Butterfield Riviera East Community Assn.

BRECA Resolution: Butterfield Special Planning Area

Alert

Park-and-Ride lot at Butterfield Light Rail to be eliminated for high density housing?

Sacramento County has initiated a process to change the zoning around the Butterfield Light Rail Station. The objective is to establish zoning consistent with “Transit Oriented Development.” This generally means much higher densities than currently exist, and changes of uses as well. Some of the zoning that has been considered would allow projects that are extremely inconsistent with the existing community or would harm the community. One example is the proposal to eliminate the main Park-and-Ride lot at the Butterfield Light Rail Station to build high density housing (up to four stories tall). (See BRECA resolution below)

For additional information, please contact Gay Jones at 369-0736 or Jim Morgan at 361-7236


BRECA Resolution Regarding the Butterfield Special Planning Area
10-23-2007

BRECA opposes the proposal for a high density residential or mixed-use (residential and business) structure in the park-and-ride lots of the Butterfield Light Rail Station. BRECA requests that Sacramento County find an alternate location for the high density zoning that is better suited to this use.

The reasons for this position include:

1. Nearby communities (and Regional Transit) need the parking for commuters who wish to drive to the Butterfield Light Rail Station. Also, there is a huge potential for additional park-and-ride users in developments planned south of the area on Bradshaw Road and Mayhew Road. Further, Regional Transit's bus service is inadequate to replace the loss of park-and-ride spots.

2. The park-and-ride lots are a very poor location for residential development. The development would be sandwiched between the high-security Franchise Tax Board (FTB) facility and the railroad tracks and Folsom Blvd. It would be virtually cut off from the adjoining community and amenities.

3. There is very little chance of viable business opportunities at this location. The FTB has already tried and failed to find businesses willing to use this location. Any business would have no visibility to any major thoroughfare and would have to compete against numerous established businesses.