Valley Springs Area Community PlanDo you know our existing Community Plan was written in 1974, 34 years ago? It still says we have a daily train running through town! Many growth and development decisions and changes that affect our community's future are based on this outdated document. Doesn't the Valley Springs area deserve better planning than this?
July 7th, 2008--Valley Springs Community Planning Baseline Report released to the public
Click here to read the 30-page report, complete with photos and Appendix. The report documents outreach efforts and call to action by MyValleySprings.com for a community plan update, the formation of the new GVSAG planning group, and progress of community visioning through June 2008
Valley Springs Community Area Plan group forms--GVSAGGVSAG now has a website! Click here to visit, read and comment on draft Visions and boundary Alternatives, and to participate in community planning!!GVSAG public meetings are held the fourth Thursday of the month from 7-9 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church in Valley Springs. If you would like to be on their announcements list, visit the website or email info@gvsag.org. April 24th GVSAG meeting: MyValleySprings.com turned leadership over to the GVSAG Coordinating Committee. The CC set the agenda and ran the meeting, which focused on how to create community Visions according to county guidelines. The new website was announced, www.gvsag.org, where preliminary draft topic visions are posted for public input. March 27th GVSAG meeting:
Preliminary draft Vision statements were presented by committees working on Topic Areas. A question and answer session was held with a county representative about boundaries and process. Next steps were discussed, deadlines for Vision submittals, Coordinating Committee reps, and next meeting dates announced.
March 2008--Greater Valley Springs Advisory Group (GVSAG) formsClick here for March 4th meeting announcement and press releaseArea residents and landowners met March 4th and formed the Greater Valley Springs Advisory Group (GVSAG) to craft a Vision for the Valley Springs area and to suggest Alternatives to the County for new community boundaries. Seven working committees will meet to work on drafting Visions for each Element. These will be completed and brought to the next GVSAG meeting Thursday, March 27th, 7-9 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church in Valley Springs. To learn more about the working committees and to participate in the community plan update, come to the next meeting or email info@myvalleysprings.com Feb. 2008--Public meeting held to guage interest in forming a community plan update group--consensus is "Yes"!Click here for Feb. meeting announcement and press releaseParticipants agreed to form a community plan group to draft a community plan update, and selected 7 Elements for study and visioning on Feb. 19th. Signup sheets were started for the following elements: Circulation, Community Boundaries/Study Area, Conservation and Open Space, Economics, Housing, Land Use, and Safety. Work groups will be formed. Sub-headings for the elements include: Fire, Police, Emergency Response, Flood Management, Handicap Access, Evacuation Routes, Air Quality, Sustainable Strategies, Parks & Rec, Youth Activities, Historic Preservation, Scenic Corridors & Viewsheds, Bike & Pedestrian, Urban Boundaries, Community Design, Roads, Water, Public Utilities, Noise, and Dark Skies (some of these will overlap elements). Additional people are welcome to join in and help develop a vision for each element and for the update to the Valley Springs Area Community Plan. Please come to community plan group meetings--the next meeting is March 4th! Community Plan update takes another big step!!December 2007--Design Workshop Summary report and meeting presentations completed and posted!
Valley Springs Community Design Workshop report "Summary of Results" is completed by the Local Government Commission. Report includes background, activities, results, participants, area and workshop maps, and photos. 12/17/07 report is now posted online by MyValleySprings.com: (caution--large file--slow for dialup connections)
Click here for "Summary of Results" design workshop report
Valley Springs Community Design Workshop presentations by Paul Zykovsky of the Local Government Commission (10/24 and 10/27/07) now posted online by MyValleySprings.com: (caution--large files--slow for dialup connections)
Click here for 10/24 presentation "Encourage Your Hopes Not Your Fears"
October 2007--Community members share visions, values, priorities, and planning ideas at design workshops
Valley Springs Area Community Values & Priorities Lists (10-24-07):COMMUNITY VALUES: Family, friends, neighbors, community Open space Rural character/lifestyle Peace and quiet Recreation Trees Climate
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES (number of votes in parenthesis): Rural atmosphere & ag preservation (25) Traffic; improve roads (23) Preserve oaks (21) More housing options, senior housing (21) Water conservation (20) Code enforcement (20) Design guidelines (17) Parks & recreation (17) Wildlife habitat & conservation (16) Jobs (16) Mixed use development (15) Government services (police, fire, jail, parks) (14) One town center (13) Development fees for new growth (13) Shopping (12) Trails (12) Walkways & sidewalks (11) Youth/community center (10) Cell phone service (7) Childcare (3) High school (3) Drug treatment for teenagers (3) Social services center (2)
Help Plan the Future of the Valley Springs Area!Community Design Workshops Wed. October 24th and Sat. October 27thPlease join the community in a two-part Community Design Charette to create a vision for a vibrant Valley Springs Community Area. Share your ideas with friends and neighbors for beautifying our community and promoting new business and job opportunities.A team of professional design experts will help participants identify and prioritize values, issues, and design possibilities. Community members will participate in a walking tour, training presentation, discussions of ideas, and offer design solutions on maps. Wed. October 24th Community meeting with pizza, 6:30-9 p.m., then Sat. October 27th Walking tour and design workshop 9 a.m.-2 p.m. All events will take place at the Valley Springs Elementary School Mulit Purpose Room, 240 Pine St. in Valley Springs. Admission free, food & drinks provided!
