C a l i f o r n i a ’ s O l d e s t N e w s pa p e r – E s t. 18 51
Volume 169 • Issue 84 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, July 20, 2020
Dollar General “I feel like I am being stripped of my livelihood,” – Danette Inman, owner of Danette’s Brick Oven Pub asked for EIR Dylan Svoboda Staff writer A proposed Dollar General Store in Cool hit a bump in the road this week. After appeals from nearby residents and advocates, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors directed the applicant, Woodcrest Companies, to conduct a “focused” environmental impact report on the project’s traffic and public safety impacts. After completion of the EIR, the project will return to the El Dorado County Planning Commission for further consideration. Both the Divide Preservation Society and Cool Pilot Hill Advisory Committee submitted separate appeals stating the project violates the California Environmental Quality Act and that it “may have a significant impact to traffic and circulation (including pedestrian and bike safety), aesthetics, cultural resources, drainage, urban decay and cumulative impacts.” The appeals challenged the Planning Commission’s May 28 approval of the project. The Board of Supervisors partially approved the appeals by a slim 3-2 margin, with Supervisors Brian n
See dollar general, page A2
County Planners OK changes to Zoning Ordinance Dawn Hodson Staff writer
Restaurants
Curbed again Kevin Christensen Staff writer
The El Dorado County Planning Commission took up major amendments to county zoning and subdivision ordinances in a four-hourlong meeting July 9. A project county staff have been working on for two years, planners parsed 54 amendments designed to correct and modify the county Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map that were originally adopted by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors in 2015. Previously the board adopted minor amendments but this time the staff tackled the major ones. Topics taken up by planners included changes that will expand allowable commercial and/or industrial zones for such uses as distilleries, professional and medical offices, full-service winery facilities, vehicle sale and rental operations, self-storage units, drivethrough facilities and mobile services. Other amendments will expand the amount of land used for agricultural grazing and for full-service winery facilities, as long as they are consistent with existing zoning. Other changes include expanded n
Democrat photo by Kevin Christensen
Diners eat outside at Greenhouse Cafe in Placerville Wednesday where staff has expanded outdoor seating after indoor dining was shutdown last week statewide in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“It’s frustrating because we were following all l Dorado the guidelines County requiring masks, restaurant spreading out tables owners are and disinfecting frustrated as everything,” said eateries were Emily Coleman, ordered last week to manager at cease indoor service Greenhouse Cafe due to the COVIDin Placerville. “We 19 health crisis. were back to 80% of Gov. Gavin our business coming Newsom July back after the first 13 announced a shutdowns and now statewide closure of this. It’s killing our all indoor activities business.” at restaurants and Greenhouse Cafe wineries and a Matt Preston and Nikki Miller work inside an empty Danette’s Brick Oven Pub has limited outdoor complete closure in Placerville Wednesday as the eatery has had to limit service to to-go after space allowing of bars, movie the recent health safety shutdown. them three tables, theaters, museums, seating four people at card rooms and entertainment centers. each. Coleman said she doesn’t understand why certain Eateries are only permitted to provide outdoor dining businesses are deemed essential by the state and others and takeout/curbside service under the newest round aren’t. of restrictions of indoor restaurants. This is the second “We sit here and see customers being allowed to go to COVID-19-related shutdown. County public health places like Home Depot and other big-box stores and officials also asked restaurants to close for dine-in March wonder why we have more restrictions,” Coleman said. 19; those restrictions were lifted mid-May. The back and “I understand why the state is taking steps to get ahead forth is reaching a boiling point with restaurant owners n See Restaurants, page A6 locally.
E
See Planners, page A6
Bass Lake Park: A future educational resource and so much more Sel Richard Staff writer
“T
his is the most unique urban park in this county,” posited El Dorado County Parks and Recreation Commissioner Wayne Lowery. “It’s going to have a regional draw; we’re not going to be able to stop it.” Lowery is also a member of the EDH Promise Foundation, a group that seeks to fund El Dorado Hills parks and amenities, health, welfare, senior and youth services and educational and recreational programs that cannot be supported by other means. Last April the El Dorado Hills Democrat file photo by Shelly Thorene Community Services District authorized the The El Dorado Hills Community Services District is asking for residents’ input Promise Foundation to scope development regarding future plans for Bass Lake Regional Park. CSD officials hope to make the of Bass Lake Regional Park project, a park both an educational and recreational facility for the region.
nearly 210-acre parcel the CSD began acquiring in 2016. The land includes 142 acres purchased from Rescue Union School District, 14.74 acres from the El Dorado Irrigation District, 41.7 acres from El Dorado County and approximately 12.5 acres of parkland dedication from Parker Development. The Promise Foundation developed recommendations for the regional park in six key areas: park access and general design elements, active sports areas and uses, outdoor education and related site concepts, both active and passive trails and lake uses, fishery and wildlife management and also community engagement and longterm management issues. n
See Bass Lake, page A3
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