Planning for growth is always an exercise in what ifs, and Folsom's efforts appear no different from that of other cities in the region who have to plan to meet the obligations of continued growth—from people who want to live in a very nice area—places on them.
Editorial: Half a plan
Folsom's growth plan lacks water, limit
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The city of Folsom is seeking to begin a conversation with residents about its plans to expand south of Highway 50. But two questions -- Where will the water come from? And where will the growth eventually stop? -- seem to be off the table.
That's unfortunate because those questions belong in the mix.
As the Sacramento region prepares to double its population in the next half-century, the new homes will have to come in a smart combination of new growth areas and existing communities that can make more efficient use of the land. The acreage south of Highway 50 and north of White Rock Road is within a future growth zone that has been sketched by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Folsom has spent many years negotiating with the county to control the destiny of this land.
The city's recent unveiling of its expansion plan, detailing where 12,000 new homes would be built and how 30 percent of the acreage would be preserved as open space, is an important step. This plan is intended to be the subject of conversations at public workshops, the first one on June 28 at 5 p.m. at the Folsom Community Center.
As an initial plan goes, it passes all the basic requirements. It's vital to create an array of housing types, not just traditional Folsom subdivisions. The south-of-50 Folsom needs to look and feel different than the north-of-50 version. In many ways, this will be its own city, for residents will be expected to pay the costs of new school construction, for the Folsom City Council has made it clear it doesn't want existing resources heading south of the highway.
