John Davey, Author at Bass Lake Action Committee

John Davey

Bass Lake Road Community Safety Poll

Posted on October 24, 2024October 24, 2024 by John Davey

Bass Lake Action Committee Traffic and Safety Committee seeks community feedback

The Bass Lake Action Committee’s Traffic and Safety Committee is conducting a community poll regarding potential safety projects along Bass Lake Road.

For many years BLAC has raised concerns regarding the lack of improvements to Bass Lake Road – at many places a substandard rural road built over elements of an early 20th Century farm road, which serves several suburban communities approved and entitled by El Dorado County.

BLAC published a three part series on the history and conditions of Bass Lake Road beginning in 2019:

BASS LAKE ROAD: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Part One: 1863 TO 2019

Bass Lake Road – Present and Future

Bass Lake Road: Past, Present, Future – Conclusion, And Resident Opinion

In recent years, Bass Lake Road has seen some significant improvements:

The infamous “curve” between Madera Way and Magnolia Hills Drive was removed and replaced with a new intersection with the southern segment of Silver Springs Parkway. This also added a three-way stop sign controlled intersection, a short bike lane connection to Silver Springs Pkwy, and a right turn pocket at Madera Way on northbound Bass Lake Road (more on this turn pocket later).
A realignment of Bass Lake Road at the realigned Country Club Drive to the US50 interchange.
A new signalized eastbound US50 on/off ramp at Bass Lake Road.

However, we lack pedestrian facilities from recent development projects, and elements such as bike lanes and sidewalks along Bass Lake Road to serve nearly one thousand homes immediately on the east side of the lake, including any pedestrian or bike connectivity to the new Sienna Ridge Shopping Center. Bass Lake Road also lacks turn pockets into many residential developments, or shoulders to provide refuge space for disabled vehicles, to avoid collisions, or to allow emergency responders to pass stopped traffic.

New Development

Three new large development projects are proposed in the Bass Lake area, and are pursuing entitlements and approvals: The 3,200 residential unit Village of Marble Valley Specific Plan, the 800 residential unit Lime Rock Village Specific Plan, and the two hotel Town and Country Village development at Bass Lake Road and Country Club Drive. Of these projects, BLAC members have been alarmed at the lack of detail for traffic mitigation from the Marble Valley and Lime Rock Valley residential projects, which have suggested undefined “interim” US50 interchange improvements, along with a traffic signal at Hollow Oak Drive and Bass Lake Road.

The proposed Town and Country Village El Dorado project has recently published a revised Local Transportation Analysis which includes a Super Cumulative analysis of all major projects in the area. This analysis considers mitigation measures such as an improved US50-Bass Lake Road Interchange with a second northbound lane on Bass Lake Road under the US50 overpass, a four lane segment of Bass Lake Road, additional turn lanes at Bass Lake Road and Country Club Drive, a roundabout at the Bass Lake Road and Hollow Oak Drive intersection, and a traffic signal on Bass Lake Road at Hawk View. With 4,000 new homes proposed in the area, and the nearest grocery store and fuel station being the Sienna Ridge Shopping Center, the US50 interchange and Bass Lake Road stand to be significantly impacted. While the Super Cumulative analysis suggests several potential mitigation measures, the precise improvements required, their timing, and how they will be paid for, remain undecided.

The following points of transportation safety concerns have consistently been raised over many years by BLAC members and area residents. We’re asking community members to assign a priority ranking to each item, on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest priority. You can mark multiple items with the same ranking number.

Full Bass Lake Road-US50 interchange improvement.

Currently there are on-ramp metering lights, and a traffic signal for the eastbound US50 on and off ramps. The 2016 update to the Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan’s public facilities financing plan condition projects in the Specific Plan to fund only the design of future interchange improvements – but only when development in the Plan Area hits a predefined trigger of housing units. Funding of interchange improvements have not been identified.

Change Westbound US50 Bass Lake Rd Off Ramp to Full STOP – remove YIELD

Currently the westbound Bass Lake Road offramp has a Yield control for northbound traffic onto Bass Lake Road. The lane striping is also confusing and is complicated by the merge lane from the old abandoned Country Club Drive connection to Bass Lake Road.

Area residents observe westbound traffic exiting US50 to northbound Bass Lake Road ignoring the Yield control and dive directly across all travel lanes of northbound Bass Lake Road. Residents have suggested that a full STOP sign control for northbound traffic from the offramp would improve safety and circulation.

Four Lane Bass Lake Rd – US50 to Serrano Pkwy

Expand Bass Lake Road for US50 to Serrano Pkwy to a full four lanes.

Four Lane Bass Lake Rd – US50 to Silver Springs Pkwy

Expand Bass Lake Road from US50 to the Silver Springs Pkwy intersection to a full four lanes. The County currently owns the Right of Way to expand Bass Lake Road from Serrano Pkwy to Silver Springs to four lanes.

This project was removed from the County’s 20-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) in 2015/16.

Four Lane Bass Lake Rd – US50 to Green Valley Rd

Expand Bass Lake Road from US50 to Green Valley Rd to a full four lanes. The right of way to accomplish this north alignment of Silver Springs Pkwy would be enormous. Without a development project to fund elements of four travel lanes north of Silver Springs Parkway this improvement is unlikely to be achieved.

Bass Lake Rd at Hollow Oak Dr Traffic Signal

A project was added to the County’s 20-year CIP this year to add a right turn pocket from northbound Bass Lake Road onto Hollow Oak Drive. The DRAFT EIR for the 3,200 unit Marble Valley Specific Plan indicates a mitigation of a signalized intersection on Bass Lake Road at Hollow Oak Drive. However, even if approved, it could be many years before it might be constructed.

