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VILLAGE CAMERON PARK
2010
3867 Dividend Dr., #A, Shingle Springs
™
SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF EL DORADO HILLS AND CAMERON PARK
VOL. 31 ■ ISSUE NO. 5 ■ MARCH 7, 2024
EDHCSD leaders under pressure ■ Residents, board members air
numerous concerns at meeting
Noel Stack Managing Editor Anonymous complaints, calls for resignations and accusations of misconduct have put a dark cloud over the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors in recent months and it loomed large once again at the Feb. 8 board meeting. Director Steve Ferry opened directors’ comments with the statement that an anonymous complaint has been made against him. That was followed by Director Heidi Hannaman calling recent events “a witch hunt” and sharing that she has received three anonymous complaints and two anonymous public records requests.
Village Life photo by Odin Rasco
Community members troubled by the Cameron Meadows development project flocked to the Cameron Park Community Services District assembly hall Feb. 15, airing their concerns about potential ecological impacts the project may cause.
CAMERON MEADOWS PROJECT
Opponents show up en masse Odin Rasco Staff writer The Cameron Park Community Services District Assembly Hall was filled past capacity Feb. 15 as community members attended a public scoping meeting regarding a controversial development planned to be built around Rasmussen Pond. The True Life Companies LLC has been pursing its Cameron Meadows project, a 161-lot subdivision of single-family homes and 16 accessory dwelling units on a 104-acres locals have used as an unofficial nature park for decades. When “for sale” signs first popped up in the area in 2021, heralding the possibility of future development, a grassroots opposition group called the Rescue Rasmussen Pond Alliance came together. The groups has swiftly grown in the past three years; according to a representative of the alliance, Rob Harris, the group now boasts more than 700 members and counting. Harris explained the group is committed to stopping the development before it
■ See PRESSURE, page A7
EDHCSD lawyer out
gets off the ground and aims to purchase the land to preserve its undeveloped natural beauty. The land in question is bordered on two sides by the Pine Hill Preserve and El Dorado County owned land — both parcels have been established as preserves for rare plants that grow on the area’s gabbro soil. RRPA members have said they believe the pond deserves similar protection for its status as a wetlands area. “People have looked after this place, cleaning and maintaining the socially developed trails for 20 years,” Harris said. “If you go to other natural parks in Cameron Park, they’re basically just utility easements and you’re just staring at other people’s backyards.” Though privately owned, the public has freely accessed the pond and trails for decades. Trails on the parcel connect to others that weave through the area, a web of walkways spanning more than 6 miles. TTLC’s project description carves out more
Noel Stack Managing Editor The El Dorado Hills Community Service District has replaced its general counsel. The announcement that Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard attorney David Tyra would no longer serve the district came Feb. 29, three weeks after members of the public and EDHCSD board members Heidi Hannaman and Steve Ferry openly criticized the attorney. “Cole Huber attorneys Derek Cole and Elizabeth Fratarcangeli will provide the bulk of the district’s legal services under the interim agreement,” states the EDHCSD press release. “Both are experienced municipal attorneys who
■ See CAMERON MEADOWS, page A6
■ See LAWYER, page A7
INSIDE NEWS VOL. 31 ■ ISSUE NO. 5
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