Category: Placerville

Placerville Streetscape

Comments for the May 12, 2015 City Council Meeting
Re: Item #12.1: Phase 2 of the Central Main Street Rehabilitation Project (CIP 1412)

May 12, 2015

I have a serious concern regarding the possible loss of Main Street as a Historic Resource to Placerville due to Phase 2 of this project. According to SECTION 8-1003 of the California Historic Building Code (CHBC) “The relationship between a building or property and its site, or the associated features of a district (including qualified historical landscape), site, objects and their features are critical components that may be one of the criteria for these buildings and properties to be qualified under the California Historic Building Code (CHBC).” In order to not damage the historic integrity of properties and Main Street, the City should have engaged a State Historic Preservation Officer for this project. The features that have been shown at the workshops are not in line with the historic nature of Main Street. Moving forward could cause the loss for properties and site to be considered as eligible for a Historic designation which is critical when it comes to applying building codes.

Click here for full document with photos

Take survey and send emails to preserve Downtown Placerville

Do you love Downtown Placerville and its unique historical atmosphere?

Please take action to help us preserve Downtown.

The Placerville City Council is looking into “rehabilitating” the streets and sidewalk features Downtown. This rehabilitation must be done carefully to prevent the loss of our historical look and feel.

Here’s what you can do:

Take the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/Main_Street_Bell_Tower.
BE VERY CAREFUL!!! Your answers could have a severe impact on the historic nature of Main Street.

There are 6 alternatives shown on page 5 of the survey.  The grey-shaded areas on each alternative are where the road is raised up to the level of the sidewalk. This will cause safety and water drainage concerns because there will be no curb to prevent cars from driving onto the sidewalk. The bumpy plastic will be required along the sidewalk.  For example:

car on sidewalk

To choose the alternatives that are least impacting to Downtown, please rank the projects on question #5 as follows:

Survey page 5 suggested answers

Lastly, if you would prefer to send an email with your comments about the survey or concerns about preserving Downtown Placerville, send them to matt.boyer@kpff.com, cmorris@cityofplacerville.org, and privas@cityofplacerville.org.

Join the discussion on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/debatingeldoradolocalpolitics/permalink/408443389333159/

Another local government abuses its discretionary power = Placerville City Council

Measure K was passed by Placerville City residents on November 4, 2014. Measure K requires that any time a roundabout is proposed on a public road, the citizens will first vote on whether or not they want a roundabout in that location.

On January 27, 2015, Placerville City Manager, Cleve Morris, states that the City will move ahead with its proposed Western Interchange project, without regard for Measure K.  The Western Interchange project includes several roundabouts.

Here is a video clip and an excerpt of the text follows:

Partial script from the video: 2:26:34

“Cleve Morris (Placerville City Manager: As far as telling you what is going to happen with those (WPI) roundabouts designed as part of the Interchange, we’re moving forward with them at this point. Will we get challenged on them? We don’t know. But we are also coordinating with Caltrans in that process, and will continue to coordinate with Caltrans to make sure that they are on board. We’ve already had discussions with their legal counsel regarding that, so we will make sure that’s . . . But I can’t tell you, if you’re asking “How Measure K will affect those?” I don’t . . . by the next meeting we will not have that answer.

Carol Patton (City Council Woman): Has Caltrans made a ruling on the Measure K impacts to the Western Placerville Interchange?

Cleve Morris: They have not made a ruling; however, I believe our discussions were that they felt that if they were challenged on those roundabouts that they would become involved in and support us in that challenge.”

Future of Placerville Courthouse – Tuesday, January 27, 6:00pm City Council Meeting

The proposed new Courthouse on Ray Lawyer Drive has raised concerns  about downtown Placerville’s economic future.  Please read comments submitted regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Report here:  https://saveourcountydotnet.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/placerville-courthouse-deir-comments1.pdf

If you are concerned about the future of Placerville’s economic future, then please attend this meeting:

Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 6:00pm
City Council Chambers – Town Hall
549 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667

View the entire agenda here: http://www.cityofplacerville.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=9379

Here is Agenda Item 12.1 regarding the Blue Ribbon Committee:

12.1 Review Proposed Guidelines for a Blue Ribbon Committee to Develop Options for Future Development of the Historic Placerville Courthouse (Mr. Morris) Recommendation by the City Manager that the City Council review the proposed guidelines for a Blue Ribbon Committee to develop options for future development of the Historic Placerville Courthouse.

 

 

Last meeting for rehabilitating Main Street Placerville, Thursday, January 8, 2015

From: Friends of Historic Hangtown

Important Public Meeting this Thursday January 8, 2015.

Main Street Placerville will be significantly rehabilitated this year.
New water and sewer lines, crosswalk and sidewalk improvements, and the return of Main Street trees along with “bulb-outs” incorporating benches and “art”.

Overall design and construction timing input is being openly sought by the City from everyone. Business owners need to share the best and worst times for construction, lessening impacts to business.  Anyone who works or shops Main Street need to share their vision of what our Historic Main Street will look like when the dust clears. Will we alter our tourist drawing look? Will we “modernize” to look like “Any City, USA”? Make your voice heard, and bring your friends.
Spread the word.

Main Street Rehabilitation Meeting #3 (last one)
Thursday, January 8th, 2015
At Town Hall, 549 Main Street (City Council chamber)
Open House at 6:30 pm
Formal Meeting 7-9 pm

The past meetings have been well run and attended.  The City has genuinely sought the Public’s input.  So take them up on the offer to share your ideas and concerns.   Let us improve our City’s infrastructure, while maintaining our Historic charm.