Saving Clover Valley - Commentary
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| Guest Commentary: Preserve Clover Valley for future generations By Allison Miller - Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, April 5, 2007 I'm a retired English teacher, and I should know better than to use a cliché to lead an essay. Nonetheless, to begin my guest column, I opened the dictionary and lifted this definition: valley, an area of land between hills; the land through which a river flows (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary). Perfect. I am writing a description of Rocklin's jewel -- Clover Valley. Although truth be told, a year-round creek, complete with dips, meanderings and musical gurgles, is more accurate than river. The valley's water feature is but one of the many unique characteristics of this beautiful 622 acres, nestled between Rocklin, Loomis and Lincoln, just a stone's throw from Roseville. What is it about this valley that consistently stirs up public discourse -- years after it was purchased for the purpose of turning its oak-studded hillsides into roads, streets and houses? The short question: Why Clover Valley? Consider these seven reasons for preserving the valley and creating an interpretive park: location, a sense of place, learning opportunities, California history, recreational possibilities, community involvement and, perhaps most important, the fact that Clover Valley is the last of its kind. The valley, on Rocklin's northeast side, directly off Park Drive, features five intact and interacting ecosystems, as well as 33 sites that qualify for the National Register of Historic Places. An archaeological report completed in 2002 states, "Most of the (historical) sites now lie in their natural, unaltered setting, appearing much as they did in the prehistoric period of significance." We're talking about history dating back to 5,000 B.C. In addition to the historical significance, Clover Valley offers a unique opportunity for biological and anthropological studies. Schoolchildren and college students will find a one-of-a-kind learning lab in Clover Valley. The fact the valley is in close proximity to several active-adult communities suggests an abundant supply of docents if a museum setting were established. Some suggest this valley could be as popular as Sacramento's American River Parkway. Further, Clover Valley is in an interesting area of archaeological research -- between the Oroville locality to the north, the Sierra to the east and the Central Valley/Delta area to the southwest. Indigenous peoples used Clover Valley as a major trading center for thousands of years. More recent California history is seen in the stunning rock walls and a rock corral -- thought to have been constructed during the 1800s. Where does one go to find such history in Placer County -- indeed in Northern California? Clover Valley is the last valley of its kind in California's fastest-growing county. This is why the public discourse continues so strongly. The valley is rare and endangered and must be wisely considered against a backdrop of burgeoning developments. When is enough, enough? And how is the voice of a democratic populace heard when such a rare and historically significant piece of land stands to be torn asunder? First and foremost, the Save Clover Valley coalition is interested in the value that this valley -- preserved, not paved -- could bring to all Rocklin citizens. Housing values would rise for all if a regional park were established. Children, for generations to come, would benefit from myriad opportunities for learning and nature discovery. Preserving a piece of our past for the future is priceless. Those who oppose our Save Clover Valley campaign have, unfortunately, been given some wrong information about money -- taxpayer money. I am not suggesting Rocklin taxpayers buy the valley. An idea currently on the table, an idea prompted by the property owners and welcomed by the Save Clover Valley coalition, is to find a consortium of agencies and large entities to purchase the valley for the purpose of preserving its environmental and historical resources. Discussions are under way as of this writing. Framed within the valley's steep ridges is a sense of place that begs to be saved. Now is the moment in time when those who hold the fate of Clover Valley in their hands have an opportunity to do something lasting and notable. I believe there are cultural values that transcend generations, past and future. The "river" running through Clover Valley is but a symbol of this transcendence. © The Sacramento Bee |
| Residents speak out about Clover Valley plans By Art Campos - Bee Staff Writer Published 11:10 pm PDT Monday, July 30, 2007 The Rocklin Planning Commission took input Monday from more than 30 citizens during a public hearing on the controversial Clover Valley development project, which calls for 558 homes on 622 acres of open space northeast of the city. The commission will hold a second day of testimony Tuesday at the Sunset Center in Rocklin and will consider making a recommendation to the City Council following the hearing. On Monday, 21 of the 32 speakers were either opposed to the project or expressed concerns about it, naming traffic, air pollution, loss of trees and natural habitat for wildlife and loss of Indian American artifacts and history as reasons to either halt or revise the development. "As a whole, it is evident that the majority of people are not in favor of the project," Rocklin resident Mike Neumann told the five-member commission in a three-and-half-hour hearing. "The developers don't have a vested interest here. They make their dollar and then they're out the door." Eleven speakers favored the project put together by the development group known as Clover Valley Partners, which has scaled back its housing units from more than 950 residences over a 10-year planning process. "The Clover Valley Partners have been patient way too long," said Louise Kirkish, a 34-year Rocklin resident. "This is a beautiful project that the citizens of Rocklin will be proud of." The hearing concluded with two of the planning commissioners asking the administrative staff to return Tuesday with more information about archeological and historical preservation concerns in Clover Valley. |