Bass Lake Rd – Bridlewood Dr Stop Sign

Bridlewood Canyon residents, and other area residents have long sought either a turn lane on Bass Lake Road at Bridlewood Drive, or a stop sign controlled intersection. County Staff have indicated that this is an unworkable solution, and likely would not meet traffic warrants. However, when the BLAC Traffic and Safety Committee pulled CHP collision data for 2009 through 2019, we found that there were more collisions, and more rear-end collisions at the Bridlewood Drive intersection than there were at Green Valley Road at Bass Lake Road. Several residents have suggested that a stop sign at the intersection would increase safety until a permanent improvement can be made.

Bass Lake Rd – Bridlewood Dr Roundabout

In 2019 the BLAC Traffic and Safety Committee, seeking any sort of solution for the accidents and traffic delays at the Bass Lake Road and Bridlewood Drive intersection, asked about a turn lane, a stop sign, or a roundabout to improve the intersection. Roundabouts can qualify for grant funding. The County Department of Transportation suggested a $2-plus million roundabout for the intersection in early 2020 with a $200,000 contribution from the Serrano Village J7 project. The El Dorado County Transportation Commission obtained a $744,000 contribution for the project, which is now on the County 20-year CIP, but costs have increased to over $4 million, and the timeline for construction is in the years of 2034-2044.

Sienna Ridge Shopping Center Fuel Station Driveway Right Turn OUT only

Since the Sienna Ridge Shopping Center opened, residents have observed drivers driving across the dirt median at the center’s main entrance on Bass Lake Road, despite the NO Left turn signs. But the major concern expressed by residents is the left turn OUT of the southern driveway onto Bass Lake Road from the Safeway Fuel Station. Poor sightlines, on a hill, with a curve and roadside vegetation that grows to over 3-4 feet high make the driveway unsafe.

With 4,000 new residential units proposed in the Marble Valley and Lime Rock Valley Specific Plans, and only one grocery store to serve the community on Bass Lake Road, the safety conditions at this driveway will only get worse.

Bass Lake Rd Residential Entrances – Turn Pockets

The Serrano J6 and J7 Villages were completed without turn pockets or deceleration lanes at their entrances on Bass Lake Road (Whistling Way, and Barbary Way), and without left turn pockets on Bass Lake Road, the same as the late 1980s situation at Bridlewood Drive. Bridlewood Drive, and Magnolia Hills Drive also lack right turn pockets on northbound Bass Lake Road.

Northbound Bass Lake Rd Madera Way right turn lane SIGNS and Road Paint

In June of 2021 the Silver Springs Parkway extension and connection to Bass Lake Road added a dedicated northbound right turn pocket at Madera Way. It also added a northbound turn lane to continue onto northbound Bass Lake Road at the Silver Springs Parkway intersection. However, the right turn pocket onto Madera Way is not a restricted turn movement designated by signage, or by lane stripping (paint on the roadway). County DOT has indicated that the turn pocket onto Madera Way is NOT a through lane to continue to travel into the right turn lane for the turn movement onto Bass Lake Road at the Silver Springs Parkway intersection.

The result is motorists using the Madera Way turn pocket to travel through into the Bass Lake Road right turn lane. This has caused confusion for motorists attempting to turn into, and out of Madera Way, as well for motorists attempting to enter the right turn pocket just past Madera Way. A simple correction would be signage and paint on the roadway indicating that the Madera Way turn pocket is not a through lane, and is for right turn movements onto Madera Way only.

Bass Lake Rd Multi Use Pedestrian & Bike Path from Silver Springs Pkwy to Sienna Ridge Rd

The proposed four lane alignment of Bass Lake Road from Serrano Parkway to Silver Springs Parkway dating to the 1990s was intended to provide frontage improvements

that included pedestrian walkways and bike lanes. In 2015 this four lane Bass Lake Road segment was removed from the County’s 20-year CIP based on updated modeling that indicated that the four lane alignment was no longer required.

However, with the opening of the Sienna Ridge Shopping Center residents and area children are left with no safe pedestrian facilities or bike lanes to travel to the shopping center, resulting in pedestrians walking on the outside of the Bass Lake guard rail across the Bass Lake overflow.

Additionally, with the proposed Bass Lake Regional Park, there are no pedestrian facilities for residents to safely walk to the park from nearly 1,000 residential properties on the east side of Bass Lake.

In 2020 the El Dorado County Transportation Commission published their updated Active Transportation Plan for pedestrian and bike facilities.

The plan features a Class A mixed use pedestrian and bike path on the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Bass Lake property along the east and south sides of Bass Lake, off of the roadway. No specific funding has yet been identified for this project.

The intent of this community poll is to determine the preferences of area residents for potential safety improvements. Perhaps one or more of these projects might become possible, with funding, and the input of residents.

To complete the online poll, visit https://basslakeaction.net/bass-lake-road-safety-projects-poll/

Poll results will be published in a future issue of the Bass Lake Bulletin.

TAKE THE POLL

MC DONALD’S, ARCO AM/PM & QUICK QUACK CAR WASH PROPOSED ON GREEN VALLEY RD AT WINTERHAVEN DRIVE

Posted on July 17, 2024July 17, 2024 by John Davey

The Cameron Park Design Review Committee gets its first look at a proposed Mc Donald’s restaurant, along with an ARCO AM/PM gas station & convenience store, and a Quick Quack Car Wash, as a new phase of the Green Valley Station shopping center, near the Grocery Outlet store on the south side of Green Valley Road between Cambridge Drive and Cameron Park Drive.

The Cameron Park DRC will take an initial look at the Pre Applications for the proposed development at their scheduled July 22, 2024 meeting. Pre application PA24-0001 for all three developments was submitted January 31, 2024.

