Decision pending on shrouding train bells; heritage tree
ordinance should have clear hearing process; SB 375 will
affect application of CEQA
Lauren Hammond
Fourth Avenue train
bells
At the July meeting of the Regional Transit board, I asked for an update
on the trial use of shrouds on crossing bells. Regional Transit staff indicated
the pilot went well and they will speak to Union Pacific again about using
the shrouds on the bell at Fourth Avenue. Union Pacific has the final decision
on reducing the sound of their crossing signals. We will continue to be
persistent in our efforts to bring peace to the neighborhood.
Heritage Tree Ordinance
The City's Urban Forest Services Division is reviewing the Heritage Tree
Ordinance. The process is sometimes complicated and confusing for owners,
neighbors and staff. There should be a reasonable procedure and a hearing
process that everyone will understand.
As the city and its trees age, we have learned that some species can be
as destructive as they are beautiful. In those instances when an owner
is given a permit to cut a tree perhaps the city should consider a replacement
requirement.
By the way, the Urban Forest Division is being transferred to the Transportation
Department because 70 percent of the trees are in the public right of
way.
Senate Bill 375
I am a member of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) board
of directors. Over the last two years, the Executive Director Mike McKeever,
a Curtis Park neighbor, has been working with SACOG's lobbyists, the statewide
environmental community and local developers to reach a compromise about
the application of CEQA.
The tradeoff of relaxed Environmental Impact Report (EIR) requirements
for specific types of small Blueprint plan development projects is embodied
in the language of SB 375 authored by Senator Darrell Steinberg. Another
neighbor, Tina Thomas, a noted CEQA legal expert, has been working with
development interests for their support.
Statewide environmental groups analyzed the SACOG transportation model
and were impressed by the reduction of vehicle miles traveled, which in
turn reduces air pollution. Vehicle miles can be curtailed if jurisdictions
amend their General Plan to smart growth.
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