Elk Grove Planning Commission unanimously approves Sacramento Zoo relocation project
With almost no deliberations, the Elk Grove Planning Commission unanimously approved development plans for constructing a new site for the Sacramento Zoo last night. The approval is the first step in the process, leading to the project’s guaranteed approval in the coming weeks by Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and her four city council members.
The zoo project hearing, the only item on the five-member commission’s agenda, lasted almost three hours. During that time, the commissioners heard from Elk Grove innovations czar Christopher Jordan (pictured above), who gave an overview of the project.
Jordan’s presentation focused on several planning questions the commissioners were asked to approve. Those considerations include the following:
- Certify the environmental impact report
- Adopt the zoological park special planning area
- Approve a conditional use permit
- Find that the inclusion of the project in the capital improvement plan is consistent with the general plan.
During their deliberations and questions during the presentations, the commission did not recommend any changes and adopted the plan as presented. Commissioner Oscar O’Con, however, recommended the Sacramento Zoological Society provide year-round discounts for armed service veterans.
Although the meeting focused on the design and environmental elements, Jordan and the city’s finance director, Matt Paulin, briefly discussed the finance plan. As previously reported, the $302 million price tag for the first phase comes from several sources.
They included the city issuing $114 million in revenue bonds, using $107 million from various city revenue sources, $50 million from the SZS, and $30 million from undefined “community partnerships.”
The zoo project will next be heard by the Elk Grove City Council, which has signaled it will grant approval. That hearing date has not been set.
Although the zoo plans are headed for approval, the city needs to arranging bond financing and the SZS will need to raise $50 million. Construction on the south Elk Grove 100 acre site is years away.
There will be a Zoom meeting on April 17 to discuss the financing details. Two videos below show the pre and post recess sessions of last night’s meeting.
Part I
Part II
