Folsom Boulevard Zoning Issue Advancing to City Council
An effort by the Rancho Cordova Planning Department to return sections of Folsom Boulevard to commercial zoning has been forwarded to City Council by the Planning Commission Thursday night.
City Council is tentatively scheduled to hear the Folsom Boulevard Relief Plan proposal on Dec. 7, and if approved, the relief plan will go into effect on Jan. 20. The plan aims to correct zoning issues along the boulevard that were created with the Folsom Boulevard Specific Plan in 2006, when certain areas of the boulevard were changed from commercial zoning to residential. Property owners were unable to sell their property or obtain loans on it due to the zoning change.
The new zoning will be called “Urban Reserve Districts,” and most commercial uses will be allowed in those zones. Automotive uses will continue to be considered a nonconforming use, however, and businesses such as massage parlors and industrial operations will be limited in use along the Folsom Corridor. Additionally, the commercial zoning will only apply to current, active properties; properties left vacant for three years will return to residential zoning, and any new construction along the corridor must comply with the Specific Plan’s residential zoning requirements.
Commissioners were divided on whether the relief plan would set back the city’s efforts to redevelop the stagnating boulevard. Planning Commissioner Matthew Cummings expressed concerns that the relief plan appeases current property owners, but does not offer a plan to transition the boulevard to the vision of the Folsom Boulevard Specific Plan.
“Very little’s going to change because we’re trying to keep the status quo,” Cummings said. ”I just don’t understand where this puts us in the long term.”
Planning Commissioner Ross Johnson, however, said the relief plan’s aim is not to further the Specific Plan’s progress. “The whole intent on Folsom Boulevard is to protect the existing owners,” he said. “The intent of this wasn’t code enforcement.”
Planning Commissioners also raised doubts about the viability of the Specific Plan’s goal of integrating residential areas to Folsom Boulevard. Commissioner Troy Konarski said “it would be a reach” to expect interest in living on the Boulevard.
Vice Chair Ray Savorn, however, said the concerns being raised won’t need to be addressed until economic conditions change. ”I hope in my lifetime that I can see Folsom Boulevard change,” he said. ”I don’t think there’s much that we can do to expedite the changes on Folsom Boulevard that we’d like to see.”
Planning Director Paul Junker said he thinks the relief plan will actually speed up the transition process by keeping existing businesses from relocating and leaving the Boulevard empty. “We want to see the transition happen very quickly,” he said. ”One thing that will make it slow is lots of buildings shuttered.”
Veterinarian and property owner Melissa Gates said she was grateful that the city has taken such efforts to ease the burden of property owners along Folsom Boulevard. “We do provide jobs, we do provide income, without any incentive from the city,” Gates said. ”There are those of us who take pride in our businesses. I think that it’s a good plan; It shows a huge amount of work.”
Similar Posts:
- None Found
Short URL: http://www.ranchocordovapost.com/?p=6768
Posted by 
This decision seems like a healthy compromise, though I’m neither a planning commissioner or a Folsom Blvd. business owner.
It seems like Paul Junker is really happy with the way the relief plan turned out, and the business owners all came up and shook his hand after the meeting. I’m anxious to see what the Council thinks!
Great article Annie, really well done.
What do the Folsom Blvd. business owners think? I know they have been vocal in meetings and behind closed doors, but haven’t said much publicly about this compromise plan.