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A second Pre application PA24-0007 for the proposed Mc Donald’s was submitted June 3, 2024.

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Both the Mc Donald’s and the ARCO AM/PM projects are indicated to operate 24 hours a day.

Project Parking

The Mc Donald’s project specifies that it will provide 22 parking stalls, with 4 for EV charging – with one for an EV Van, and 2 Accessible stalls. El Dorado County Zoning Ordinance indicates that based on floor space of the Quick Serve facility, that the parking requirements should be 17 total stalls – 4 EV, and 2 Accessible.

The ARCO AM/PM will provide 26 parking stalls (12 fueling, 4 EV, and 10 standard stalls). El Dorado County Zoning Ordinance indicates that based on floor space the ARCO AM/PM project is required to provide 20 parking stalls.

The Quick Quack Car Wash will provide 54 parking stalls – 30 wash stacking lane spots, 3 standard parking stalls, and 21 vacuum parking stalls.

Cameron Park Design Review Meeting July 22, 2024 6:30PM

The Cameron Park DRC meeting is scheduled for July 22 at 6:30PM in person at the Shingle Springs Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce, 4095 Cameron Park Drive Cameron Park, CA 95682 OR Live Streamed via zoom https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/96425149671

El Dorado Transit Set To Open Bass Lake Rd Park & Ride Lot With Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on July 8th

Posted on June 21, 2024June 21, 2024 by John Davey

100 Space Park & Ride Lot Required As Condition of Approval of the 90 home Bass Lake North project.

El Dorado Transit has scheduled a ribbon cutting ceremony for July 8th at 10am to celebrate the opening of the 100 parking space Bass Lake Road Park & Ride, located at the south west corner of Bass Lake Road-Country Club Dr intersection, on Old Bass Lake Road.

The park & ride lot will officially open for service on Monday July 15th. All commuter stops at Cambridge Park & Ride will move to Bass Lake Road Park & Ride.

The park & ride lot was an element of the 1996/2016 Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan. The entitlements granted to the 2017 approved 90 home Bass Lake North residential project in the Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan required as a condition of approval the construction of the first 100 parking spaces of what was intended to eventually be a 200 parking space facility. The Bass Lake North project is now known as the Toll Brothers’ Hidden Ridge development.

The park & ride lot is expected to be used for carpool and vanpool riders, as well as for El Dorado Transit’s Sacramento Commuter Service. It is expected to lessen the demand at the Town Center Park & Ride lot in El Dorado Hills, which is over-impacted.

The park & ride lot is also available for parking to access the future trail system in the Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan area, with connectivity to trails in the Serrano area, as well as bike trails east into Cameron Park.

It is expected that the El Dorado County Household Hazardous Waste collection events that have been held at El Dorado Hills Fire Station 86 on Bass Lake Road will now be conducted at the Bass Lake Road Park and Ride facility.

For more information, contact El Dorado Transit at 530 642-5383, or online at eldoradotransit.co m

El Dorado Transit Press Release

2022 EDH Fire Dept Santa Run

Posted on December 4, 2022December 6, 2022 by John Davey

Santa Arrives in the Bass Lake Area at 6PM on Thursday December 8th!

Bass Lake Area Neighbors, are you ready for Santa’s HOLIDAY HEROES visit this Thursday December 8^th? Santa and his El Dorado Hills Fire Department Elves will be collecting unwrapped toys, non-perishable food and letters to Santa at each of the planned Santa Stops. Toys collected will be donated to the Shriners’ Hospital for Children of Northern California, and non-perishable food donations will go to the Foodbank of El Dorado County. Last year Santa and his EDH Fire Dept Elves collected 7,800 toys and 4,836 pounds of food!

In the Bass Lake Area, Santa will be stopping at Oak Knoll Park at approximately 6PM. Following this, Santa and his elves will head over to stop at the Bridlewood Canyon Clubhouse and Visitor Center at 6:35PM. To finish up the night, Santa’s last Bass Lake Area Stop will be at Laurel Oaks Park at 7:10PM.

Remember, even though we’re all excited to see Santa arrive along with all of the EDH Fire Department engines, trucks, and sirens, let’s make sure that the kidos stay safe and out of the street until all fire department equipment has stopped.

Want to grab a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus? Changes for 2022

We’ve heard from the EDH Fire Dept Elves that Santa has been eating healthy and has had a BIG growth spurt this year! Santa is coming in at about 6 feet 7 inches this year!!! – So when Santa and Mrs. Claus take pictures with the Kids this year, at the Oak Knoll Park Santa Stop, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be seated in front of the Oak Knoll Park parking lot driveway – this will help keep Santa and Mrs. Claus centered in photos with the Kids!!! Santa’s Elves have asked the everyone wanting to take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus to line up in the Oak Knoll Park parking lot – don’t worry, everyone will get their pictures with Santa!

Santa’s Elves and maybe even The Grinch will be handing out Candy Canes as well!

We’ll have chairs ready for Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus a small table to drop off toy and food donations, as well as any Letters for Santa that need to be delivered.

**Line up in the Parking Lot here for photos with Santa!!!**

Santa’s Flight Path to Oak Knoll Park

Santa’s expected flight path to Oak Koll Park is expected to bring the Fire Engines and trucks from Bass Lake Road, onto Magnolia Hills Drive, then onto Alyssum Circle to Oak Knoll Park. When Santa leaves, the flight path is expected to head down Watsonia Glen Drive to Tea Rose Drive, and then back to Bass Lake Road to head to Bridlewood Canyon, and later to Laurel Oaks Park. We were out with Santa’s Elves pre-flighting the route on Friday, and we discovered that the powerlines on Bass Lake Road at Magnolia Hills Drive are very low, and Santa’s sleigh is sitting a bit higher on the EDH Fire Engine this year – also, the oak trees in the greenbelt along Tea Rose Drive are very, very low this year – so Santa’s flight path might instead be changed by air traffic controllers after they check the route one more time and bring Santa in from Bass Lake Road on Madera Way, Jasmine Circle, and then up Kirkwood Drive to Alyssum Circle, and when he leaves he may cut over from Watsonia Glen Drive on Burberry Way, or Mariposa Springs – so make sure that roads stay clear for Santa’s take-off!

