Newsletter: Spring 2007
Articles
- What We've Been Up To
- Donate Now!
- Newsbriefs
- TRUTH vs. POWER
- Ansel Adams
- In Celebration
- In Memory
- How To Donate
Support Our Vision: CLOVER VALLEY HERITAGE NATURE PRESERVE
What We've Been Up To
Although the release of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) has been delayed, we have not been idle. Here is an update on some of our activities:
Completing our Clover Valley Common Wealth report and distributing it to public agencies, elected officials, and potential grantors. To get the report online:
- Who Decides the Fate of Clover Valley? available at Saving Clover Valley website
Increasing our fundraising efforts for the FEIR response. Funds are needed for legal review, follow-up studies, professional analysis of existing studies, and consultations. Our recent garage sale was successful, but we need more financial help.
Supporting Clover Valley Coalition's investigation of options-referendum and initiative. We will help with as many activities as possible, to the fullest extent allowed by law; again, fundraising is critical.
Working to build a Consortium of buyers (public agencies, private foundations, etc.) to purchase the property and conserve it as it should be--a historical nature preserve. The owner/developers are willing sellers, and professionals are working with negotiations.
Staffing tables at Earth Day/Creek Week events, presenting to groups, and showing the film, "Clover Valley: Last of Its Kind" in public outreach efforts.
Applying for grants in our on-going search for economic assistance to help us to get the job done!
With community and regional support, we are making progress. Clover Valley can be saved with your help.
Donate Now!
We urge you to support our grassroots organization with your most generous donation. We ask you to invest in our cause as we continue to address an ill-conceived and unnecessary proposed development with irreversible impacts on this community. We have no paid staff, no frills, and no plans to give up our vision: a life-enriching opportunity for future generations. We need your financial support-now more than ever!
Newsbriefs
CLOVER VALLEY NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL REGISTRY — Since Clover Valley did quality for the National Registry, the paperwork has been filed for the nomination. It will be up to the owners and the city of Rocklin to follow through on this most prestigious designation.
CLOVER VALLEY FILM PRODUCER WINS AWARD — Sean Booth has won the Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter's Environmental Education Award for his excellent work in making the documentary film, "Clover Valley: Last of Its Kind." He will be recognized at an awards dinner in May. Congratulations, Sean!
PROPOSED PARKWAY OPPOSED — Plans to bisect Clover Valley with a 4-6 lane expressway (16,000 more cars per day) will have devastating impacts on Park Drive neighborhoods in Rocklin, as well as Loomis. In addition to health and safety concerning senior residents and school populations, the 60-ft deep "cut and fill" will destroy environmental assets. Check websites to find out how you can help stop the parkway from being built.
TRUTH vs. POWER
Whether words are used to deceive, manipulate, or obscure the facts, we believe the truth surrounding our goals to save Clover Valley, will prevail. Here are some buzzwords and "spins" and their concomitant truths:
"Infill" — One of the owners called the proposed Clover Valley development "infill." For the record: "Infill" refers to development of vacant or under-used parcels within existing urban areas, that usually have infrastructure already in place and are surrounded largely by developed lots. These lots may no longer be viable for potential original zoning and/or have been passed over in the normal course of urbanization. Clover Valley's 622 acres hardly qualify as "infill." One only has to look at the map of development in Placer County to see the kind of shortsighted decision-making that allowed the annexation of Clover Valley into Rocklin. Now, because it's within the city limits, the buzzword "infill" has been thrown into the picture, which is either a deliberate or ignorant misuse of the word.
"Outsider" — Some of us who oppose the development are being labeled as "outsiders" with not-so-subtle implications that we have no standing, should go home, mind our own business, etc. With that logic, because John Muir didn't live in Yosemite, or didn't own it, he fit the "outsider" label and shouldn't have worked to preserve a national treasure! (The fact that the owners of Clover Valley live in Chico, Sacramento and Roseville is not addressed, of course.) For the record: The vast majority of our supporters are Rocklin residents, and thousands of others reside in the region. But whether we are citizens of Rocklin, the region or state, we all have a stake in Clover Valley's environment and legacy.
"Referendable Proof" — This claim was made by one of the Clover Valley owners, implying that the anticipated future Rocklin City Council vote to approve the project, or amend the General Plan, etc., could be worded to circumvent the referendum process. California's Constitution reserves the local electorate's right to referendum. The law, and the public good for which it was written, cannot be revoked or withheld from voters. Proponents of saving Clover Valley will reserve all rights and exercise them legally and appropriately if/when necessary.
"Tribal Agreement" —The owners are saying the Native Americans concurred in the treatment and management of the prehistoric sites (capping, building over, etc.). First, not only do many tribes support preservation of the sites, but also laws exist to protect such prehistoric areas. Secondly, those sites, as well as the historic walls and corral, are part of everyone's heritage. We have a right and obligation to protect and preserve that legacy. Destroying them is unreasonable, unnecessary, and unacceptable. To claim there is agreement on destruction is a huge stretch.
"Developer Agreement (DA) Gives Entitlements" — The DA merely sets out rules for the game plan. If A, B, and C are completed, then X, Y, and Z may take place. However, the DA is clear that all permits, regulatory agency approvals, and many other processes must be completed before the project may proceed. The proposed development in Clover Valley has not locked in any of its entitlements. Thus, the DA is similar to a pre-nuptial agreement, but it's not the marriage itself. Don't be snookered by the claim that the DA gave the owner/devs their entitlements to develop-it most certainly did NOT.
"Save CV Folks are NIMBY's" — Saving Clover Valley's environmental elements that belong to all of us is NOT a NIMBY issue. Instead, it's an issue about how cities become blinded by developer pressures to grow, tricked into believing more homes mean increased revenues for the long run (not true), and completely lose sight of more important issues. It's about a "few" making decisions and money at the expense of entire communities.
The truth about all these compelling issues will help to save Clover Valley.
Ansel Adams in Clover Valley?
Yes! Ansel Adams was commissioned to photograph properties that at one time included Clover Valley. The current exhibit at the Crocker Museum in Sacramento took our breath away as we recognized Clover Valley's landscape — continues through May 5.
In Celebration
A Holiday donation was received in lieu of gifts for the Speakmans, Adan-Stevens, Weidmans, Tahtis, Dormans, Waterstreets, and Wortman.
In Memory
How To Donate
Please send your tax-deductible donations to:
Clover Valley Foundation
P.O. Box 713
Loomis, CA 95650
To donate to "Save Clover Valley," please send your donations to 3031 Stanford Ranch Road, Ste 2-201, Rocklin, CA 95765-5537.
Any amount, large or small, is welcome. Questions, ideas, suggestions? Please email email@clovervalleyfoundation.org or call (916) 652-7005.