The push south

When county supervisors voted unanimously a few months ago to move forward on the South County Habitat Conservation Plan, that was a pretty good moment for the region. The plan set forth rules for development south of Sacramento, and earmarks large swaths of acreage to remain habitat for endangered and threatened species.

But along came Elk Grove.

The sprawling city to the south, whose City Council majority seems evermore bent on becoming the go-to team for urban developers and land speculators, decided to enter the habitat process at the 11th hour. In a “special meeting” (giving residents and environmentalists less than 72-hours to marshal their forces in opposition), the council determined to apply for an extension of its city’s “sphere of influence” into the 9,000-plus acres of unincorporated Sacramento County land designated in the habitat plan. Hold on there. Last time we checked, Elk Grove barely was able to handle its existing growth. The speed-expanding place already has traffic trouble, infrastructure catch-up problems and residents complaining about over-long response times from its cops in emergencies. Now it wants to put the long-awaited habitat plan at risk so as keep the growth pushing southward? The idea is without merit, confrontational and unwise for all the reasons any “slow growth” advocate could name.

Slow the push, Elk Grove. Go get out the binoculars, trek out to the Cosumnes, spot a Swainson hawk (one of the endangered species the plan will be protecting) and relish the fact that your community still features undeveloped, open-space acreage, not just big-box stores and strip malls.