Title
Department of Transportation and Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division, recommending the Board provide direction on the following property requests by the Department of Transportation for County owned property located at/near Bass Lake and Bass Lake Road in El Dorado Hills identified as Assessors Parcel Number 115-400-02 approximately 41 acre parcel:
1) Department of Transportation requests a 100 ft. strip of land to connect Bass Lake Road to Silver Spring Parkway; and
2) Department of Transportation requests 1 acre for a maintenance yard for the western part of the County. (Est. Time: 10 Min.)
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The County acquired this 41-acre parcel on April 24, 2001 for park and recreational purposes as a property exchange for 16 acres of undeveloped county-owned land at the end of Robin Lane in Cameron Park. The property is adjacent to Bass Lake off of Bass Lake Road. The county paid $33,000 from the General Fund Contingency to pay for closing costs. [Clerk of the Board typographical correction made 1/11/19: The County aquired the property in 2001, not 2011]
A park plan and environmental document was prepared in 2003. There were many complaints from adjacent property owners and from the BLAC-Bass Lake Action Committee regarding lights and sports fields. There were also requests from Rescue School District for additional land that was needed for a future school site. All of these issues stalled this park site from development.
This site is also within the boundaries of El Dorado Hills Community Services District (EDHCSD). The question has come up several times about the county building a park within the EDHCSD boundary and whether or not it is a good use of the minimal funding the county has for parks. This property is located in an area that has many parks and sports fields because of work of the EDHCSD.
In the near future, the Parks Division will be coming forward with an agenda item recommending the County focus parks services on the underserved areas of the County.
Since this parcel was acquired and intended originally for park and recreational purposes, staff is requesting Board direction on whether staff should move forward with the necessary steps, including CEQA review, for using a portion of the parcel for road and maintenance yard purposes as requested by the Department of Transportation.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decide to not use a portion of the parcel as requested by the Department of Transportation.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board provide direction to staff on the two requests by the Department of Transportation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The financial impact is unknown at this time.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Department of Transportation Director
Creighton Avila, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer