A Superior Court judge has ordered the City of Rocklin to work with the Town of Loomis on traffic mitigation fees.

Loomis’ battles with Rocklin over developments along their shared borders continues, but the two are beginning to come together on some matters. Especially after a judge granted Loomis’ Petition for Writ of Mandate on traffic mitigation fees for the Rocklin Lowe’s Project.

According to a report given to town staff from Special Counsel Donald Mooney, “The court remanded the matter back to the City of Rocklin for Rocklin City Council to amend.”

At issue is how the mitigation fees for “the cumulative impact on Sierra College Boulevard” would be paid to Loomis. The court held that the mitigation measure provided too much uncertainty as to whether Loomis would be paid for impacts.

Mooney said he will work with Rocklin’s attorney “to come up with language that would be suitable to both Rocklin and Loomis.”

Pat Taylor, owner of Taylors burger stand on Taylor Road near Sierra College Boulevard, said traffic improvements are desperately needed in the area.

“The roads definitely need improvement with the number of cars and the size of the trucks. On Friday afternoons in snow season it’s insane. Taylor Road backs up a quarter of a mile and people are trying to cut around. I’d like to see two lanes each way.”

The court directed Rocklin to file a return on the writ by Jan. 15, 2010.

According to Mooney’s report, the court ruled against Loomis on issues of greenhouse gas emissions, urban decay and cumulative traffic impacts threshold.

Since June 2007, Loomis officials have tackled Rocklin developments with legal aplomb and have spent approximately $123,000 in legal fees. According to Perry Beck, Loomis town manager, those legal fees could end up saving Loomis $2.5 million in road construction related costs if the courts agree with Loomis.

Loomis officials are concerned that traffic, pollution and urban decay issues have not been properly addressed when Rocklin projects are reviewed. The town also said the City of Rocklin didn’t address the increase in traffic and usage of Loomis roads.

ADDITIONAL ROCKLIN PROJECTS OBJECTED TO BY TOWN OF LOOMIS

Rocklin Crossing

Wal-Mart, Home Depot and other stores.

Located south of I-80 along Sierra College Blvd. on 55 acres.

Dec. 2008: Writ filed

Sept. 2009: Special counsel submitted brief to court.

Oct. 2009: Hearing. Judge indicated concern with Rocklin’s failure to address alternative to 24/7 operation and road degradation limits. The judge has 90 days to issue a ruling.

Rocklin Del Mar Business Park

Initiated to adopt a general development plan and rezone portions of property from large residential (3 to 10 units per acre) to light industrial.

Located west of Del Mar Avenue (between the railroad tracks and the Loomis border)

Aug. 2009: Special counsel submitted comments.

Rocklin Commons

Regional shopping center (possibly Kohl’s and Target) of approximately 17 buildings, totaling a maximum of 415,000 square feet on 40 acres.

Located at the northwest quadrant of the I-80 and Sierra College Blvd. interchange, bounded by Granite Dr. on the west and Sierra College Blvd. on the east.

Sept. 2009: Loomis special counsel and Sierra Club submitted comments.

Rocklin Granite Creek Plaza

Cinema/shopping center complex on approximately 21 acres, includes .79 acre designated Recreation-Conservation located adjacent to the Loomis Tributary/Sucker Ravine.

Located at the northwest corner of Sierra College Blvd and Granite Dr.

Oct. 2008: No comment filed, NOP called for an EIR to be prepared and the scope adequately identified issues of concern to Loomis. Wait for EIR to see how the issues are addressed.

June 2009: Rocklin advised this project withdrawn.

Rocklin Sierra College Boulevard improvements

Two segment road widening along Sierra College Blvd. from El Don Drive to I-80 (4 or 5 lanes with median) and I-80 to Taylor Road (four lanes with median including modifications to the traffic signals at Brace Road and Taylor Road).

Sept. 2009: Border Committees from Loomis and Rocklin discussed improvements on section from Granite Dr. to Taylor Rd.

Oct. 2009: Loomis Council approved negotiating authority for staff to reach agreement with Rocklin on those improvements.

Rocklin Croftwood

Croftwood 1 is 83.3 acres with 156 single-family homes, 6.3-acre park, 4.8-acre open space, 11.7-acre wetland preserve and 2.1-acre Barton Road buffer. Croftwood 2, an expired map, is north of Croftwood 1 and is 25.5 acres with 62 single-family lots on 16.68 acres and 5.9 acres of open space.

Located west of Barton Rd. and east of Secret Ravine abutting Loomis on the east and the Rocklin Crossing project on the west.

Dec. 2008: Rocklin advised that the project is currently at a standstill. The project is fully entitled until April of 2010, unless proponents file a map for another phase, which would extend that deadline by one year. Recently purchased by Tim Lewis.

Rocklin Clover Valley

Construct 558 residential lots, 5 acres of commercial, 5-acre park and 366 acres of open space on 662 acres.

Located in the northeast quadrant of Rocklin along Sierra College Blvd. north of Loomis.

Aug. 2009: On appeal to the 3rd District Court of Appeals.

Rocklin Center at Secret Ravine

Construct 23,600-square-feet of commercial buildings on 3.3 acres.

Located south of I-80 along Sierra College Blvd. on the east, just south of proposed Rocklin Crossing project.

May 2009: Comments filed with Rocklin.

Rocklin 60

Construct 179 single-family homes on 56.9 acres.

Located south of I-80 between the proposed Rocklin Crossing and Diaz Ln.

Aug. 2009: Special counsel advised that Rocklin 60 counsel contacted him to discuss possible mitigation measures such as reducing lot size or using trees buffers.

Rocklin Whitney Ranch Phase II

1,663 single-family lots, additional lots could be built on later, plus commercial and business professional on 641 acres.

Located east of Hwy. 65, north of Stanford Ranch, west of Whitney Oaks and abutting the Rocklin/Lincoln border.

Sept. 2008: Special counsel filed Loomis comments with Rocklin.

Source: Town of Loomis staff report