**Flight path into Oak Knoll Park: Green Primary Route – Blue Alternate Route**

**Departure Flight paths from Oak Knoll Park**

Remember – let’s try to keep out of our neighbors’ yards, while also keeping the street clear for Santa and the EDH Fire Department.

**The Grinch along with El Dorado Hills Fire Department Chief Maurice Johnson**

Let’s show Santa that we’re ready to help the Holiday Heroes Food and Toy Drive on Thursday night!!!

Summer Brook TM-R21-0001 Request to remove 2008 signalized intersection condition of approval from project

Posted on March 25, 2022March 29, 2022 by John Davey

Analysis suggests that anticipated traffic volume increases have not materialized after 15 years.

A El Dorado County Land Use and Dev Services Public Notice has notified El Dorado County residents of a planned hearing before the County Planning Commission on April 14, 2022.

The County of El Dorado Planning Commission will hold a public hearing in the Planning Commission Hearing Room, 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville, CA 95667 on April 14, 2022, at 8:30 a.m., to consider the following:
Tentative Subdivision Map Revision TM-R21-0001/Summer Brook submitted by BLUE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES, INC., request for a revision to the approved Summer Brook Tentative Map and Planned Development TM07-1440/PD07-0007 to remove Conditions of Approval No. 25, 27 and 28 requiring installation of a traffic signal and completion of, or financing for, associated intersection improvements prior to final map recordation. In lieu of a financial contribution, the applicant may instead propose the submittal of construction documents for the signal and which support construction by others once a signal warrant analysis justifies installation

Condition of approval #25 from the March 11, 2008 project approval by the County Board of Supervisors:

25. The applicant shall signalize the Green Valley/ Deer Valley Road intersection to meet current El Dorado County Standards, as required in the approved traffic study. These Required improvements shall include the geometric improvements to Green Valley Road consistent with the approved improvements plans for CIP Project No. 66114 which includes the intersection widening to provide for right and left tum channelization and acceleration/deceleration lanes and shall adhere to the latest version of the Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the California Supplement, and the Caltrans Highway Design Manual. The improvements shall be substantially completed to the approval of the Department of Transportation or the applicant shall obtain an approved improvement agreement with security, prior to the filing the final map.

From the Applicant’s Application Packet to revise the project tentative map conditions of approval:

During the review of the Dixon Ranch project traffic analysis, County Staff discovered a change in the traffic warrant situation in the area. On August 16, 2018 Staff directed the applicant’s consulting engineer to reevaluate the traffic signal warrants associated the intersection of Green Valley and Deer Valley Roads. The applicant’s consulting engineer (Kimley Horn) completed a traffic signal warrant evaluation on March 28, 2019, updated June 4, 2021. Results of these analysis confirm that installation of a traffic signal at this location is not warranted at this time. Further, street improvements were recently completed at the subject intersection. This significantly improved the situation since the 2007 report. Please see attached traffic signal evaluation reports completed by Kimley Horn.
Because the traffic warrant for the signalization of the intersection is not satisfied, Staff directed the consulting engineer determined this project’s fair share contribution as part of the analysis. The applicant’s fair share has been calculated at 3.9%.
Section 66498.2 of the California Subdivision Map Act allows for the amendment of a tentative map in the event of a change to an ordinance, policy, or standard. The required street widening improvements have been completed. The completion of these street improvements effectively satisfies the street improvement portion of the requirement.
In deciding if a traffic signal will be an asset rather than a potential liability, traffic engineers evaluate accepted warrants for traffic signals, in this case using the California Traffic Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The installation of a traffic signal should be considered if one or more of the warrants in the referenced manual is met.
The decision to install a traffic signal should not be based solely upon the warrants, since the installation of a traffic signal may increase certain types of collisions, and increase delays to pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers who use the intersection. The California Manual on Uniform Control Devices criteria per the requirement were applied in the Kimley Horn analysis and warrants for the following were not met:
• Warrant 1: Eight-Hour Vehicular Volume
• Warrant 2: Four-Hour Vehicular Volume
• Warrant 3: Peak Hour
• Warrant 4: Pedestrian Volumes
The projected traffic volumes that would have warranted a traffic signal have not materialized. Although the standard has not changed, the standard has not been met as projected. In fact, the installation of a signal at this location could create an unsafe situation. At Staffs request an updated traffic warrant study was undertaken which resulted in warrants not being met. Because warrants have not been met, the applicant requests the tentative map be amended modifying Condition No. 25 to eliminate the installation of a signal by the applicant and require the applicant pay the project’s fair share cost of the signal.

Fair Share:
The Kimley Horn traffic signal warrant evaluation determined that the project’s fair share contribution to the signal is 3.90% or an estimated $10,000-$12,000. The applicant has contracted with Kimley Horn to design traffic signal construction plans for the intersection of Deer Valley /Green Valley. The plans will allow the traffic signal to be built at the time warrants are met. The applicant proposes that these plans be used to satisfy the project’s fair share of the signal costs. In fact, the actual contracted cost for the signal design ($17,000) exceeds the applicant’s fair share cost for the traffic signal.

