The meeting was brief and to the point.
The Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission, which holds sway over annexation and expansion requests, conducted an initial hearing last week on Elk Grove's bid to grow southward.
Environmentalists had their say. So did members of the Wilton community, who are worried about the city's application to add 10,536 acres. And Elk Grove officials tried to ease their concerns.
The expansion would take the city from its current boundaries at Kammerer and Grant Line roads to Eschinger Road on the south and the Cosumnes River on the southeast.
About 7,600 acres would be studied for urbanization. The city says a large swath of floodplain north of the river would not be developed.
For Wilton and for environmentalists, however, the floodplain is the rub.
Wilton residents say the expansion to the Cosumnes River would put Elk Grove one step closer to their borders and increase the threat of their community being swallowed in a future city expansion.
And Pamela Flick of the environmental group, Defenders of Wildlife, told commissioners that any Elk Grove push south should not interfere with the South Sacramento Habitat Conservation plan, which is aimed at endangered and threatened species.
Elk Grove officials say the city has no intention of moving south of the Cosumnes and that it already is a good environmental steward.
Taro Echiburu, environmental planning manager for Elk Grove, told commissioners that the city already has taken steps to protect sensitive habitat within its boundaries and is an active participant in the habitat plan.
Further, he said, the city supports Wilton "in its desire to be independent."
In a letter to Elk Grove earlier this year, Sacramento County Executive Terry Schutten cited a number of concerns, including the city's interest in the 100-year floodplain north of the Cosumnes River.
It's still too early for any decisions in the matter. But a comment last week by LAFCO Commissioner Charles T. Rose may be revealing. He questioned whether the floodplain belongs in Elk Grove's expansion request.
"It doesn't seem appropriate to me that (the floodplain) would be in the (proposed expansion area) when it is not going to be developed," he said.
Rather, he wondered if it would be possible to amend the environmental impact report "before you study an area we don't need to study."
Peter Brundage, Sacramento LAFCO's executive officer, said he would report back to Rose and the commission in October.
Call The Bee's Loretta Kalb, (916) 478-2641.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.