Homeowners to Meet with Elliott Homes on Proposed Mirabella Condominium Project - 005

Eric King, Folsom City Councilman and Empire Ranch resident, notified me this morning that Empire Ranch and The Parkway homeowners will have an opportunity to meet with an Elliott Homes representative on Wednesday September 21st at 6:30 P.M. The meeting will take place in Hazel McFarland Park at the picnic tables in the NW corner of the park next to Empire Oaks Elementary School.

Over the past week or so, I have had many e-mails from residents stating their full and complete opposition to this project. Many have stated that they do not want any condos on this site – period. Their position is that they want to see a local neighborhood commercial retail center like we were all promised when we bought out homes. I agree completely, and we can, and should make that point loudly and clearly to Elliott Homes, not only at this meeting, but at each and every opportunity we get to speak with City officials.

However, at this point in the Folsom legal process there is ONLY ONE place we can publicly argue our case right now and that is with the Architectural Review Commission (ARC), and as such, the only issues that we can raise are architectural related issues. Once the project gets past the ARC, then it goes on to the Planning Commissioners for their hearing. It is that point that we can address Elliott’s request to rezone from the current Commercial/Retail zoning to Multi-Family zoning. After it gets past the Planning Commissioners and they either approve or disapprove the rezoning request, it then goes before the full City Council for a vote.

The bottom line is that since our first public crack at Elliott’s project is with the ARC, we need to all be on the same page and demand the ARC insist on a maximum of 45 to 50 single story luxury condominiums, 2,000 to 3,000 square feet, with steep pitched roofs, multiple roof lines with dormers, along with a full range of custom upgrades being made available. The complex should also have a clubhouse with pool and a shaded grass area for picnics and family gathering. That way, if we happen to lose the rezoning fight with the Planning Commissioners and it somehow passes a City Council vote, then the worst case will be a beautiful luxury condo complex in our midst.

If we are unable to get a unified voice from enough interested neighbors, then we stand a good chance of losing everything and ending up with 154 units crammed into three story buildings. At least, if we can persuade the ARC to make them single story luxury condos, the people who would be more likely to purchase them would be empty nesters with out any young children at home. Should they end up being 154 units in three story buildings (or even 100 units in two story buildings) targeted toward first time home buyers as Elliott now plans, then there will be families with small children who will be putting an additional burden on an already overcrowded Empire Oaks Elementary School.

People continue to ask me what they can do to help fight this proposed development. The best thing we can all do at this point is print out the attached flyer and petition. Make copies and distribute to every house in The Parkway and Empire Ranch. We must get the world out to every concerned person in the area. If someone is able to distribute to a complete street, please e-mail me the name of the street that has been covered and I will post a list to track our progress.

This meeting that Eric King has arranged is just another opportunity for ALL of us to be heard, not only by Elliott Homes, but by Eric King as well. Hopefully Eric will convey our strong feelings to other City Council members so that when this issue does reach the City Council meeting agenda, they are well poised to defeat the rezoning request.

I understand the Elliott Homes has made some “minor modifications” and is hoping to get community approval before the next ARC meeting, which has yet to be scheduled. This next part is a pure guess on my part, but if I was a betting man, my money would say that Elliott is going to come back with a proposal to limit the row of condos that back up to Smith Way to two story units, with all the other units remaining basically the same. A rough guess is that this would reduce the total number of units down to 142 units instead of 154.

This is still UNACCEPTABLE. It is my firm opinion that we MUST stand united on this point and push publicly and privately for a maximum of 45 to 50 single story luxury condominiums, IF it ends up being rezoned Multi-Family. We must let everyone concerned know that there is NO way a dense condo project with 154 (or 142) units in three story buildings, or even 100 units in two story buildings, belongs in the midst of our beautifully planned communities of single family homes in The Parkway and Empire Ranch! We all moved here because the Master Plan is what it is. DON’T CHANGE IT!

As a closing action item for all of us, print out the flyers from this website. Hand print the announcement about this meeting in the top right corner. Make multiple copies and deliver them to every street you can possibly reach. Again, as always, e-mail me with the streets you cover and I will post a status sheet so we all can see what streets still need flyers. See you at the meeting - bring two or more neighbors. A MASSIVE turnout will send the proper message.

Thank you again. It's a good life here in Empire Ranch and the Parkway. Lets all help to keep it that way. Make it a good day.

Best regards,
Patrick Warholic
Realtor, and Home Marketing Consultant

Contact Patrick
Website: California Home Network
The Internet Home Marketing Center