Request:
Blue Mountain Communities requests modification to TM07-1440-R-2 Department of Transportation condition 25. Specifically, we request that Condition No. 25 be modified such that the applicant/owner be required to contribute its fair share to the subject traffic improvements as detailed in the traffic signal warrant evaluations prepared by Kimley Horn and attached hereto. Further, its is requested that the traffic signal design plans being prepared by Kimley Horn for Blue Mountain Communities serve as Blue Mountain’s fair share contribution.

Improvements to the Green Valley Road – Deer Valley Road intersection were completed in 2014 along with the addition of the Green Valley Road – Silver Springs Parkway Intersection/signalization project, conditioned by the approval of the Silver Springs residential development , which satisfied elements of CIP Project No. 66114 which included the intersection widening to provide for right and left tum channelization and acceleration/deceleration lanes.

Green Valley Road at Deer Valley Road (west) satellite image from 2008 when the Summer Brook Project was approved by the Board of Supervisors

Green Valley Road at Deer Valley Road (west) satellite image from 2021, following widening, and turn pocket improvements from 2014

Blue Mountain Communities purchased the Summer Brook property in 2021, and are currently developing the approved 29 residential lots. They also purchased the Silver Springs property across Green Valley Road in 2018, and are currently developing 37 homes in phase 1 of the Revere at Silver Springs project.

Green Valley Road looking west towards the Deer Valley Road (west) intersection in 2012, prior to road improvements in 2014

Green Valley Road looking west towards the Deer Valley Road (west) intersection in 2021, following road improvements in 2014

Over-optimistic growth/planning projections, and road improvements lost

Bass Lake Area residents in Rescue, Cameron Park, and El Dorado Hills, will notice a pattern – planned and promised road and pedestrian circulation and safety improvements, conditioned by multiple development applications from over 30 to 20 years ago, being delayed or removed from the County’s list of projects, primarily based on inaccurate analysis and projections from the late 1980s, the 1990s, and the 2000 – 2015 era. Frustratingly for area residents is that the analysis of multiple development projects resulted in findings regarding impacts on our communities from twenty, and even thirty-plus years ago had provided the blueprint for the growth of the Bass Lake Area, but the analysis, findings, and mitigations continue to unravel. Multiple projects over those many years were approved with the assumptions of cumulative impacts between them all, and intertwined conditions of approval. Recent analysis of these projects as they are revisited have led to many improvement projects disappearing from the planning horizon:

The removal of CIP projects for constructing a four lane Bass Lake Road in 2015, and 2016
The removal of frontage improvements (Sidewalks, turn pockets, and bicycle lanes) for Bass Lake Road provided by specific projects in the 1988 El Dorado Hills Specific Plan, as those projects were updated in 2017 and 2019
Removal of planned elements of Bass Lake Road improvements included in the 1996 Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan, in 2016-17.
Removal of four lane Bass Lake Road improvements from US50 to Serrano Parkway attributed to a finding that Bass Lake Road from the re-aligned Country Club Drive north to Serrano Parkway exists in the El Dorado Hills Community Region, and Bass Lake Road from Country Club Drive south to US50 exists in the County Rural Region in 2019-20 – Level of Service (LOS) metrics/triggers differ between community and rural regions.

Public Comments regarding TM-R21-0001

If you would like to provide public comments to the Planning Commission prior to the April 14, 2022 hearing, you can submit fact based informed comments to planning@edcgov.us . Remember, emotion is not part of the deliberative process of the Planning Commission, so respectful comments, related to your concerns or questions, make for the most productive discussion.

Notice of Public Hearing

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Bass Lake Road Closure April 13-June 2021

Posted on April 6, 2021April 13, 2021 by John Davey

Detour available via Silver Springs Parkway & Green Valley Road

El Dorado County has announced the planned closure of Bass Lake Road at the new Silver Springs Parkway intersection just north of Madera Way in El Dorado Hills, beginning April 13, 2021, and will last through mid June 2021.

The closure will be in place between the new Silver Springs Parkway connection at the 25 MPH curve on Bass Lake Rd (Sandhurst Hill Rd) east to Magnolia Hills Drive.

On April 13th, crews from Granite Construction will spend the day paving the the new Silver Springs Parkway connection to Bass Lake Road – when the paving activity is completed on April13th, Silver Springs Parkway will be opened to motorists between Madera Way and Green Valley Road. This is the planned Detour route while Bass Lake Road is closed.

Per El Dorado County Department of Transportation, residents and motorists should expect significant and long delays on Bass Lake Road on April 13th, while the paving work is completed.

Planned Detour Route in Green – Bass Lake Road closure in Red

While Bass Lake Road is closed from Silver Springs Parkway to Magnolia Hills Drive, construction crews will realign Bass Lake Road and construct an ADA compliant sidewalk and crosswalks on Bass Lake Road at the new intersection. Southbound Bass Lake Road will be constructed with left and right turn lanes – the left lane will be for motorists traveling south on Bass Lake Road towards US50, the right turn lane will allow motorists to continue north onto Silver Springs Parkway, towards Green Valley Road. Northbound Bass Lake Road at the new Silver Springs intersection will feature a straight through lane to continue north on Silver Springs Parkway towards Green Valley Road, as well as a right turn pocket for motorists to continue north on Bass Lake Road towards Magnolia Hills Drive, Woodleigh Lane, Gateway Drive, Lambeth Drive, Parkdale Lane, Foxmore Lane, and Green Valley Road.

Silver Springs Parkway will be a divided two lane roadway, with sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

The new Bass Lake Road-Silver Springs Parkway intersection will be a three-way stop sign controlled intersection.

Changeable Portable Reader Board signage will be in place to advise motorists of changing conditions and delays. Currently the changeable portable reader boards indicate that the closure is expected to be in place from April 13th through June 11th – the completion date is subject to change due to weather delays, and possible utility relocation delays from PG&E and AT&T.

