The Placer County Redevelopment Agency will hold a public meeting to solicit input on the development of a Highway 49 Beautification and Streetscape Master Plan. The meeting will be on Tues., Oct. 21, 2008, at Robinson Sand and Gravel, 2145 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn, Calif., from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting will be to evaluate the existing corridor and produce a realistic plan for overall aesthetics, landscaping and pedestrian, public transit and bicycle circulation. The section of State Highway 49, or the Grass Valley Highway as it is also called, is an approximately 3.5-mile stretch from Nevada Street to Joeger Road. The first phase of the Plan will address New Airport Road to Education Street.
The Oct. 21 meeting will have visual representations of the highway available for public review. These displays will show the highway corridors and possible options for future improvement projects. The Redevelopment Agency is seeking comment on these options that will then be incorporated into a final plan. At the meeting, there will be a review of the project goals, timeline, progress of Caltrans work and opportunities and constraints along the corridor.
After the Oct. 21, 2008 meeting, there will be a public comment period from Oct. 22 until Nov. 7, 2008. The Redevelopment Agency will also incorporate this public input and present the completed Master Plan at a subsequent meeting on January 2009.
The Placer County Highway 49 Beautification and Streetscape Master Plan is one part of a continuing effort to improve the aesthetics, functionality, traffic flow and economic health of the highway. Other current and future projects and programs in which the Redevelopment Agency and other Placer County agencies have been involved include:
- The new Auburn Plaza Shopping Center at Luther Road;
- North Auburn Sewer Siphon Improvement Project;
- The Façade and Commercial Loan Improvement Programs, which provide Redevelopment Agency funds for windows, siding, signage and landscaping for buildings along the highway. Businesses recently utilizing this program, include Animal Medical Clinic, Oak Fire Grill and a Dutch Brothers drive-through coffee outlet at Dry Creek Road and 4150 Grass Valley Hwy;
- The Walgreens Pharmacy under construction at New Airport Road;
- Landscaping for a county-built roundabout associated with a Home Depot store being constructed near Highway 49;
- Expansion of the Les Schwab Tire Center;
- Upgrades and improvements to Rock Creek Plaza Shopping Center including new Best Buy and BevMo stores;
- Expansion of the existing Target store at Bell Road; and
- Auburn Creekside retail/office complex, north of Bell Road.
The Redevelopment Agency plans to spend approximately $200,000 on the Master Plan and an additional $700,000 on implementing the first phase of construction. For additional information, contact Candace Rousselet at the Placer County Redevelopment Agency, (530) 745-3150.