Action Alert: Stop McMansions in the Parkway!

Action Alert


Dear All, Re: The Markis/Lien Use Permit #020841

This message is going to many people not ordinarily active in local
environmental and parkland issues. I am sending it widely to have us
act locally on this important matter: it is the threat to the
integrity ot the American River Parkway from the impending vote by the
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on August 31, at 2 pm at the
Board's Chambers at 700 H Street.

Here is the problem: the above 2 developers are asking the County for
a Use Permit in order to build 3 houses where there is currently only
one. The area in question is just downstream from Ancil Hoffman Park,
and across the river from Goethe Park on a high bluff. The homes will
loom over the Parkway and be a visual intrusion. Permission to build
them will essentially rezone the Parkway, and intense subdivision of
other riverfront properties will inevitably follow, leading to erosion
of the very qualities we all prize in the Parkway, its untouched
naturalness. Note that County codes specify that houses "must protect
the aesthetics and environmental quality of the American River
Parkway".

Another part of the problem is not just the number, size, or design of
the proposed houses, it is the erosion of the bluff: the developers
are asking for a 20' setback, in an area where the Parkway Plan
requires a 70' setback for safety. Adopted in 1977, the county's rules
for developing on the Parkway require adherence to the established
footages. Erosion requirements were added in 1987.

The project has been denied for these valid reasons by the Carmichael
CPAC, the Parkway Advisory Committee, Recreation and Parks Commission,
and the County Planning Department and Planning Commision-in short,
all the bodies which provide community input to the Board.

The Parkway does not belong to the Board, it belongs to us, who have
supported it, cleaned it annually, and paid the taxes to support it.
We think that the Board, as stewards of the parkway on our behalf, has
an obligation to deny this project. The membership of Habitat 2020
represents thousands of voters- it is not an exaggeration to say we
represent most average voters in the whole Sacramento region.

The Bee has already written 2 recent editorials in support of our
position to deny this variance.

Here's what I want you to do:

1)Write a letter to the Bee: opinion [at] sacbee.com and thank the Bee for
protecting the Parkway.(See "Tinkering on the bluff", 7/27/04)

2)email your supervisor (or the whole board- Chairperson is Muriel
Johnson)District 1, Roger Dickinson., 874-5485,
dickinson [at] saccounty.net; District 2 Illa Collin, 874-5481
collin@saccountynet: District 3, Muriel Johnson, 874-5471
johnsonmu [at] saccounty.net; District 4,Roger Niello, 874-5491,
rniello [at] saccounty.net; District 5, Don Nottoli, 874-5465,
nottolid [at] saccounty.net.

3) Please attend the hearing on August 31 @ 2 pm in the chambers at
700 H street, and bring as many friends as you can; bribe them, reward
them, tell them you'll always love them, whatever, JUST BRING THEM AND
BE THERE. We think that bodies in large numbers will win the day. I
promise you there will be NO meetings if you do what I tell you.
Otherwise I will have to call a meeting and you will have to look me
in the eye...

Best always,

Mary Bisharat