|
Development west of I-5 revisited |
|
|
|
Written by John Saiz | Patterson Irrigator
|
|
Wednesday, 27 August 2008 |
What to do with land west of Interstate 5 took center stage once again at Monday’s General Plan Advisory Committee meeting.
City planners and consultants strongly recommended leaving almost all the land alone, while developers and property owners highlighted ways to bring both housing and commercial development to the hills of Del Puerto Canyon. At the previous GPAC meeting on July 22, similar debates consumed much of the conversation.
Several canyon residents came to the meeting, as did a representative from the Stanislaus Audubon Society, and said the unique character of the canyon should not be trampled by urban development. Committee members had varying opinions on canyon development.
Ultimately, city staff suggested they could draft special design guidelines for the canyon that will be presented at the committee’s next meeting Sept. 9. However, staff continued to warn against developing too far west.
“I cannot stress enough my recommendation to not develop west of I-5,” said Rod Simpson, Patterson’s director of community development.
Simpson’s main concerns were encroachment onto land reserved by the federal government for threatened or endangered species, the difficulty of getting sewer and water west of I-5 and the fact that it would alter the views of the hills.
Planning consultant Dave Moran also brought up the difficulty of building on the Canyon’s slopes.
Developers and property owners were ready with their own arguments why the canyon is the right spot for development. Joe Hollowell, who has helped bring housing projects and industrial parks to Patterson, showed slides indicating the areas that had a gentle enough slope to support either housing or commercial areas.
He also showed slides of how development on the top of the hills could be hidden from view with a combination of landscaping and cutting into the hills.
Jeff Arambel, who owns a nice chunk of the property the committee was discussing, said getting water across the aqueduct, canal and I-5 is not an impossible goal. He said he already has large amounts of agricultural water going to orchards between the California Aqueduct and I-5.
“I’ve got water there right now,” Arambel said.
The final decision will be made when Patterson City Council approves revisions to the city’s general plan.
All the canyon talk got started when the council decided it was time to revise the general plan, a state-mandated document that guides long-term city growth. The GPAC was created by the council to get the ball rolling on the revisions.
The committee is expected to have two more meetings, Sept. 9 and Oct. 6, before their final recommendations will be complete. Patterson Planning Commission will then get its chance to weigh in and, finally, the council will have its say.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
The only people pushing this are landowners west of I5 and developers who stand to make money off of it. It is not like the city doesn't already have enough land set aside for housing and commercial in the new general plan. As I see it, if the council votes to allow development in the hills, then it will obvious that the development community has really taken hold of the city's planning process.
Also, I am very opposed to West Park. But if Patterson does this, it sure makes the city look hypocritical to others outside of the area when it opposes West Park but makes its own reckless growth plans.
Soembody put a sock in Joe Holowell's mouth. All he wants to do is pave over everything within site.