Despite a slowed housing market, plans for expansive development and large annexations dominated the news for Placer County and its cities in 2007.
Drawing the most attention were Placer Vineyards, the largest project ever approved in the county, and Rocklin's proposed Clover Valley development.
Placer leaders also inched forward on a countywide land conservation plan but lost ground on a proposed sales tax measure for local road funding.
Individuals making news in South Placer included former county Planning Commission member Michelle Ollar-Burris for her alleged illegal land deals, and the Sacramento Kings' Ron Artest for problems with dogs at his then-home in Loomis.
The following are our selections for South Placer's top news stories of 2007:
Voting on Clover Valley
After years of controversy, the Rocklin City Council in August approved developer Rick Massie's plan to build 558 homes in Clover Valley, but now that decision will go to the voters.
Over the years, citizens have opposed the project, which includes a neighborhood commercial center, fire station, 366 acres of public open space and two miles of bicycle and hiking trials.
Opponents say it would pave over one of the last remaining open-space areas in the city, generate more traffic and destroy wildlife habitats and American Indian heritage sites.
Less than a month after the council's vote, opponents gathered enough signatures to qualify a referendum for the Feb. 5 ballot.
If approved by a simple majority, Measure H would ratify the council's decision to approve the project.
Elected officials, business and community leaders recently formed a coalition, called Rocklin Alliance for Open Space, to push for Measure H's passage.
Both sides have begun campaigning by walking the precincts, calling registered voters and sending mailers to households.
Placer Vineyards OK'd
In July, Placer County supervisors approved a development the size of a small city just north of the Sacramento County line.
The Placer Vineyards project is the largest development ever approved for the unincorporated portion of Placer County and one of the largest ever approved in the region.
The project will bring 14,132 houses to 5,230 acres of farmland west of Roseville. About 32,800 new residents are expected in the development, which will be built over a 20- to 30-year period.
Roseville looks to expand
After going through Placer County's planning process since 2003, the developer of the proposed 2,200-acre Placer Ranch project submitted a formal annexation request to the city of Roseville in October.
A month later, the City Council voted unanimously to let staff members begin paperwork on the project, which includes a California State University, Sacramento, branch campus.
Developer Eli Broad would donate nearly 300 acres for the university campus. If approved, the plan would add about 5,000 homes and 9 million square feet of commercial and industrial development.
Placer Ranch was the fourth annexation proposal to come before the Roseville council in 2007. Earlier this year, council members agreed to consider the Creekview, Sierra Vista and Brookfield specific plans, totaling 3,350 acres.
Case ends in hung jury
A lengthy trial over whether a 15-month-old Roseville baby died of head injuries when shaken by a nanny ended in a hung jury Oct. 31 in a courtroom in Auburn.
The jury deadlocked at 10-2 in favor of conviction as to whether Veronica Martinez Salcedo caused the death of Hannah Rose Juceam in May 2006.
Prosecutors have refiled charges against Martinez Salcedo, and a second trial is expected in 2008.
Dog troubles for Artest
Sacramento Kings basketball star Ron Artest found himself in trouble with authorities during a two-month period at his then-home in a gated community in Loomis.
In February, animal control officers seized one of his dogs and cited Artest for failing to feed it. A month later, Artest was arrested at his home over a domestic violence incident in which he allegedly shoved his wife, causing the Kings to give him a short leave of absence from basketball.
Call The Bee's Art Campos, (916) 773-2825. Coverage by Niesha Lofing and Mary Lynne Vellinga contributed to this report.