El Dorado County Press Release Detour Map April 13 – June 2021

Public Comments Needed for Bass Lake Road Park and Ride, and Class 1 Bicycle Lane Segment

Posted on November 30, 2020December 2, 2020 by John Davey

Bass Lake North 90 home subdivision appeal hearing at the Board of Supervisors Dec 8th

The Bass Lake North project was approved in 2017 by the Board of Supervisors – it is located in the Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan area, along Sienna Ridge Road just south and east of the Sienna Ridge Shopping Center.

One of the conditions of approval in 2017, Condition of Approval 66 (COA 66) was that the project would build 100 vehicle spaces of the eventual 200 space Park and Ride facility that will be located on the south west side of the new Bass Lake Road – Country Club Drive signalized intersection. Ten of the proposed spaces are also considered for use in the eventual Mormon Carson Trail system in the Plan Area.

The Developer filed a request to reduce his obligation of 100 spaces to 50 spaces, and move the responsibility for the remaining 50 spaces to an undefined “future” development in the BLHSP Plan Area – meaning the next project would have to build the other 50 spaces. His request was based on the significant costs to build the Park and Ride spaces, and his determination that his 90 home project was being unfairly burdened with an excessive share of the Park and Ride Lot costs. During the public hearing, the developer also provided his own nexus analysis of the need for park and ride spaces in the area based on his status as a licensed civil engineer in California – his determination was that the full build out of the entire Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan area would only generate the need for a little more than 11 total park and ride spaces, and that his project specifically would only generate the need for less than four spaces.

The request also sought to have the option of paying El Dorado Transit Authority for “in lieu fees” instead of even building just the 50 parking spaces.

After three hours of testimony at the Nov 12th Planning Commission Hearing, the Planning Commission voted 3-2 to deny the change request. The Developer has filed an appeal of the Planning Commission denial with the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, with the hearing scheduled for December 8th.

The Bass Lake North Project is also required via Condition of Approval 67 (COA 67) to build a segment of Class 1 bicycle lane from the old Country Club Drive intersection to the end of the existing bicycle lane along Bass Lake Road at Hollow Oak Road. This was a Board of Supervisors-added condition of approval at the project hearing in February 2017. The Developer agreed to the Park and Ride Construction, and the Class 1 Bicycle lane construction.

The Developer suggested during the Nov 12th Planning Commission Hearing that the Class 1 Bicycle lane was a last minute add-on, and considered that it was important to the District 2 Supervisor, and was more valuable to the community than the full 100 spaces of the Park and Ride Lot. Hinting that the end result could be a choice of providing a 50 space Park and Ride Lot and a Class 1 Bicycle Lane, or just the 100 spaces of the Park and Ride Lot, with no Class 1 Bicycle Lane.

It is important to remind the Board of Supervisors that they are not under any obligation to accommodate the Developer’s request: The entitlements for the approved project requires BOTH construction of 100 spaces of the Park and Ride Lot, and the Class 1 Bicycle Lane. There is no need to trade parts of one COA for another. The Park and Ride Lot Construction costs will be fully refundable to the applicant through the Public Facilities Financing Plan (PFFP) of the Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan.

At the Nov 12th Planning Commission Hearing, the El Dorado Hills APAC offered one of only two public comments on the project request (here), asking the Planning Commission to deny the change request.

More resident public comments could improve the chances that the Board of Supervisors will reject the appeal, and require the developer to construct both the 100 spaces of the Park and Ride Lot, as well as the Class 1 Bicycle Lane, as originally intended by the project conditions of approval. Even just emailing in a form letter may make the difference.

The history of Bass Lake Road development is replete with after-the-fact-changes to approved projects and planned improvements – which is why Bass Lake Road had three long scheduled Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects removed in 2016 from the CIP project list:

Two lane divided road – Bass Lake Road Full Improvements – Phase 1A Project No: 66109
Four Lane divided road – Bass Lake Road Widening – U.S. 50 to Silver Springs Parkway, Phase 1B Project No: GP166
Roadway improvements to Bass Lake Road east of Silver Springs Parkway, full width improvements, curb, gutter, sidewalk – Bass Lake Frontage Improvements-Silver Springs Project No: 66115

In fact, at the Nov 17, 2020 Board Of Supervisors hearing regarding the 2020 TIM fee program update, the Transportation Dept. Director told the County Supervisors that Bass Lake Road was unlikely to be getting these improvements back on the CIP list in the 20 year horizon, because conditions (traffic volume, and road conditions) were not projected to warrant the improvements.

Public comments can be emailed to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by Monday December 7th. Getting public comments in before the close of business will ensure that the comments are seen by the Supervisors prior to the hearing. Comments should be respectful, and fact based, and not depend on emotion, which tends to get ignored.

Would you consider submitting public comments on the Bass Lake North Appeal hearing?

Sample Form Letter – copy and paste into your own email message to the Board of Supervisors:

COPY and PASTE the sample letter below and email to: edc.cob@edcgov.us

SUBJECT: Denial of Tentative Subdivision Map Revision TM-R19-0002 Bass Lake North

Dear Supervisors,

I ask that you uphold the Planning Commission’s November 12, 2020 denial of the Tentative Subdivision Map Revision TM-R19-0002 Bass Lake North request to revise the Condition of Approval #66 that sought to reduce the required constructed quantity of park-and-ride parking spaces from 100 to 50 and phasing the remaining 50 spaces as a Condition of Approval for future subdivision(s) within the Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan area.

