Placer looks to continue hearing on proposed trails expansion project

Published on Sept. 24, 2020

The Placer County Parks Division will request a continuance of a public hearing at this evening’s Planning Commission meeting on the county’s proposed Hidden Falls Regional Park Trails Expansion Project.

Parks staff will request to continue the item until Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. in order to ensure that the public has ample time to review the project and evaluate the findings of the Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report.

If approved, the Oct. 22 public meeting on the Final SEIR will be held at the Placer County Community Development Center, Planning Commission Room, 3091 County Center Drive, in North Auburn.

The meeting agenda and public participation details will be available on the Planning Commission webpage, here.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide responsible and trustee agencies, residents, civic organizations and other interested parties with an opportunity to provide comments on the Final SEIR and the proposed project.

The SEIR details the proposed expansion of Hidden Falls’ natural-surface, multi-use trail network onto approximately 2,765 additional acres of land owned by either the Placer Land Trust or Placer County, or where the county owns easements.

Approximately 30 miles of trails (including existing and proposed trails) within the expansion areas would be added to the 30 miles of existing trails within the current park boundary.

Two new parking areas and an additional overflow area within the existing Hidden Falls Park parking area are also proposed, as well as other amenities such as bridges, overlooks, picnic benches and tables, restrooms, drinking fountains and equestrian facilities.

After a series of public meetings and further analysis of the original proposed project the Parks Division modified its proposal and is recommending a reduced project, which includes  elimination of a new parking development in the Auburn Valley neighborhood, reduction of the development of the Twilight Ride parking area and reduced parking availability and use of the Garden Bar entrance.

The county will conduct a Board of Supervisors hearing later this year to decide upon the certification of the SEIR, as well as the proposed conditional use permit modification. The CUP modification will cover both the existing Hidden Falls Regional Park as well as the Trails Expansion area.

The SEIR is available online at https://www.placer.ca.gov/2537/Hidden-Falls-Regional-Park-Trail-Network, and paper copies are also available for public review during normal business hours at the following locations:

Placer County Community Development Resource Agency
3091 County Center Drive, Suite 190, Auburn, CA 95603
Office hours: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday

Placer County Clerk-Recorder’s Office
2954 Richardson Drive, Auburn, CA 95603
Office hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday

Questions can be addressed to Placer County Parks Administrator Andy Fisher at afisher@placer.ac.gov, or at 530-889-6819. Written comments on the project should be directed to cdraecs@placer.ca.gov.