Proposed Dry Creek development spurs anger, resignations

Residents of the Dry Creek community said they're angry and frustrated after the Placer County Board of Supervisors allowed a developer to bring high-density housing to their rural community. The design for the proposed American Vineyard Village subdivision calls for 140 homes on 19.2 acres, according to county documents."I think the density is too high," said Dry Creek resident Dave Anderson. "The county is interested in the property-tax revenue it generates."Placer County officials disagree."What you have is a difference of opinion," said Placer County Planning Director Mike Johnson. "The Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors concluded this was an appropriate design solution for the project site."Erico Orsi's house is surrounded on two sides by the property, which JMC Homes owns, at the corner of Vineyard Road and Brandy Lane in Roseville. Orsi said he is not only concerned about the density but increased traffic for Vineyard Road and falling housing values. He's also concerned why the county would turn their back on the community's wishes. "It's not progress, it's greed," Orsi said. "The developers want to make all the money they can get. The county is letting them do it."Representatives of JMC Homes, project developer, insist American Vineyard Village is well designed and compatible with the surrounding neighborhoods."We are excited about the project," said Steve Schnable, a spokesman for JMC Homes. "I'm surprised. It's a relatively small project but it's gotten some attention."Orsi signed a petition with more than 90 other neighbors opposing the development. During the county's review process, JMC Homes officials met with the West Placer Municipal Advisory Council three times, officials said. "In six years on the MAC, I have never seen the level of community opposition that I saw on this project," said West Placer MAC chairman Barry Stillman. "It is the first time we've written a letter saying we oppose this project in the strongest possible terms. It doesn't just fail to comply; it totally sabotages the community plan."Developed by the area residents, the West Placer/Dry Creek Community plan was adopted by the Placer County Board of Supervisors in 1990 as a guide for future development. Residents fiercely defend the plan as a vision for the community.Last month, the Placer County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to amend the community plan to allow the American Vineyard Villages subdivision to be rezoned from R-2, or two houses per acre to R-8, eight houses per acre. "That is not a slight difference," said West Placer MAC member George Brown. "This was just a blatant, in your face. (It was like saying), 'we don't care what the community plan says, this is what we're doing.'"Rocky Rockholm, county supervisor representing the Dry Creek District, said the project has another advantage residents hadn't considered. "A project of smaller-sized lots is better-suited to this current economy," Rockholm said.MAC members say it's more about principal than design. And they feel so strongly, some have resigned in protest."Is it a community plan, or a planning commission plan?" Brown said. "That's why I resigned."In addition to Brown, MAC members Stillman and Terry Dee Webb all resigned from the council in protest."We're just puppets at this point," Webb said. "We're just in their way."Other MAC members agree."It is a power grab," Brown said. "They are trying to make the MACs irrelevant. The rest of the county MACs need to stand up and take notice."Johnson did not comment on the resignations."The staff did take the MAC's recommendation into consideration," Johnson said. "It is not necessary for the Planning Commission or the Board of Supervisors to adhere to the MAC's recommendation." The three outgoing MAC members said the county needs to listen to its citizens. Rockholm said the project allows a transition from the urban feel of the city of Roseville, which is to the west of the project. "I understand why MAC members feel proud and protective of the West Placer Community Plan and don't want it changed," Rockholm said. "I understand and respect the goal of keeping this area as rural as possible, but in this case I believe we can better protect rural lands by encouraging infill development, as this is."Former MAC member and Vineyard Road resident Chuck Barsdale is calling for a grand jury investigation. "I'm beyond mad about this," Barsdale said. "I want them to investigate whether any campaign violations were done. I want to get to the bottom of this."Rockholm has not taken campaign donations by JMC Homes or John Mourier Construction Inc. in the last three years, according to county election documents. However, campaign records for the last six months were not available as the filing deadline falls in February, county officials said. Rockholm has accepted more than $32,000 in campaign contributions from the North State Building Industry Association, according to county election documents. The North State BIA represents 700 homebuilders, of which JMC Homes is a member, in advocating public policies that promote a healthy building climate, according to its Web site.Rockholm said he does not value the wishes of developers over residents. "Absolutely not," Rockholm said. "While I represent District One, I must also serve the whole county. In this case, growth has already come to this area."Stillman and Webb are now concerned the amendment to the community plan creates a precedent for other developers to follow. "The crack is in the dike," Stillman said."It is very disappointing," Webb said. "The whole thing has taken off. Now there is no limit, there is no community plan anymore. That's why I resigned."