64 replies to this topic

[FolsomPreservation]

TO: Anyone who cares about history or Folsom's image on U.S. 50
FROM: Loretta Hettinger
RE: A proposed hotel project at the U.S. 50/Folsom Boulevard entrance to Folsom

One of the worst projects I have seen proposed in Folsom in the past 30 years is scheduled to be heard by the city's Planning Commission on March 17. Speaking as both an advocate for historic preservation and a retired Folsom city planner, I have come to this conclusion primarily because the hotel project proposed at the Highway 50/Folsom Boulevard entrance to Folsom is designed to maximize a developer's profits by sidestepping too many of Folsom's regulations and standards for quality. The project also threatens the adjacent historic Natoma Ground Sluice Diggings site (aka the Chinese Diggings)--which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Besides condemning the land-locked Chinese diggings to obscurity, perhaps even destruction, the project fails to meet City standards for environmental review, tree preservation, building height, parking, Natoma Station Design Guidelines, open space and landscaping setbacks, bicycle master plan, fire protection, signage, Folsom Boulevard Scenic Corridor, and historic preservation.

This project wipes out virtually all the trees and mass grades the slope along 1000 feet of Folsom Boulevard--a declared Scenic Corridor--to build an ordinary hotel with no landscape buffer and a huge retaining wall (or should I say graffiti canvas?). It is completely out of place as a development on the first parcel you see coming off U.S. 50 onto Folsom Boulevard.

In an economic climate that has the City Council squeezing every dime, it is tempting to approve any project that promises development fees and the prospect of transient occupancy tax revenues. However, even in difficult economic times, we need to protect the quality of life--both financial and intrinsic--that we, as residents, have chosen for ourselves.

Developers have always been welcomed in Folsom, but we have also always insisted that they provide top quality in their projects. As residents we will live for a long time--way beyond these difficult economic times--with the negative results of this substandard project, if it is approved as it is. The City of Folsom has an obligation to all its residents to approve a development on this site that not only meets its stated standards and regulations but also continues to enhance the overall quality of life that draws so many to Folsom.

This project fails on more levels than I can cover here. To see the letter sent to the Planning Commission by the Heritage Preservation League of Folsom, visit www.FolsomPreservation.org and click on "Chinese Diggings."

If you agree with me that this proposed hotel project compromises too many of Folsom's regulations and standards, plan to attend the Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. on March 17. The meeting is held in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 50 Natoma Street. Before you go, make sure to check with the city that the hearing of the project has not (once again) been postponed.

And, make your voice heard today by e-mailing the Planning Commission and the City Council c/o City Planner Gail Furness de Pardo at gdepardo@folsom.ca.us.

Loretta Hettinger,
President, Heritage Preservation League of Folsom

[Steve Heard]

Where can we get details on the project?

[camay2327]

We sure do not want to mess up this Historical site and do not want all the trees cut down.

It seems that when builders say, if we cut down the trees, we will plant more somewhere else.
Where do they really plant them and do they?

I am against this project and will see if I can make it to the meeting.

[ducky]

Where can we get details on the project?

This was discussed in 2005 on this forum, too. I think they were supposed to go back and try and save more trees and find ways to have more parking.

http://www.sacbee.co...e-diggings.html

http://folsomtelegra...ail/144194.html

[Dave Burrell]

We don't need another hotel in town - the existing ones never reach capacity.

I wish they'd stop trying to turn Folsom into Roseville

[ducky]

This is the OP's paragraph that disturbs me.

"This project wipes out virtually all the trees and mass grades the slope along 1000 feet of Folsom Boulevard--a declared Scenic Corridor--to build an ordinary hotel with no landscape buffer and a huge retaining wall (or should I say graffiti canvas?)"

I've been trying to find some sort of artist's rendering that shows what the project will look like and can't find anything. We don't need another ugly wall in Folsom.

[old soldier]

wonder which power brokers have been hired to support or shoot down the project.

[ducky]

wonder which power brokers have been hired to support or shoot down the project.

It's the usual suspects, old soldier.

Although, some of the folks in the Natoma Station group did manage to save a big oak tree when the Winco project was being voted on even though BH argued that we were perhaps doing a disservice to the critters that lived in the tree letting it survive next to such a busy road.

[supermom]

I hate driving into quaint, old fashioned towns and the first thing you see is hotel.

Now, if they wanna make it look like an old fashioned way stop/saloon complete with dirt roads and owl boxes in front of each parking spot......I might think they are being envoronmentally PC (actually, in truth I'd prolly laugh my @ off--)

uhhh--ok, do we really need another hotel on that corner?

[folsom500]

I have seen the before and after rendering and it is quite a dramatic change from the street view coming into Folsom. I had a copy but cant find it so checking with Barbara Leary to see if I can get a copy to scan and post by tomorrow.
While the visual change is dramatic and disheartening- the other changes as listed in the letter and previous postings/ topics here are very disappointing as well.

The other end of Folsom's entry at E Bidwell is not very nice looking and we would sure like to keep this end not looking like Roseville...

[ducky]

I have seen the before and after rendering and it is quite a dramatic change from the street view coming into Folsom. I had a copy but cant find it so checking with Barbara Leary to see if I can get a copy to scan and post by tomorrow.
While the visual change is dramatic and disheartening- the other changes as listed in the letter and previous postings/ topics here are very disappointing as well.

The other end of Folsom's entry at E Bidwell is not very nice looking and we would sure like to keep this end not looking like Roseville...

If you can find that, folsom500, that would be nice.

While I understand the property owner has a right to develop if that is how the land is zoned, it would be nice if they could keep that entrance to our city as nice as possible. I think the way Folsom Blvd looks at that entry into Folsom is an asset that should be preserved if at all possible.

[Darth Lefty]

There's already two other hotels in that same corner... is that the only place anyone is allowed to put a hotel?

[mylo]

From the site: http://www.folsompre.....ission CD.htm



Personally, I can't tell where it is...

[Darth Lefty]

Personally, I can't tell where it is...

It's the stretch between 50 and Iron Point.

[4thgenFolsomite]

From the site: http://www.folsompre.....ission CD.htm



Personally, I can't tell where it is...

Oh my lord!!! that's huge! I love our open space entrance. It's beautiful. It's a gateway with a natural and historic feel that will be lost if this thing goes in. I love that hillside and those oaks greeting me when I get home from work.