The Bass Lake Apartments Opposition Alliance (BLAOA) is a group of dedicated community members and reluctant leaders committed to safeguarding our environment, public safety, and the unique character of our county.

The proposed Bass Lake Family Apartments, across from Green Valley Elementary School, poses significant impacts to our community that we do not want to be overlooked.

We believe it’s crucial to take immediate action to prevent this harmful project from moving forward.

Where We Are At 

We first learned about the project on May 24th, 2024, after watching a recording of an El Dorado Hills Area Planning Advisory meeting. Upon investigation, we discovered that the developer was in the pre-application stages, planning to use SB330 and AB2011 to build 126 units of high-density affordable housing on a 5-acre lot previously zoned for commercial use.

In response, we quickly mobilized as individuals, distributing flyers and launching social media campaigns on NextDoor to encourage the community to send letters to the planning department before their final technical advisory meeting. Our collective voice was heard, resulting in the county creating an FAQ page to address concerns. The project continued to move through the planning process, with little to no visibility into the next steps (we’re still trying to understand this better).

In July, the county notified residents within a 1,000’ radius of a zoning administration meeting concerning the developer’s intention to parcel off wetlands, the lack of which are a key requirement for using SB330 and AB2011. Our community rallied again, releasing another letter campaign and attending the hearing in force, with 60-70 attendees, including a letter and representation from the Sierra Crossing Homeowners Association. Despite the overwhelming opposition and thoughtful testimonies, the zoning administrator approved the lot split, advancing the project. However, the undeveloped parcel was increased in size due to our input to include more wetlands, a small win.

In response, the BLAOA was formed in late August, and we filed an appeal against this decision. The appeal will now be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors at a public hearing tentatively scheduled for September 24th.

It’s crucial that we gather as many letters and testimonies as possible to present a unified front. You can review the appeal here to begin preparing your 3-minute testimony. In the coming weeks, we will provide reminders and guidance on what to include in your letters and testimonies.

Our Ask of You

For now, we ask you to help us grow our email newsletter by sharing our website, www.opposebla.com, with your neighbors and social media networks. Our goal is to fill all 150-ish seats at the upcoming board of supervisors meeting. Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and NextDoor (coming soon), and engage with our content to increase our reach.

Join us in protecting El Dorado County’s future. Visit www.opposebla.com to learn more and get involved.

The fight is not over—the development has not yet been approved, and there is still time to act. We could have a long road ahead, and we need your support.

Sincerely,
The BLAOA Team
opposeBLA@gmail.com