Category Archives: Parks

On a rainy, windy night the City’s Park Planning and Development department held a public community meeting about Conergy’s proposed Sutter’s Landing Solar Farm.

If Conergy is able to negotiate city requirements and neighborhood concerns, they will break ground in spring 2012. Sacramento has a rare opportunity with this project to earn national recognition. If we can build a world class solar farm and maintain wildlife habitats, we will be the go-to city for infill green projects that preserve and sustain neighborhoods and open spaces. The question is: can we seize the day?

Councilmember Steve Cohn reviewed the city’s concept to build the project on the former 28th street landfill. In 1997 the 172 acre site closed. Methane gas and groundwater issues placed the area on a state mandated monitoring until 2027, which restricts building options. The city proposes that until the area is fit for human use a solar farm be constructed.

Cohn made it clear that an earlier proposal to move the City Zoo to the site is not feasible. Two reasons prohibit the move. “The wait is too long for the zoo and the cost of development for zoo structures on the landfill is prohibitive,” he said. The city plans an extensive park for the area once the 30 year monitoring period is over. At that time the solar farm would be removed.

Neighborhood representatives from Marshall School and New Era Park Neighborhood Association and Friends of the River Banks (FORB), brought up key concerns. They questioned if building the farm would destroy habitat, since the site is adjacent to the American River. Riparian wildlife is abundant in the area and the new solar farm will be placed on an open grassy area favored by birds of prey. The area is home to owls, hawks and four legged creatures such as coyote, raccoon, opossum and skunk, beaver and many other animals. Laurie Litman of FORB reminded city employees and Conergy that the area is the home of a Swainson’s hawk mating pair that nest in the cottonwood forest along the river.

Residents asked if the farm could be built in a way to preserve the habitat. Conergy did not have a direct response to the request and explained that they were just in the application process and design review had not fully begun.

The process of community comment and review continues. The next meeting on the project will be March 3, 2011, 6 pm at City Hall in the 2nd floor hearing room. The city will place project information, such as costs, predicted energy production and development details on its new Sutter’s Landing website.

http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/planning/new-growth/SuttersLanding.cfm

Two important meetings are coming up regarding the future of Sutter’s Landing. Resident attention and attendance is critical to develop this space so it is neighborhood friendly.

First, there will be a Community Meeting Regarding the Proposed Solar Farm at Sutter’s Landing Park/28th St. Landfill.

• Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011
• Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Location: Clunie Community Center, Room A
• Presenter: City Councilmember Steve Cohn
• City Staff: Utilities Solid Waste/28th St. Landfill, Park Planning & Development
• Potential Solar Farm Operator: Conergy Projects, Inc.

Proposed Project: Phased installation of solar facilities to produce renewable energy until landfill fully available for permanent development as a park. The City will receive payment for the lease of the land used for the solar farm.

Next public meeting on this project scheduled for: Thursday, March 3, 2011, 7:00 p.m.

Parks & Recreation Commission, Historic City Hall Commission Hearing Room, 915 I St., 2nd Floor

For additional information, contact J.P. Tindell, Park Planning & Development,

808-1955, jptindell@cityofsacramento.org or Marty Strauss, Utilities Solid Waste, 808-4934, mstrauss@cityofsacramento.org

Second, on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at City Hall, the Sacramento City Council will hold a special workshop to hear about the findings from a Feasibility Study that considered Sutter’s Landing Park as a site for a new zoo. 

City Staff will present the results of the city funded study completed last year.  Zoo staff will then present the compilation of discussions that followed public hearings and Zoological Society Board meetings that took place as a result of the study. The Zoological Society has developed recommendations for the future of the Zoo for City Council members and members of the public to consider and offer feedback.