| 'One giant, gluttonous development feast' Placer Herald - Thursday, August 9, 2007 For decades, California's landscapes have been bulldozed unmercifully. CEQA was created to give public notice and opportunity to make projects environmentally better so that generations later, Californians would not lament with "Too bad that happened." However, profiteering development is eroding California's ecological sustainability by finding loopholes in CEQA and attempting to paint environmentalists as villains. Seduced into the Orwellian Big Lie (if people hear something often enough they become comfortable with it), developer claims are accepted as truth and any opposition is discredited. Hearing that a species will be threatened, we've submitted to losing it. Told of pollution or traffic impacts, we've accepted "significant and unavoidable." If it weren't for environmentalists that are working to stop the devastation, we'd have even more children diagnosed with cancer or grandchildren with learning disabilities. The proposed Clover Valley project epitomizes one giant, gluttonous development feast, resulting in irreversible impacts to uniquely diverse concentrations of environmental and cultural resources. Clover Valley's wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitat, perennial creek, meadows, grasslands, steep slopes, scenic ridges, rock walls, stone corral and 33 prehistoric sites, all eligible for National Registry, must be protected in perpetuity. If elected officials won't fulfill their obligations, it's time for citizens to take a stand to stop the spoiling of our nest. Let's not allow the last valley of its kind to be destroyed. Marilyn Jasper - Loomis |
| Voters will have final say on Clover Valley By: Rob Haswell - Auburn Journal - Saturday, August 11, 2007 Rocklin Voters Will Stop the Destruction of Clover Valley - One Way or Another We Californians have a grand tradition of taking our politicians out to the proverbial woodshed when we feel they've stopped representing us. It goes like this: If We, The People, don't like how you are governing, Mr. Politician, then we'll take matters into our own hands. We do this through initiatives, recall elections and referendums. Sometime very soon, the Rocklin City Council is poised to approve the Clover Valley development project, a decision that is wildly unpopular with the voters who put them in office. And when the council makes that decision, those same voters will be "taking to the streets" and gearing up for a referendum fight. Nothing makes a politician's blood run cold like the fear of "voter backlash." One of the greatest examples of voter backlash occurred back in the late 1970s when Californians felt they were being taxed into oblivion by deaf-eared politicians in Sacramento. A grassroots group got organized, collected signatures and put Proposition 13 on the ballot, which severely limited the state's ability to increase property taxes. It was coined "the taxpayers' revolt" and, whether or not you think Prop. 13 was good for California, it remains a triumph of "people-powered politics." I absolutely believe in the people's right to take action and let their voices be heard. In Rocklin, the time for "direct democracy" is fast approaching. Last month, the Rocklin Planning Commission recommended that the City Council give final approval to the controversial Clover Valley development project. By all indications, the City Council will follow suit, despite objections from Rocklin citizens, local environmental and cultural and citizen groups. This project includes the building of a new highway that will result in more than 14,000 cars being dumped onto Rocklin streets, past schools and senior communities each day. It will result in the destruction of more than 7,000 mature oak trees. In this development, sprawling mansions will be built in and around and likely on top of ancient Indian burial grounds. You heard right. Ancient Indian burial grounds. Thousands of them from more than 7,000 years of Native American history in the valley, which was once used as a regional trading center for many of the West Coast Native American tribes. You remember the movie "Poltergeist" don't you? They're heeerre. Well, guess what? The citizens of Rocklin are absolutely dead set against this development and all that comes with it. A recent survey of Rocklin voters found that three of every four Rocklin voters did not want this development. Furthermore, if the council approved the project anyway, these same folks said they absolutely wanted to have a vote on the issue. And that's where the Save Clover Valley Coalition comes in. Once the project gets final approval, Rocklin citizens have 30 days to collect signatures from at least 10 percent of registered Rocklin voters (roughly 3,000) to get a referendum on the ballot. If the City Council refuses to represent the voters of Rocklin, the Save Clover Valley Coalition is committed to letting the people represent themselves. In the roughly 10-year battle over the fate of Clover Valley, a committed group of people has spent thousands of hours spreading the word about the unique cultural, environmental and archeological treasure that is this valley. Three different Web sites have popped up in opposition. Some 350 people recently turned out to the planning commission meeting, the vast majority there to oppose this development. Yet it appears Rocklin's politicians aren't ready to listen. They need look only a few miles down I-80 to see what happens when politicians become out of touch with their constituents. Pick of the phone, folks, and call your counterparts in Dixon, who desperately wanted a horse racing track in their little town, and yet were soundly pistol-whipped at the ballot box earlier this year by Dixon residents who didn't. In this day and age, it is rare indeed for regular people to get their voices heard by the power brokers who run our lives. An upcoming referendum on the fate of Clover Valley will be one of those times. And should the people win? Well, it's the wise politician who changes course when the voters have their day. Only a fool drinks twice from a poisoned well. Auburn resident Rob Haswell can be reached at rhaswell-placer@yahoo.com. Haswell serves as Region 1 Director of the California Democratic Party and is also an adviser for the Save Clover Valley Coalition. |