The Planning Commission’s reasons for denial were:

No technical analysis or justification was presented to support the applicant’s request;
The El Dorado Transit Master Plan, testimony from the Transit Authority and Public Comment shows a need for the Park-and-Ride spaces and the Transit Authority Board has not vetted any technical analysis for this request;
These projects (Park-and-Ride spaces) are going to be fully refundable to the applicant through the Public Facilities Financing Plan (PFFP);
The intention of the Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan was to front load the needed infrastructure;
The assertion that it would be reasonable to push the requirement of the additional 50 Park-and-Ride spaces to potential future projects (potentially smaller future projects) would be unfair to those future projects and applicants;
The applicant agreed to the front loading infrastructure as approved and conditioned by the Planning Commission, and the Board of Supervisors additional condition of approval to include a bike path; and,
The current approved project is more consistent with the Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan and the County General Plan than the proposed modified request as presented to the Planning Commission.

Changes to anticipated traffic levels, build out projections, and deferring infrastructure improvements to undefined future development is how Bass Lake Road became a road with three Capital Improvement Plan projects removed in 2015/16.

The El Dorado Transit Authority had based their needs for Park and Ride lots on an analysis that predates the 2017 approval of the Bass Lake North project. El Dorado Transit Authority’s recent concession to the applicant’s request to change from 100 funded parking spaces to 50 parking spaces is not based on any meaningful analysis.

The Park and Ride is also intended to provide 10 joint use parking spaces anticipated to be used for the Mormon Carson Trail within the Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan Area.

Further, on page 107 the Bass Lake North Project CEQA Addendum and Initial Study of Environmental Significance, approved by the Board of Supervisors on February 28, 2017 specifies that development of a park and ride facility near the intersection of Bass Lake Road and Country Club Drive should be required in conjunction with the development of the area.

Also, that a portion of the Class 1 Bicycle lane from Old Country Club Drive to Hollow Oak Road had to be added to the Specific Plan and this project without analysis during the Board of Supervisors hearing in 2017, further demonstrates a lack of full consideration for the facilities and circulation elements in the 2016/17 updated Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan. The County should not be trading Conditions of Approval after the fact.

Both the Park and Ride Lot and the Bicycle lane are facilities that are lacking in the Bass Lake Area, and trading required Conditions of Approval years after the project has been approved, in deference to cost increases, does not serve the interests of residents or the County. Additionally, the park and ride facility construction costs are reimbursable to the developer.

I request that both Condition of Approval #66 (the 100 spaces in the Park and Ride Lot) and Condition of Approval #67 (the Class 1 Bicycle lanes) not be modified for this project, and that you uphold the Planning Commission Denial of the request, and refuse the appeal.

Sincerely,

December 2, 2020: Applicant Response To The Planning Commission Motion To Deny

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Applicant Response

Country Club Drive To Bass Lake Road Phase 4 DETOUR Sep 11 – 28

Posted on September 9, 2020September 9, 2020 by John Davey

El Dorado County Issues Phase 4 Country Club Drive Detour Press Release

Beginning Friday, September 11th at 6:00 a.m. Vehicles will be directed around the intersection utilizing Bass Lake Road, New Country Club Drive, Cambridge Road, and Highway 50 from Friday, September 11th through Monday, September, 28th.

Country Club Drive from Tierra De Dios Drive to Bass Lake Road will be CLOSED.

Tierra De Dios Drive from Country Club Drive to Holy Trinity Catholic Church will be CLOSED.

To access Country Club Drive and the BAR J neighborhoods, Bass Lake Motorists and HWY50 Motorists will have to USE HWY50 EAST and exit at Cambridge Road.

BAR J neighborhood residents in Cameron Park, and other local neighborhoods WILL NOT be able to access either Bass Lake Road, or Tierra De Dios Road from Country Club Drive – this includes neighborhoods from:

El Norte Rd
Trinidad Dr
Merrychase Dr
Castana Dr
Placitas Dr
Knollwood Dr

To access HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, motorists will have to travel on Bass Lake Road, travel north to the NEW COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE intersection, and then travel on NEW COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE to Holy Trinity.

El Dorado County Press Release HERE

A Phase 5 Detour is expected to begin September 28th. Details will be announced soon.

The final alignment of the NEW Country Club Drive – Bass Lake Road signalized intersection, suggested to be completed by the end of October 2020

Construction Of Silver Springs Parkway Connection To Bass Lake Road Begins September 3 2020

Posted on September 2, 2020September 3, 2020 by John Davey

Initial activities include one way traffic controls

Construction of the long planned Southern connection of Silver Springs Parkway to Bass Lake Road at the 25 MPH curve between Madera Way and Magnolia Hills Drive is set to begin on Thursday September 3rd.

The northern segment of Silver Springs Parkway was constructed in 2014. It comes in at just 500 feet short of a mile. The project has been known as the “new Bass Lake Road” as far back as the late 1980s and into the mid 1990s. It is a road segment that connects Bass Lake Road, north to Green Valley Road, just to the east of Pleasant Grove Middle School in Rescue. Silver Springs Parkway will serve the 234 home Silver Springs residential development, with it’s initial subdivision, REVERE, under construction now. The 2014 Project constructed the northern segment of Silver Springs Parkway, including a traffic signal at the Silver Springs Parkway – Green Valley Road intersection, and also improved the (western) Deer Valley Road – Green Valley Road intersection with turn pockets and left turn lanes.

Google Satellite view Silver Springs Parkway Northern Segment

El Dorado County Department of Transportation Details

The El Dorado County Department of Transportation provided the following details about the construction timelines, and possible impacts for motorists on Bass Lake Road.

There will be reversing controls (alternating one-way traffic) on Bass Lake Road on Thursday, September 3. Granite Construction will be performing small excavations to positively determine the locations of some EID underground facilities prior to the start of construction.

Construction will start in full on Tuesday, September 8. At this point, Granite Construction does not see a need to implement reversing controls on Bass Lake Road on a regular basis during the rest of the 2020 construction season. Most of the 2020 work will take place off road, north of the 25 mph curve in the woods between the curve and current southerly terminus of Silver Springs. There will be reversing controls on Bass Lake from time to time, but it won’t be for weeks on end or anything like that.

