This suburban plan being proposed sounds like a wonderful example of building around parks and parkways, as reported by the Sacramento Bee, with the usual suspects in opposition to anything suburban.
An excerpt.
“The West Jackson Highway area has contributed much to the Sacramento region’s development because of the concrete and asphalt material mined there for more than 80 years.
“But now the two companies that have long mined the area want to transform the scarred land itself into a major residential and commercial development.
“Teichert and Granite Construction companies are working with Sacramento County on a master planned community that would convert 5,900 acres of rural property into urban development, including housing and businesses.
“The companies own 70 percent of the land in the planning area, which runs southeast of downtown Sacramento on both sides of Jackson Road/state Highway 16 from South Watt Avenue to Excelsior Road. Much of the mining potential in the area has been exhausted and the sites have been restored, although the companies still have operations there.
“The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a workshop on the proposal Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. Planners will ask the board to start the environmental review process, kicking off a permitting process that could last up to four years.
“County planners think the concept is smart.
“We think it’s a very good reuse of that area,” said county Planning Director Leighann Moffitt.
“In addition to the mining operations, the area has not been good for development because it long had to contend with flight traffic from the former Mather Air Force Base, she said.
“The airport no longer handles military planes but serves as an air cargo hub for the region. The West Jackson plan excludes housing from the area around Mather Airport.
“The Environmental Council of Sacramento is concerned about several proposed developments along Jackson Road because they would create more housing than the region needs and because they’re too far from existing urban development, said Ron Maertz of ECOS.”