Click here for 10/12/07 Press Release and more information on Design Charette
Grant Funds Provide Valley Springs Area Community Plan Opportunity8/25/07: MyValleySprings.com has recently received two grant awards* which will be used for a two-part Community Visioning and Design mini-charrette in Valley Springs. The workshop will be conducted by the Local Government Commission (who did previous presentations on Smart Growth, Water Resources, and Land Use). Tentative workshop dates are Oct. 24th and October 27th, with a pre-workshop kickoff meeting a week or two beforehand. County staff will be involved with workshops and sign-ups.Full community participation is key to a successful community area plan. All area residents and business owners are invited to attend. More info will be posted and noticed. *Grant money was received from the C. A. Webster Foundation and the California Wildlands Grassroots Fund, who award grants to community non-profit organizations advocating for responsible growth and the preservation of the quality of rural life
8/24/07: Community & Special Plans and Area Maps now on County websiteIncludes Valley Springs and Rancho. Click here for Planning Dept. page with Arnold, Avery/Hathaway Pines, Copperopolis, San Andreas, Mokelumne Hill, Valley Springs, Murphys/Douglas Flat, Ebbetts Pass Highway, Airport Land Use, and Rancho Calaveras"Valley Springs Community Area General Plan", written in 1974, now posted here for you to read!Click HERE to read the existing 1974 Valley Springs Community PlanWhat is our community vision?MyValleySprings.com has taken ideas and community input and created draft Valley Springs Community Goals. These could be used as a first step in community participation in visioning and writing a new Valley Springs Community Plan.Read draft Valley Springs Community Goals here!Click here for 2006 draft Valley Springs Community Goals
What is a Community Plan?We, the citizens of Valley Springs, should have a voice in creating a new Community Plan that reflects the desires of the community as a whole. To do so, we need to start a dialogue about what our community's vision, intention, and goals are. If we don't speak out and get involved, the new Community Plan will be written by those who may not have our best interests at heart.
What can the community use as a guide?Look for guidelines such as "Land Use & Development Principles" adopted by the Amador Association of Realtors, the Calaveras Planning Coalition, and others: Click here for Land Use & Development Principles 
The following intentions and goals are from the draft Copperopolis Community Plan. We could use these as a starting point, then change, add, or adapt them to reflect the needs of our area. Read what they wrote, and speak out about what is important to YOU!
COMMUNITY GOALS--ExampleThe Valley Springs Community Plan should contain goals similar to the following:
1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Establish, promote, and enhance commercial development designed to compliment the character of the appropriate areas of the community. 2. AESTHETICS/COMMUNITY CHARACTER - Encourage orderly development while retaining a rural mining/ranching town atmosphere with an emphasis on community appearance and character.
3. NATURAL RESOURCES - Achieve a harmonious relationship between the developed environment and its surroundings by preserving open space and agriculture/rangelands. Protect and enhance the natural resources of the Planning Area. 4. TRAFFIC/CIRULATION - Improve traffic circulation and provide for safe routes for both vehicular and non-vehicular traffic. 5. HISTORIC PRESERVATION - Restore, preserve, and enhance the historic assets. 6. PUBLIC SAFETY - Ensure that public safety is maintained and enhanced through fire protection measures, adequate law enforcement, and emergency services 7. PUBLIC/COMMUNITY SERVICES - Support the development of additional Public facilities with respect to the communitys growth
What Can You Do?Click here for ideas!
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