(for Vista Plaza II see bottom of page)North Vista Plaza:
1/22/08: Board of Supervisors approves new North Vista Plaza subdivisionFinal project approved is for 156 single-family-homes, of which 48 will be high-density lots and 5 affordable workforce housing units. All 4 parcels (33+ acres) were rezoned from R3 to R1.Drainage plans were completely redesigned (as requested) to prevent increased water runoff to Cosgrove and Indian Creeks. As a result, the number of detention basin areas doubled and added to onsite open space. The total amount of open space on the project has been increased, the small oak woodland will be preserved, the number of Heritage Oaks to be saved has been increased to 13 (of 33), and a small park will be created. Project is located at the end of Vista del Lago West (which will connect to Berkesey). Project Summary (Initial Study, County reports, updates, and information):Click for November 2007 Staff Report and Maps, high-speed recommendedClick here for March 2007 Initial Study, North Vista Plaza (high-speed recommended) 11/31/07 UPDATE: New Staff Report and Maps released (see link above). Developer lowers "affordable" price to $200,000 but reduces the number of "affordable" homes offered from 15 to 5 units. No multifamily housing (condos, townhomes, duplexes, or apts.) is planned for this 34+ acre property zoned for a potential mix of single family, high-density, and multifamily housing. If the zoning change from R3 to R1 is approved for the entire site, future workforce, multifamily, and affordable housing options for Valley Springs will be lost. ******************************************************** 7/27 UPDATE: MyValleySprings.com submitted North Vista Plaza "Alternative A" site plan to developer for consideration. Alternative plan has higher density (170 units) but more open space and parks; reduces number of single-family homes but adds multi-family housing (apts. and condos) in order to supply 80 units of real affordable workforce housing. ********************************************************* 7/2 UPDATE: developer has proposed to reduce homes to 157, preserve oak woodlands and 8 more Heritage Oaks, and increase the amount of Open Space from 1.7 acres to 3.12 acres. Developer proposed 15 of the smaller lot homes be "moderate income" affordable; MyValleySprings.com pointed out the Housing Element shows no need for additional "moderate income" housing, but shows need for low-income and workforce housing. Meetings are underway between developer, owner, planning dept., and Calaveras Planning Coalition member groups.
********************************************************* March 2007 SUMMARY: 162 single-family homes proposed on 34.5 acres. Lots sized from 2090 sf to 21,220 sf. Located at the end of Vista del Lago West; road to continue and connect through to Berkesey. Project adjoins commercial lots on Vista del Lago to the southeast, Quail Oaks large rural residential lots to the northeast and northwest, and Quail Oaks and Rancho Calaveras lots to the west. Existing zoning of property approved in 1999 is R3-PD, which allows for a Planned Development of mixed-housing uses ("a range of housing choices"). Existing zoning could have single-family homes, or a combination of single-family home areas, multi-family duplex and/or apartments, modular homes (on permanent foundations), condos, townhomes, or senior communities. R3 zoning also allows for affordable and workforce housing options. There is very limited R3 zoning available in Calaveras County. Applicant proposes to CHANGE this zoning to R1 and build 100% single-family detached homes. This proposal also requests a PD Permit to allow density transfer to create parcels smaller than the minimum parcel size permitted by the General Plan. Parcels created include 48 high-density lots described as "more affordable than typical...R-1 lots". "More affordable" is not defined. Applicant calls these lots "cluster homes." But the basic principle of cluster development is to group new homes onto part of the development parcel, so that the remainder can be preserved as unbuilt open space. The amount of open space to remain unbuilt on this project is only 1.7 acres (5% of the site), scattered in various areas.
99% of the project site will be mass-graded; engineer estimate: 211,000 CY soil to be cut and filled. 2 oaks will be saved out of 33 large oak trees identified; some of these are very large and old Heritage Oaks (see photos below), scattered through the site grasslands. These areas are called "oak savannah".
An area of Oak Woodlands on the western boundary has been identified as "4% of the site". The trees in this area have not been inventoried. Oak Woodlands on lots 7, 8, & 9 that could be negatively impacted by grading total approximately 1 acre. Conclusion is "the project...will have less than significant adverse direct impact on the oak woodland resource". This is addressed in the State CEQA law, SB 1334, which also requires a consideration of cumulative impacts. Report states "cumulative impacts cannot be identified because there is a lack of baseline information about how much ground is covered by oak woodlands...and no information regarding how much of this same woodland is being impacted by other projects." COMMENT LETTERS: Written comments on the North Vista Plaza proposal may be mailed to Robert Sellman, Director, Calaveras County Planning Dept., 891 Mtn. Ranch Rd., San Andreas, CA 95249, or emailed to RSellman@co.calaveras.ca.us Owner: Norried Properties; Developer: Mark Pringle
Vista Plaza 2 Residential LotsApplication #98-07, approved for 38 single family homes. Site began construction Spring 2006 (oaks removed, site graded); roads and utilities completed fall-winter 2006. Lots are still vacant. Development is adjacent to and visible from Hwy. 26; access will be from Vista del Lago West.Owner: Norried Properties;
Developer: Mark Pringle
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