In spring 2021, we will be closing Bass Lake between Magnolia Hills and Madera for a couple of months to reconstruct Bass Lake Road just east of the Bass Lake/Silver Springs intersection. The County’s posted detour will send traffic to Green Valley and Silver Springs (which will then be open from Green Valley Road to Bass Lake Road). This presumes, of course, that Granite Construction is successful in completing the work they have planned for 2020 without utility relocation delays or non-climatic weather delays.

Silver Springs Parkway – Bass Lake Road, Spring 2021 Detour Plan – Bass Lake Road CLOSED at Madera Way in the south, and at Magnolia Hills Drive in the north.
CLICK to view PDF FILE.

Safety And Circulation Improvements Will Finally Arrive For Area Residents

When completed, the planned Silver Springs Parkway – Bass Lake Road intersection will be a three-way stop, controlled with stop signs. Motorists traveling north on Bass Lake Road that wish to continue on Bass Lake Road towards Magnolia Hills Drive, Woodleigh Lane, Gateway Drive, Parkdale Lane, Green Valley Elementary School, and Foxmore Lane, will need to complete a right turn movement in the newly constructed right turn lane at the new intersection. Likewise, motorists traveling south on Bass Lake road approaching the new intersection, will need to complete either a left turn to continue south on Bass Lake Road, or a right turn to proceed north on Silver Springs Parkway.

Included in designs presented at a Bass Lake Action Committee Meeting in September 2017 are a right turn pocket on northbound Bass Lake Road onto Madera Way. The Design images also suggest a four-foot bicycle lane from Madera Way north to Silver Springs Parkway. Included in these drawings are what appear to be partial sidewalks at the new intersection. The Northern Section of Silver Springs Parkway has bicycle lanes and sidewalks on both the west and east sides of the roadway. The Southern extension is expected to continue the bicycle and sidewalk facilities.

Detail of designs presented at a Bass Lake Action Committee in September 2017

Close up of lane configurations of the new Bass Lake Road – Silver Springs Parkway Intersection as presented at the September 2017 Bass Lake Action Committee Meeting. Designs suggest a 4 foot bicycle lane on either side of Bass Lake Road (partial) and a small section of sidewalk from Madera Way north to Silver Springs Parkway.

Design includes a right turn pocket on Bass Lake Road to Madera Way

Project Costs Over Time Have Only Grown

The Southern Extension of Silver Springs Parkway project was listed in the 2010 El Dorado County Capital Improvement Program (CIP) as a $6.374 Million project. In subsequent years the project costs have grown – exploding to an $11.478 Million project in the 2020 El Dorado County Capital Improvement Program.

YEAR	El Dorado CIP Projected Costs Silver Springs Parkway South Segment Project 76108 / 36105039
2010	$6,374,000.00
2011	N/A
2012	N/A
2013	$7,346,000.00
2014	$8,573,000.00
2015	$8,896,000.00
2016	$9,449,000.00
2017	$9,457,000.00
2018	$9,459,000.00
2019	$9,460,000.00
2020	$11,478,000.00
	Data from the El Dorado County Capital Improvement Program Books – 2010 – 2020

Image courtesy of the El Dorado County Capital Improvement Program Western Slope Book (page 103/145)

Bass Lake Road Country Club Drive Detours August 28 -September 14

Posted on August 26, 2020August 26, 2020 by John Davey

El Dorado County Department of Transportation issued two press releases on August 25, 2020 regarding detours for ongoing construction activities for the new, realigned Bass Lake Road – Country Club Drive intersection.

Bass Lake Road FRIDAY AUG 28th DETOUR 6AM – 6PM

The first press release was to inform residents that a new detour will be in effect Friday morning August 28th beginning at 6AM. The new detour will route traffic on Bass Lake Road onto Hollow Oak Drive, to the NEW Morrison Road, taking drivers to Tierra de Dios Drive, where the detour will end at Country Club Drive. This Detour will last until the evening of Friday August 28th at 6PM, for a total of 12 hours.

The 12 hour detour will allow construction work to finish paving the new Bass Lake Road alignment. When the detour ends at 6PM, there will normal two way traffic on Bass Lake Road from the US50 Bass Lake Road Interchange in the south, all they way to Green Valley Road in the north.

August 28th 6AM to 6PM BASS LAKE ROAD **CLOSED**
Image Courtesy of El Dorado County

August 28th 6AM – 6 PM Bass Lake Road CLOSED – in Blue
DETOUR Route in Red

Country Club Drive DETOUR FRIDAY AUG 28th 6PM to SEPT 14th

The Second Press Release informed residents that after the 12 hour paving detour on Bass Lake Road is completed at 6PM on Friday August 28th, resulting in Bass Lake Road being open to two way traffic, that Country Club Drive from Bass Lake Road east to Tierra De Dios Drive will close through September 14th. The new detour route will have drivers on Country Club Drive travel on Tierra De Dios Drive to the NEW Morrison Road, taking drivers to Hollow Oak Drive, and back down to Bass Lake Road near El Dorado Hills Fire Station 86.

This Detour will allow construction on the new Country Club Drive road segment to be completed, along with demolition of the temporary detour road motorists have been using since May 1, 2020.

The existing Country Club Drive road segment between Bass Lake Road at US50 and Tierra De Dios Drive will be converted to a bicycle route, and closed to vehicles.

Motorists traveling on Country Club Drive that wish to use either the Bass Lake Road – US50 Interchange, or to travel north on Bass Lake Road will be required to use the Tierra De Dios-Morrison-Hollow Oak detour.