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Loomis council asks staff to draft letter voicing traffic concerns about nearby Hope Way affordable-housing project
Summary
Loomis council members asked staff to draft a letter for the county expressing concern about traffic impacts from the proposed Hope Way affordable-housing project near the town's border.
The Loomis Town Council directed staff to draft a letter to Placer County expressing concerns about traffic impacts from the proposed Hope Way affordable-housing development near the town border.
Councilmembers said they had reviewed the project's public materials and expressed concern that the developer's traffic study does not include Loomis intersections. "I attended the Hope Way open house... I have a concern about that project and how it's going to affect traffic in Loomis," one councilmember said during "matters of interest" from the dais. Staff told the council the project's traffic study does not analyze any Loomis intersections; students from the development would be expected to attend Del Oro High School, Loomis Grammar and other nearby schools.
Staff noted that the applicant is seeking concessions tied to level-of-service rules as part of a 100% affordable-housing proposal and is using a CEQA 15183 checklist that references a prior EIR. Councilmembers discussed whether Loomis should submit a comment or formal letter to the county and asked whether the local school district had already provided input. Staff said the neighboring school districts had submitted comment letters to the county.
By consensus the council supported asking staff and town legal counsel to draft a letter raising Loomis' concerns about traffic on connecting roads such as Boyington and to forward that statement to Placer County prior to the county planning commission hearing. Staff said they would prepare a draft and have legal review it.
Details cited at the meeting included the developer's estimate of roughly 250 students from the project and the county planning commission's consideration scheduled for the 16th of the month, which limits the time available for Loomis to respond. The council did not take a formal vote; staff action was authorized by consensus.
Why it matters: Loomis officials said the project, though outside town limits, could generate traffic that uses Loomis streets and affects town schools. The council's request signals an intention to have the town's concerns entered into the countylevel review process.
