Tepid response to West Slope development

Developers who want to build more than 400 houses on the West Slope didn’t receive much encouragement this month from El Dorado County supervisors.

While no action was taken at last week’s public hearing, plenty of angry neighbors gave their two cents. The developer, True Life Companies, also gave an update on revisions to the project.

What was going to be a 605-unit subdivision called Dixon Ranch is now proposed to be 439 houses in what’s called Generations at Green Valley. The project is off Green Valley Road in El Dorado Hills.

Originally there were to be 160 homes deed restricted for low-income seniors; now the idea is for 20 lots to be for affordable or moderate income homes.

Per county law, there must be a public hearing on housing projects before there is analysis of the project and the environmental impact report is prepared. This allows the public to weigh in sooner rather than later. It also gives the developer an opportunity to get feedback from the public and elected officials to then gauge whether proceeding is logical.

Supervisors voted down the project in February.

Even with the revisions, a big issue with this housing project is that it would necessitate an amendment to the General Plan in regards to density. Traffic is another concern.

The electeds, other than Supervisor Sue Novasel, were less than enthusiastic about the development. She is an advocate for more housing, especially affordable.

Her colleagues, though, are more worried about the impacts to other public services, quality of life, and changes to the General Plan.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report