Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board rezones two parcels for Diamond Springs Community Park; Boys & Girls Club to lead development
Summary
Supervisors rezoned two parcels to 'recreational facilities, high intensity' to implement the previously certified Diamond Springs Community Park environmental review; the county will complete design work with a consultant and later transfer property to the Boys & Girls Club under negotiated deed restrictions.
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted to rezone two parcels totaling about 35 acres in Diamond Springs to allow the development of the Diamond Springs Community Park.
Lede and context The parcels — east of Farnsworth Lane and Oakdale Road — were rezoned from single-unit and one-acre residential zoning to "recreational facilities, high intensity" to implement an earlier board resolution and the park project approved in December 2023. The action followed a staff recommendation and an environmental addendum to the earlier certified Environmental Impact Report.
Why this matters County staff told the board the zoning change aligns the site with the approved park uses and will facilitate an agreement with the Boys & Girls Club, which the county envisions owning the larger parcel and completing park development and eventual operation. "The purpose for the rezone is to facilitate the implementation and development of the park by Boys and Girls Club," Associate Planner Anna Quan said.
Public comment and issues raised Speakers from the neighborhood supported the park but raised concerns about traffic, emergency access and local maintenance: - Bud Zeller, a Diamond Springs resident, asked that county planners consider broader circulation improvements and a loop road to provide redundancy for evacuation and emergency response. - Nearby homeowners asked whether a planned parking lot across the street remained part of the design and flagged stormwater and culvert maintenance that affects neighboring yards.
Staff response and next steps Chief Administrative Office staff said the county controls the south parcel and that deed restrictions (donor restrictions tied to the original land donation) require the property to remain a park unless certain conditions are met. The county is negotiating a transfer of the southern parcel to the Boys & Girls Club; staff said the county retains authority to set deed restrictions at transfer and that the county's parks office and planning staff will remain involved through the design phase.
The board vote The Board adopted the addendum to the EIR and approved the rezone ordinance by a 4-1 vote.
Ending Staff will continue design work under an existing county contract with a consultant team; the board and Parks staff said there would be additional opportunities for review of final park plans, traffic/circulation mitigation and coordination with neighborhood concerns as the project moves from design to construction.
