40 replies to this topic

[mylo]

by the way, last night the Historic District Commmission decided to approve the streetscape without the community meeting to present and discuss the plans (which was a condition of approval of the first designs). They asked legal council if they could just consider the meeting they held last night the public hearing. Council said, "sure!" so, wow, there goes the street. Soon you will all be able to stroll down something that looks like any other remade city in California.

Very interesting. I hope this information would be made "public" soon.

I personally found it interesting that they're opening up Scott St. again.

[4thgenFolsomite]

Very interesting. I hope this information would be made "public" soon.

I personally found it interesting that they're opening up Scott St. again.

well, its not likely now. they were supposed to make it public and show all the community the plans BEFORE HDC approved it, so that the public would have a reasonable opportunity to review it and make intelligent comments. that didn't happen.

[Steve Heard]

Dang it!! I was hoping they would do the Johnny Cash look-alike/sing-alike contest there.

by the way, last night the Historic District Commmission decided to approve the streetscape without the community meeting to present and discuss the plans (which was a condition of approval of the first designs). They asked legal council if they could just consider the meeting they held last night the public hearing. Council said, "sure!" so, wow, there goes the street. Soon you will all be able to stroll down something that looks like any other remade city in California.

I know you are passionate about the street and proposed improvements, but this has been going on for years, and there have been countless meetings to discuss and present the issues. I sat in on many of them. They were all open to the public, as was last night's meeting.

As a member of the Folsom Arts and Cultural Commission, I am concerned that we don't turn it into a Disney-like version of an old west town, and everyone I've talked to feels the same way. It can be done.

We have a choice. We either revitalize Sutter Street so that it is safer, more accessible, more attractive, more functional and more economically viable, while preserving and respecting our cultural and historic assets, or we can let it continue to crumble and deteriorate.

[jafount]

Dang it!! I was hoping they would do the Johnny Cash look-alike/sing-alike contest there.

by the way, last night the Historic District Commmission decided to approve the streetscape without the community meeting to present and discuss the plans (which was a condition of approval of the first designs). They asked legal council if they could just consider the meeting they held last night the public hearing. Council said, "sure!" so, wow, there goes the street. Soon you will all be able to stroll down something that looks like any other remade city in California.

Is it just me or does this seem like more taxation without representation? The peoples voices are not even being listened to, much less heard! Talk about elitism.

[4thgenFolsomite]

Is it just me or does this seem like more taxation without representation? The peoples voices are not even being listened to, much less heard! Talk about elitism.

its not just you. they were rushing this plan through like the stimulus package.

[Steve Heard]

Is it just me or does this seem like more taxation without representation? The peoples voices are not even being listened to, much less heard! Talk about elitism.

Again, there were many, many meetings at which the public was invited to attend and to speak. For most meetings, few members of the public showed up.

[4thgenFolsomite]

Again, there were many, many meetings at which the public was invited to attend and to speak. For most meetings, few members of the public showed up.

I'm talking about process. It was a condition of approval. Many people were waiting to see the final conceptual plan. It would have been simple courtesy to follow through with the condition of approval, wait two weeks until the next HDC meeting, hold a community hearing where people would be presented with the final plan, then have HDC approve or disapprove it. It also came to the meeting last night at the same time they were presenting the city's parking consultants' report. In addition to the loss of historic uniqueness and integrity, I believe the loss of over 60 onstreet parking spaces is a huge loss and will directly impact the viability of the daytime retail stores on Sutter Street.

[MrsTuffPaws]

and how come a bar can't offer a free drink deal but casino's can pass out free drinks all day long?

California Indian Casinos may not pass out free drinks. Yes, they have waitresses come around to the tables/slots to take orders, but you always have to pay for them.

I remember last year there was a Heineken(??) promotion for a free-six pack if you mailed in a promotion, but in California, you also had to mail a dollar, because no free booze allowed here.

[mylo]

I'm talking about process. It was a condition of approval. Many people were waiting to see the final conceptual plan. It would have been simple courtesy to follow through with the condition of approval, wait two weeks until the next HDC meeting, hold a community hearing where people would be presented with the final plan, then have HDC approve or disapprove it. It also came to the meeting last night at the same time they were presenting the city's parking consultants' report. In addition to the loss of historic uniqueness and integrity, I believe the loss of over 60 onstreet parking spaces is a huge loss and will directly impact the viability of the daytime retail stores on Sutter Street.

Is there another HDC meeting? I thought they got canned.

Also, isn't on-street parking being "added" not removed?

[4thgenFolsomite]

Also, isn't on-street parking being "added" not removed?

they are adding 10 spaces on the 700 block, but they are eliminating over 70 on the other blocks. This includes the loss of the parking lot at Wool and Sutter above the chamber building and the side by side parking from there down to past Old Europe (formerly Pachanga's) restaurant. I am not even counting the loss of spaces on the side streets. It's a net loss of about 60 spaces. I think its going to hurt daytime retailers. Women are not going to shop at home decor and gift shops if they have to park on the lower parking lots and walk up hill half a block to the store. They'll just slip over to one of the malls. The new plan will be great for restaurants, etc., but not for daytime stores or for tourists.

[Steve Heard]

Is there another HDC meeting? I thought they got canned.

Also, isn't on-street parking being "added" not removed?

There's another issue the public disagrees on.

At the meetings, there were people who didn't want ANY additional parking because they want folks to use light rail or bike down there.

There were those who opposed additional parking because it will bring more people down there.

There were those who want the residential areas to have parking restricted to residents only, by permit.

And of course, there are those who complain that there is plenty of parking and that the new 300 space parking structure is a waste of money.

Don't forget that the new building at Scott and Sutter will have over 50 new spaces.

[mylo]

they are adding 10 spaces on the 700 block, but they are eliminating over 70 on the other blocks. This includes the loss of the parking lot at Wool and Sutter above the chamber building

That's not a streetscape issue, that's because they're putting a building there!

[mylo]

Women are not going to shop at home decor and gift shops if they have to park on the lower parking lots and walk up hill half a block to the store. They'll just slip over to one of the malls.

Because parking in the boonies at a mall and hiking your way through Macy's stinky perfume dept. is so much easier than walking past Snooks?

[4thgenFolsomite]

Because parking in the boonies at a mall and hiking your way through Macy's stinky perfume dept. is so much easier than walking past Snooks?

Mall Parking = indoors, level ground, safe environment (theoretically), security guards, ample parking, numerous stores to shop in.

Cloud's Parking lot = outdoors, uphill, dark, rainy, hot, unsecured, limited stores for your perusal.


and parking is a streetscape issue because it determines how many parking spaces there will be on the street. the streetscape plans favored wide sidewalks for outdoor dining instead of parking spaces. I understand completely the need for ADA compliance and have no objection to that. It's the widened sidewalks that benefit restaurants and bars at the expense of additional onstreet parking in a district that has always lacked parking.
its one big picture. the design can not ignore the future loss of parking spaces caused by build out. It's not like they can park people in the residential area or out over the lake. its an extremely geographically limited area.

[rda]

The one time I tried to go there there wasn't enough room for my elbows so I left.

hahaha, reminds me of some great Woody Allen lines:

"That place is too crowded. Nobody goes there anymore."

"The food here is horrible, and such small portions!"