Dorsey Market Update – September 2019 -The Dorsey Marketplace project is currently under review by the City staff following preparation of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Hearings before the Grass Valley Planning Commission are expected to begin in October.

Challenging Grass Valley Riparian Code Compliance

June 3, 2019, CEA and WCCA submitted a joint letter to the City of Grass Valley with respect to the City’s interpretation of the riparian setback code. (City of Grass Valley Development Code, Chapter 17.50 -Creek and Riparian Resource Protection)

Our position is that City Planners are providing exceptions to the setback excessively and not enforcing the spirit of the code. The letter was presented as comments to City Council during the hearing for the Gilded Springs Tentative Subdivision Map.

Dorsey Marketplace

May 6, 2019 CEA submitted comments for the Draft EIR, identifying numerous issues with the project:

• Land Use: The project provides no affordable housing. The apartments that are planned are large “high end” units.
• Aesthetics: The project would eliminate a forested hilltop, violating the “protection of…ridgelines and forested views” (General Plan 3-CDO, 2-CDP, 3-CDI, Dev Code Chapter 17.54, especially E. 2. ) goal of the city and creating a massive vertical ediface of retaining walls and buildings due to 45-60 foot build up pads facing south towards town.
• Transportation: The traffic study was performed in 2016 and fails to consider cumulative effects of multiple new projects and fails to reflect the existing congestion in the area of Dorsey and E.Main.
• Public Services: There are no parks near the project and no places for children to play.
• Climate Change: The project fails to adequately address the need for net zero energy design. Among other things, it should include a centralized solar system.

Loma Rica

April 23, 2019 -The Loma Rica Ranch Specific Plan was amended and the Tentative Map for Phase I was approved by Grass Valley City Council. CEA had requested that some affordable housing be provided, that the proposed trails have connectivity to existing walks or paths, that streets be modified to orient housing suitably for solar panels and energy efficiency, and that the neighborhood commercial area, which was a key aspect of the original approved Specific Plan, be retained. None of these requests were honored, and the initial phase of the project will be entirely high end housing.

One positive feature was the provision for ample riparian setbacks from the creeks and a number of local trails.

Housing Elements

Spring 2019 -During this most recent 5 year cycle of Housing Element updates, CEA contributed comments and testimony regarding the Nevada County Housing Element, the Nevada City Housing Element, and the Grass Valley Housing Element. We advocated for affordable housing, more aggressive energy conservation policies, better focus on limiting sprawl, and fire safety.