Employment trends are changing - employees and employers are seeking places where employees can live and work in proximity, in communities with a vibrant, urban character; multistory, mixed use buildings with retail, office, and residential integrated both horizontally and vertically. Recent business site selection activities, such as the Amazon HQ2 project, highlight these trends. Further, the impacts of COVID-19 are causing some employers to rethink where their employees work and create limits on the overall demand for office building square footage.
In 2014, the City approved the Southeast Policy Area (SEPA), a strategic plan that identified a large land area for a traditional, suburban employment center. Development would occur in multistory, single use buildings that would be supported by large parking fields. SEPA is located along the Kammerer Road Corridor and is adjacent to the Lent Ranch planning area (the Promenade Corridor where the Mall was to be located) and the South Study Area, where development would occur in the decades to come.
Because of these changing trends, the City is taking a second look at the Kammerer Road corridor and considering a new vision. Where could mixed use development occur and what would it look like? How would development integrate with Kammerer Road and its role as a regional connector?
Strategy and Next Steps
The final strategy report consists of the following materials, dated January 2021. These were presented to the City Council and Planning Commission in early 2021 for review and direction on next steps. The Council supported the strategy and directed staff to proceed with amendments to the General Plan, Zoning, and other relevant plans and programs. This work is ongoing with the first phase (General Plan amendments) expected to be completed in late 2022.
Based upon the February 2021 City Council direction, the City is beginning work on amending the General Plan for the Study Area. Part of this work includes the preparation of a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report, which will analyze the potential impacts of the amendments. On February 18, 2022, the City released a Notice of Preparation (below). Public comment on the Notice of Preparation is welcomed during the comment period from February 18, 2022 and March 21, 2022. Comments may be submitted, in writing, to the address below.
Please send comments to:
City of Elk Grove
Office of Strategic Planning and Innovation
c/o Christopher Jordan
8401 Laguna Palms Way
Elk Grove, CA 95758
cjordan@elkgrovecity.org
CEQA provides for a Lead Agency to facilitate one or more Scoping Meetings, which provide opportunity for determining the scope and content of the EIR. Traditionally, the City hosts one Scoping Meeting for agencies and the general public during the NOP comment period. In accordance with State and local health orders limiting in-person public meetings, the City is providing an alternative method for the Scoping Meeting. A video presentation by staff, introducing the Project and outlining the CEQA process, is available for review below.
Prior Public Workshops
The City has hosted a series of public workshops to discuss the project and solicit feedback from the public. The first meeting, which focused on an introduction to the project and general discussion occurred in February 2020. The second meeting was October 29, 2020, and reviewed concepts for the area. The presentation from the meeting is available, as well as a recording (below).
Contact
Christopher Jordan, AICP
Director of Strategic Planning and Innovation
cjordan@elkgrovecity.org