Placer Countywill hold a public meeting on Thursday evening, June 28, to discuss proposed future uses of a 961-acre property formerly called the Spears Ranch that may someday be available for public use as part of the Hidden Falls Regional Park.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Placer County Planning Commission Hearing Room, in the Community Development Resource Centerat 3091 County Center Drive, in Auburn.  Residents are encouraged to attend and submit comments, which will be used to prepare the scope and content of information to be included in the draft EIR.

Both properties were acquired through the Placer Legacy Open Space and Agricultural Conservation program.  The former Spears Ranch parcel is adjacent to the current Hidden Falls Regional Park, which opened in October of 2006 and has been extremely popular with residents.

The county will be lead agency in preparing an environmental impact report to guide park planning that will be consistent with open space and habitat conservation goals.   

More than 20 miles of ranch roads and trails for hikers, bikers and equestrians exist or have been proposed, along with bridge crossings over Coon and Deadman creeks, plus trail connections to the existing Hidden Falls Regional Park.  

Other potential uses could include designated fishing locations, agricultural activities, picnic facilities, fitness/ropes courses and improvements for public access to viewing areas.

Use of an existing ranch house and other buildings on the property could include activities such as a nature center or caretaker facilities.  Educational activities could incorporate school programs, scouting camps, cross country training and ecology classes. 

Restrooms, parking, drinking water and fire suppression access and equipment would also need to be planned.

As the lead agency, Placer Countywill be primarily responsible for conducting the environmental review process, preparing documentation and obtaining required permits and other regulatory approvals.  The process must be completed before improvements to Spears Ranch can take place.

Written comments should be submitted as soon as possible, but not later than 5 p.m. on July 16, 2007.  For additional information about the process, please contact Andy Fisher, Senior Planner, (530) 889-6819 or afisher@placer.ca.gov.

Additional information is available online.