. Also, there's a link there to view the current (draft) master plan, and provide comments if you wish.

According to the flier, your input is critical. (Would they really listen to Sac County residents?) It suggests calling or emailing the El Dorado Hills CSD Board members. Contact info is available at edhcsd.org.

You can contact the group that created the flier at following email address:
promontorypark@yahoo.com

[kanda]

Well, now this one just showed up, too. It's an email forwarded from someone who lives in Promontory:

Hello,
My name is Darin White and I live in the Promontory Community in El Dorado Hills which is just across the way from you in Empire Ranch. We learned about one month ago that the El Dorado Hills Community Services District (CSD) was planning to build a large lighted sports park in the area where the large dirt mound is located. We have rallied the residents of the Promontory Community to fight this park being placed in this location and were able to get an additional 30 days for comment and review on the park. The CSD seams bent on putting a large sports park with lights somewhere in El Dorado Hills and they thought they could sneek this one in, but fortunately we found out about it in time to try to stop it. To date, the CSD has held 3 meetings to get input on the park. The first was a meeting to which they invited only sports and athletic group leadership to determine what they wanted. The second meeting was the one wherein three of our community residents attended (only found out by accident) and became aware of what was being done. The third meeting was the largest that the CSD had ever had at their offices and overwhelming opposition was voiced at this time. We requested and were granted an additional meeting which will be held on Tuesday September 14, 2004 at 7:00 pm at the CSD Pavilion (1021 Harvard Way---Corner of Harvard Way and El Dorado Hills Blvd.).
The CSD is supposed to present a new plan based on the recent input that they have and are receiving. You can look up the plans at www.edhcsd.org and follow the link

Promontory Park Conceptual Master Plans Survey. You can leave feedback here and also view the most recent plan presented to the public. We do not want lights in the park and are fighting hard to get them eliminated from the plan. Lights would bring in year round night sports to this quiet area. I'm sure one of the reasons you live where you do is because of the evening skies, the beautiful surroundings and the quiet nights. Please let the CSD know that lights are not acceptable in this quiet community area and get your neighbors to leave feedback as well. In addition, you can also contact the CSD board members directly as follows:
Joe Chinn, President joejchinn@aol.com
Justin Masters, Vice Pres., 939-3309, jmasters@innercite.com
Larry Brilliant, Director, 933-6270
Constance Wyatt, Director, 933-2235, constance@wyattfamilylaw.com
Norb Witt, Director, 939-6666, nwitt@sbcglobal.net
Thank you for your interest in this park. I will put you on our email list and you can email me with any questions, comments, or ideas you may have. Please send your comments to the CSD through their website link and also directly to the CSD Board members and plan to attend the meeting on September 14th.
Thanks,
Darin White

[BodenMaddox]

Ah, yes, I love NIMBY. Parks are great and the kids really benefit from a place to play organizaed sports even into the night, but NOT IN MY BACK YARD!

[kanda]

Hey, Boden, you're wrong.

It'd be fine with me if it were in your backyard.

[Erika]

Wow, that looks like it will be quite a park! I drove through The Promontory with someone who has inside info on it. There were two things I remembered. One is that there are houses that will come right up to the houses in Empire Ranch. The second is that there is an area zoned for commercial that is very close to those houses in Empire Ranch near the El Dorado Hills boarder. The land could be rezoned so who knows what will actually happen. I know that the lots in that area are going for a lot of money.

That won't affect where our house is but we have other concerns about where our house is. One of those is that property zoned for commercial in Empire Ranch near Empire Oaks. Also, the houses in The Parkway will back up to that center.

[parklady]

Come ask the folks in the Willow Springs area surrounding Livermore Park how much they love having numerous lighted fields - 2 now- 5 planned with all the traffic, noise, lights, speakers blaring... Sounds like the same concept duplicated and it's not pretty.

[Terry]

Did the homeowners check into surrounding property uses before they bought? Or is this another claim of real estate agent/developer non-disclosure?

If either case (or both) shame on those who don't do their homework, and double shame on those who would complain after they failed to do it!

[kanda]

I can't speak for others, but you're right, Terry. We checked Sacramento County, and the City of Folsom, but we did not check El Dorado County plans. We relied on the word of our agent, which obviously is foolish. So, we did our homework, but we didn't get a passing grade.

Would we have bought had we known ahead of time this was planned (assuming it was planned 3 years ago)? I can't honestly say.

I'm going to continue to complain, though, and I'm not the least bit ashamed.

[BodenMaddox]

QUOTE (kanda @ Aug 18 2004, 07:36 AM)

Hey, Boden, you're wrong. It'd be fine with me if it were in your backyard.

Heck, I'd love it in my backyard. It would be cool and, as I said, good for the kids. Win win.

[BodenMaddox]

QUOTE (Erika @ Aug 18 2004, 08:07 AM)

That won't affect where our house is but we have other concerns about where our house is. One of those is that property zoned for commercial in Empire Ranch near Empire Oaks. Also, the houses in The Parkway will back up to that center.

Oh, come on, Erika... that commercial area was known and planned before a single home was sold, so why did you buy if you are worried about it?

[Erika]

I realized that in the middle of escrow. First time I had been to Empire Ranch was when we put in our offer since the market was hot. I did my homework and that's when I found out. We bought it because we figure that they should put in something nice and it won't affect the property value. We won't know for sure until it is all complete and that is why it is still a concern.

[BodenMaddox]

Hope is good. But as long as a business is legal, meets codes, and can make a profit, I welcome it.

[IM_a_Goonie]

I have no simpathy for those people buying in the Promontory. If they would drive around the neightborhod before they actually bought those 3/4 of a million dollar homes, they would have noticed the park sign that called out all the proposed park site amenities that was going to be placed in their park.

Do a little research people, it's not going to be handed to you on a silver platter!

I noticed those signs a year ago.

Good Luck!

-Norcal Local

[tessieca]

It's really nice having parks in your neighborhood. It took several years for our couple of parks to be built, but now we can enjoy them. Even if you are occasionally annoyed by lights and noise, remember that it could be a lot worse. Instead of having a place for Folsom's kids to play, we could have ended up with a topless juice bar or a liquor store.

[kanda]

QUOTE

I have no simpathy for those people buying in the Promontory.

Ok, but how about a little sympathy for me? There were no signs up 3 years ago. In fact, there weren't even roads there.

I just found out today the exact location of the park. It's about 3 blocks from my house (if that). I'm sure the noise & lights will be very noticable from such a short distance.

I suppose you all feel that that's the danger I took, buying a home right on the county line. Maybe you're right.

tessieca, the park referred to in this thread is NOT in Folsom. I suppose this park will still give kids a place to play, and I'm all for that. But the scope of it is so huge, and out of character (IMO) with the semi-rural area.