What is Parker's Plan? The Village of Marble Valley & Lime Rock Valley
- Rural Matters Alliance
- Aug 1, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 7
Located South of Hwy 50 from Bass Lake Rd to Cameron Park Rd.
Parker Development Company (Parker) and G3 Enterprises Inc. (G3), both developers, want to build another sprawling suburbia like Serrano or Folsom Ranch in a rural buffer zone between El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park.
The Village of Marble Valley Special Plan & Lime Rock Valley Specific Plan (MV/LRV) are two separate, expired development plans, submitted AGAIN in 2024 for review as a co-project "set" of plans (which is unprecedented and ). The plans ask El Dorado County to amend its General Plan and rezone the rural area to allow them to build over 4,000 houses (originally approved for only 454 houses). Because the land is zoned rural in the General Plan, the county has not built the critical infrastructure necessary to support that many people or houses. Therefore, these plans put the huge financial burden to pay for infrastructure (roads, water, sewage, emergency services, parks, schools, etc.) on the public. - But your county leadership can vote NO to reject these plans!
A SHORT HISTORY OF THESE PLANS
The first time these plans got approval was in 2008, for 398 houses on the 2,342 Marble Valley acres and for 56 houses on the 740 Lime Rock Valley acres.
In 2013, Parker +G3 requested a General Plan change for rezoning to allow a total of 4,036 houses. Local residents spoke out and stopped Parker! Because of the outcry of public opposition to the traffic gridlock and lack of water, Parker +G3 had to put the plans on hold.
Fast forward to 2024: Parker +G3 hope enough people have moved on and forgotten the fight. With inadequate and outdated reports, Parker +G3 resubmitted the VMV and LRV plans once again. Parker has an entire team meeting with the five Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commissioners and the local Community Service Districts (CSDs) about the "benefits" of the plan. The County's own financial analysts warns against the Traffic and Financial Impact of Parker +G3's plans. (See the Grand Jury Report of 4/2024 that found unspent impact fees and favorable financial arrangements with Parker that resulted in a lawsuit and settlement for tax payers.) It is clear to see the financial benefits for Parker - but at what cost to the local residents?
These plans downplay the effects of the off-site impacts such as horrible traffic at Hwy 50 at Bass Lake Rd, at Hwy 50 at Cameron Park Rd, water supply shortages, increased fire hazard risk, potential reduction in emergency services, capacity to provide services at local hospitals, health centers and schools, the constant noise pollution, the light pollution from their new stadium, and adverse environmental impacts on wildlife habitats, migratory corridors, the oak forests, and natural resources in the area.
These plans have NOT been approved!
These are 2 MASSIVE new subdivisions.
Parker +G3 resubmitted the 2 EXPIRED Specific Plans for review.
Original project from 2008 expired. In 2013, public outcry against the plan put it “on hold.” Then, in 2024, Parker +G3 re-submitted plans using old data from 2008.
398 houses were approved in the original VMV plan, now Parker is asking approval for 3,236 houses.
56 houses were approved in the original LRV plan, now G3 is asking approval for 800 houses.
Parker +G3 are proposing 9 TIMES the number of houses originally approved!!
REZONE
The plans violate current zoning - to be approved, they are asking the County to give special "Entitlements" to rezone and change the County’s General Plan
These are 2 of the largest Entitlement requests in the county
Parker +G3 are asking the County to rezone the Designated Land Use in the entire area from rural agriculture and grazing (10-40 acre parcels), to be replaced by suburbs
Parker +G3 want to amend the General Plan that requires 10-acre lots and change it to instead allow thousands of high-density parcels right next to older homes with 10-acres lots.
It is zoned pasture lands for grazing, which requires 10-acre lots and buffer zones for no adjacency: No 10-acre lots next to high-density or zero-lot-line parcels.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS
Learn more about the Negative Impacts of Parker +G3's plans.
PLANS UP FOR VOTE
Your County representatives must evaluate the project plans:
Because the land is zoned rural in the General Plan, the County has not built the critical infrastructure necessary to support the number of people or houses in Parker +G3's plans. Therefore, these plans put the huge financial burden to pay for infrastructure (roads, water, sewage, emergency services, parks, schools, etc.) on the public.
The County's own financial analysts warns against moving forward with these plans as they are proposed: ...we may not be able to finance the road improvements necessary to mitigate the traffic impacts.
And the a recent Grand Jury report shows that Parker makes favorable financial arrangements locally and only pays about 53% of the impact fees other developers pay
Does that track record raise any concerns in dealing with Parker?
The Board of Supervisors has the opportunity to:
1) Reject the plans.
This is an important distinction as the County is NOT required to approve the plans - Supervisors hold their office to limit sprawl and retain the rural character of the County.
2) Require that the project plans be modified to reduce impacts.
3) Approve an alternate plan that is consistent with the county General Plan.
The VMV & LRV plans were defeated in 2013. We will stop Parker +G3 again in 2025.
EL DORADO HILLS CSD & PARKER INVESTIGATED BY GRAND JURY
Financial practices and developer influence brought to light.
The El Dorado County Grand Jury's April 2024 report found that the El Dorado Hills Community Services District (EDHCSD) has a close relationship with Parker Development Company, the largest developer in El Dorado Hills. The report also found that the CSD has made favorable financial deals with Parker.
Page 28: Parker (Serrano) only pays approximately 53% of the impact fees that other developers pay (see below). We did not uncover a justification for this favorable rate. It follows a troubling pattern of arrangements that seem to benefit Parker over the public for many years. It is concerning enough that the Grand Jury would encourage further investigation soon into these matters.
Who benefits from changing the County's General Plan?
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We need your voice to save our rural county!
Tell the County you want a NO vote for Parker +G3.
Please contact EL Dorado County officials regarding the proposed CHANGE of the General Plan for Parker +G3’s Marble Valley & Lime Rock Valley developments that would allow 4000+ houses to be built on acreage currently zoned rural and approved for only 454 houses.
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