ElDorado Hills, once on track to be one of America’s best towns, still has anopportunity to lead the movement toward more thoughtful development. But, if wecan’t influence a different mindset from the one currently in place, plans fordevelopment will turn this town into another uninspired Californian suburb: avisionless sprawl without clear delineation or people-friendly connectionsbetween spaces. 

Ourcommunity must demand thoughtful growth from all developers. Current plans tolocate a Costco—or any generic enterprise—on the land parcel flanking SilvaValley Parkway, known as EDH 52, has no consideration for its residents orvision for this community. El Dorado Hills must preserve, not destroy, thebeauty that initially drew us all here. It is imperative to create a moreinspired, prolific vision for this whole town.

Statusquo ideas and ideals threaten to destroy the possibilities—lost forever.

Likeso many families, we moved to El Dorado Hills years ago with the impressionthat a consistent direction and standard for development were upheld. Qualityand open spaces were valued. Architecture evoked character and charm. Beautyand respect for the environment were evident. With so much potential forgreatness, it saddens me to see what is about to happen to this town, and ourneighborhood right next to EDH 52.

There’sa better way, regardless of what has already been done or been planned. ElDorado Hills has a great opportunity to develop responsibly—respectful of theenvironment and the people who now live here. Developers have anopportunity to create a new vision—set a new standard for community development—onethat complements the setting. We all have an obligation to prevent neighborhooddecline and further congestion on Silva Valley—the roadway connecting fourschools with our neighborhoods.

Roadtraffic needs slowed onto the main arteries through residential zones. Speedincreases when we cater to mass-market centers intended for vehicles. Largeintersection crosswalks have become treacherous, particularly for children. Thiscommunity craves interconnecting bike paths and walking trails to provide safe accessto schools, stores and restaurants, designated away from traffic, and with secure passageunder or over wide roadways.

I’mall for creative, quality growth and development, but the people at the helmseem to be driving solutions toward careless mediocrity. We can’t allow currentzoning and planning, which lack innovation and vision, to determine our futureand devalue our neighborhoods. This will not only drive away the quality, butthe people who have called this place home.

Weneed to gather more creative, innovative minds to come up with alternative usesfor, not just this property, but all of El Dorado Hills. We want welcomingplaces that protect the setting and enhance this community. We can do all thiswhile boosting the local economy.

Thecurrently disjointed zoning lacks vision. Perhaps in the works fordecades, outdated county and developer decisions, particularly for the EDH52 site, have not evolved away from unimaginative solutions. Aside from notconsidering existing residents, decision makers don’t see the future of developmentand design—movement away from stale, outdated, windowless box stores, stripmalls, and office complexes, no one wants in their backyard.

Sterile,lifeless spaces lacking any sense of humanity will be obsolete. People want toenjoy life in connected spaces formed where lines are blurred between residentialand commercial, leisure and business, indoor and outdoor. Society is drawn torelaxed, indoor environments with windows directly connecting them to open airspaces and natural outdoor elements.

Someare missing the point. Some think this is purely about aesthetics, individualproperty values, or our hillside that the proposed development plans to level. Thetriggering issue is much bigger. Many are too busy pushing their agendas,justifying their positions, and being motivated by bottom-lines over doingwhat’s right.

Don’tmiss the point—or the opportunity. Be part of the vision.Everyfootprint of development creates a legacy. It would be a tragedy to squander anopportunity, and a moral obligation, to contribute something more imaginativeand beneficial for this community.