Make your
Classic celebration
See page a3 to read financial Financial FocuS
Make your financial future a priority future a priority.
Placerville resident celebrates 100th birthday in style.
Stacey M Caso-Turk, AAMS®, CRPS® Financial Advisor
550 Main Street Ste D Placerville, CA 95667 530-626-8651 ® ®
Stacey M Caso-Turk, AAMS , CRPS Financial Advisor 550 Main Street Ste D Placerville, CA 95667 530-626-8651
News, etc., B2
e d wa rd j o n e s .co m MKT-5894K-A
MKT-5894K-A
171
C ali forn ia’s Olde st Ne w spaper
st
– E s t. 18 51
Volume 171 • Issue 40 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, April 4, 2022
Tahoe Daily Tribune file photo by Bill Rozak
Work to remove dead trees in areas of the Eldorado National Forest burned by the Caldor Fire continues. Forest visitors are advised to use caution.
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
Larry Rolla, founding member of the Diamond Springs/El Dorado Community Coalition, leads a presentation at the El Dorado Community Hall March 30 in front of a packed house.
Residents unite as concerns of proposed growth mount Eric Jaramishian Staff writer The Diamond Springs/El Dorado Community Coalition held its first meeting March 30, spearheaded by residents concerned about multiple development projects planned for the area. Community members of neighboring Diamond Springs and El Dorado brought the coalition to life in November 2021 to bring awareness to local residents and business owners of changes slated for the community. One of the coalition’s founding members, Alicia Selby, said she
got involved after hearing about the proposed housing project Dorado Oaks, which is meant to supply Diamond Springs with 382 housing units on Faith Lane. The Mountain Democrat previously reported that the project has been in the works since 2007. “A group of us formed this coalition to bring awareness to the need for community involvement with land use decisions and historical preservation in our area,” Selby said. “We are not experts in planning or development but we are concerned about what we see coming and the impacts.” Dozens poured into the
El Dorado Community Hall Wednesday evening, filling the entire building with folks looking to learn about approved or pending projects. Dorado Oaks was one focus of discussion in a coalition-led presentation. The coalition told the crowd the project is currently going through traffic mitigation plans, which include possible development of a roundabout at either China Garden Road and Highway 49 or between Silver Drive and Faith Lane at 49. New traffic signals where Highway 49 intersects at Silver Drive and Faith Lane are also n
Caldor Fire burn areas reopened USDA Forest Service Most of the areas in the Eldorado National Forest that were closed due to the Caldor Fire reopened for public access Friday. Visitors are reminded to use extra caution when recreating in this part of the forest due the hazards in recently burned landscapes. The following roads, trails and developed recreation sites directly impacted by the fire will remain closed for ongoing hazard mitigation under Forest Order 03-22-06: • Elkins Flat OHV Trail System • 11N46 (Alder Creek Road) • 10N40 (Plum Creek Road) • 42 Milestone Day Use Area • Caples Creek Trailhead • Caples Equestrian Trailhead • Capps Crossing Campground • China Flat Campground and Day Use Area • Eagle Rock Day Use Area • Elkins Flat OHV Staging Area • Gray Rock Campground • Lyons Creek Trailhead • Martin Meadows Campground • Pyramid Creek Trailhead • Silver Fork Campground
See Growing pains, page A8
n
See burn area, page A8
Bridlewood roundabout at Bass Lake considered Sel Richard Staff writer El Dorado Hills’ first roundabout has been proposed. As a part of the Bass Lake Regional Park buildout, PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
the El Dorado Hills Community Services District has identified a roundabout at the intersection of Bass Lake Road and Bridlewood Drive as a possible access point. El Dorado County Planning Commission Chair Jon Vegna was on hand at this month’s El Dorado Hills Community Council meeting to report that the roundabout is specified in the future park’s environmental document. Vegna noted the project will rely heavily on grant funding. “We have other commitments from Parker Development and the CSD for the construction of that roundabout,” he added. An alternate access point proposed at Silver Springs is specified as a
PLUMBING L SPECIA vice Call
Repair or Ser
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
four-way stop, controlled intersection. The main parking lot would be accessed off of Serrano Parkway. “It’s really not a Bridlewood issue … to be honest, it’s a community issue for anybody who drives on Bass Lake Road,” opined 20-year resident John Davey. “A roundabout was nobody’s ideal solution but right now it looks like the only solution. If we want connectivity to the other side of the park, if we want safety improvements, hopefully people are eager to embrace that and understand that there are some costs.” But longtime Bridlewood resident Debra Simon is not happy about the prospect of a roundabout and said she
echoes the sentiments of many area neighbors. “It just doesn’t seem to make sense,” she declared, explaining that the intersection occurs amidst road curves in both directions. In addition, she expressed alarm over high speeds on Bass Lake Road as well as the volume of trucking traffic due to nearby construction. “We’re the oldest community and we’re kind of getting dumped on here,” said Simon. “I don’t know how you expect people coming from two ways, on a curve, at 50 miles an hour with trucks, with people trying to get out of Bridlewood and potentially 500 people trying to park in the park. We’ve already got cars backed up trying to get into our gate.
Spring A/C Tune-Up Select Your 5 Star Service
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
50 $9900 $12900 $18900 OFF Plus
$
00 *
any other *When work is performed. Not good with 4/30/22 discount. Not valid on prior services. Expires
FREE 30-Point Safety and Efficiency Test
at this location … is the right option and will improve the safety rather than just cause different safety concerns than what currently is at issue,” she explained. “We want the data,” urged Bridlewood HOA President Ken Clement. “I’ve been there 26 years and I’ve seen all of us paying our traffic impact fees when we came in and now we’re being asked for a new fee to be put on us as Bridlewood neighbors … This roundabout is what’s going to go in front of our neighborhood for the convenience of everybody else for issues that we did not cause.” The park, along with its roundabout option, is currently in pre-application stages with El Dorado County Planning.
“I see it as nothing but a disaster,” she continued. “Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.” Vegna conceded that there should have been a leftturn pocket designed into the intersection and mentioned the possibility of roadway widening and straightening to address safety issues. He advocated a meeting between residents and county transportation officials. Bridlewood resident DeeAnne Gillick said she would like to see safety generally improved along Bass Lake Road, in particular regarding several driveways along the lake edge. “We’d like the analysis to demonstrate whether or not a roundabout
Lic. 559305
•
Est. 1979
HEATING • AIR • PLUMBING H
O
M
E
S
E
R
V
I
C
E
S
©Gilmore Inc. 2022
530-303-2727 702
www.gilmoreair.com