Mosaic
Single-story • Up to 3 beds & 3 baths Priced from high $600s
at Heritage El Dorado Hills
Clubhouse, pool, tennis & more 4975 Del Mar Drive, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 916-304-9711 | Lennar.com/Sacramento
New Homes for Active Adults 55+
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Pursuant to the Fair Housing Act, this housing is intended for occupancy by at least one person 55 years of age or older per home. Plans to build out this neighborhood as proposed are subject to change without notice. Features, amenities, floor plans, elevations, and designs vary and are subject to changes or substitution without notice. Items shown may contain options that are not standard on all models or not included in the purchase price. Availability may vary. Prices do not include closing costs and other fees to be paid by buyer (including a builder fee as described in the purchase agreement) and are subject to change without notice. This is not an offer in states where prior registration is required. Void where prohibited by law. Copyright © 2022 Lennar Corporation. Lennar and the Lennar logo are U.S. registered service marks or service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. Lennar Sales Corp., CA DRE Broker #01252753 (Responsible Broker: Joanna Duke). BMR Construction, Inc., CA CSLB #830955. CalAtlantic Group, Inc., CA CSLB #1037780. Lennar Homes of California, Inc., CA CSLB #728102. Date 09/22
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VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 14 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024
County puts hold on new tobacco retail Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
Courtesy rendering
A rendering created by Dewberry Engineering shows what the proposed Clay Street Bridge replacement and road realignment would look like when completed. The project would result in a repositioning of the Druid Monument and the splitting of the Ivy House Lot in order to accommodate the new roadway.
Clay Street Bridge project revised and ready for review Odin Rasco Staff writer
Part of Placerville’s Main Street might look very different in the future, with the environmental impact report for the longcontested Clay Street Bridge replacement project reentering the public comment and review phase after a longer-than-expected revision process. With Clay Street Bridge slated for replacement, the Ivy House parking lot may be bisected by a realigned roadway, creating a four-way intersection at Cedar Ravine Road as part of the possible plan
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
■ See BRIDGE, page A6
The new Clay Street Bridge would be a two-lane bridge with sidewalks on both sides and providing space for cyclists. The current bridge is an outdated design no longer used in architecture due to its potential for trapping rainfall, leading to structural weakness over time.
El Dorado County is putting a hold on accepting tobacco retailer business applications in its unincorporated areas, which became effective Jan. 30 after the Board of Supervisors approved an interim moratorium. A rapid rise in tobacco businesses in the county has leaders concerned; 52 new licenses have been issued since 2020, which equates to a 36% increase of tobacco retail businesses in El Dorado County. The increase in tobacco businesses was described as “disturbing” to county supervisors, who worry about a rise in youth using tobacco products, including vape products. Board Chair Wendy Thomas noted local school superintendents are noticing a “large increase of youth using tobacco.” “Our kids are our most sacred responsibility, and I appreciate that we are very thoughtfully looking into what makes sense for our county to protect our kids, which are our most vulnerable population,” Thomas said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6.6% of middle school students nationwide have been reported to use some type of tobacco product in 2023. That number is a jump from 4.5% in 2022. Additionally, it has been reported that 12.6% of high school students use tobacco products. A total of 143 tobacco retailers currently operate in El Dorado County. The county’s Tobacco Use Prevention Program Director Constance Mote said her staff will return to the board March 12 with a presentation on tobacco licensing and zoning and will expect supervisors to direct staff to “meet needs of the community.” “This urgency ordinance will provide protection for more proliferation of tobacco retailers in the interim while a longer term licensing and zoning solution is developed,” Mote said. It is unclear how long the moratorium will last, but supervisors were unanimous in voting for the temporary block in new tobacco business. “It has been a long time coming and I’m glad we have arrived at this point,” said District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl. “It is not over yet, but I think we are making great strides in that progress.” Efforts to ban tobacco products and shops, or to implement restrictions on their operations, can be seen happening across California. Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020 signed into law a ban on all flavored tobacco products, which went into effect in 2022. In Contra Costa County the Brentwood City Council voted to continue a ban on new tobacco ■ See TOBACCO RETAIL, page A3
South Lake Tahoe maxes VHR violation fines Katelyn Welsh Tahoe Daily Tribune
The South Lake Tahoe City Council last week passed a motion increasing fines for vacation home rental code violations to the highest fines allowed under state law. Fines for VHR violations are now $1,500 for the first occurrence, $3,000 for the second occurrence within the year and $5,000 for subsequent occurrences within
the same year. Prior fees ranged from $250 to $1,000. The subject came up at the Nov. 21 meeting when the council received a presentation on VHR enforcement. Council directed staff to provide a resolution at a later meeting to increase VHR fines to the maximum amount allowed under Senate Bill 60, which was signed in 2021. The law authorizes local jurisdictions to establish fines for an ordinance
relating to short-term rentals that are an infraction and pose a threat to health or safety. One member of the public felt this tactic is simply grabbing low hanging fruit and isn’t enforcement. Another said enforcement would make more sense than fines, because the rich can afford these fees. All councilmembers except Tamara Wallace voted for the increases. A VHR is defined as an entire property rented for fewer than
30 consecutive calendar days. A VHR permit is required for all properties meeting the definition of a VHR. The citizen-initiated Measure T phased VHRs out of South Lake Tahoe’s residential areas over three years beginning in 2019. Common VHR violations reported to code enforcement officers include excessive noise, trash not being kept indoors or in bear boxes, unpermitted parked vehicles and hot tub use after 10 p.m. Lic # 559305
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