Prairie City General Plan Input Opportunity

[Surj]

From the AMA:

Rancho Cordova, Calif.: The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division of California State Parks invites the public to be part of a long-range planning process for the Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area. Management of this important facility is guided by a Master Plan approved in 1991. Since then, State Parks has acquired additional land adjacent to the SVRA. Before these lands may be added to the SVRA system, State Parks must update the long-range plan. This update process will result in the completion of a new General Plan document that will guide future management and operation of Prairie City.

The SVRA serves the needs of many off-highway vehicle recreationists in the region and beyond. It is well known as the location for the Hangtown motocross races and also offers a diverse range of recreational opportunities for riders of all ages and skills. State Parks will assess trends in use and demand for different facilities and include goals in the General Plan to meet these needs.

It is critical that your comments regarding the future of this facility are heard by State Parks. An online preferred concept comment form is now available for you to participate in the planning process: http://www.prairiecitygeneralplan.com/revised-preferred-concept.

Suggested comments include:

- Continued commitment to providing OHV recreation
- Maintaining and expanding the world class motocross facilities and track
- Continued commitment to existing OHV only trails and open riding areas
- The creation of new OHV only trails and areas

Additional comments and ideas are welcome; please be sure to take the time to tell State Parks now what your desired outcomes are, while the future of this important facility is being decided.

Other non-motorized groups also are commenting in favor of their desired outcomes, so it is critical that the OHV community does the same.

More background info below in post #9.

 

[AdrenalineJunky]

Dedicated SuperMoto track anyone?

 

[budman]

bump.

Just because if we don't talk other that want to screw us will and we will lose!!

 

[bikeama]

Just did the survey and shared on FB. NOTE: almost all surveys have agree on the right and disagree on the left. This one is backwards.

 

[augustiron]

Thanks for posting this.
As someone who knows nothing about Prairie City, I think it would be really helpful if someone who is knowledgeable with the area and issues we are commenting on posted a "BARF position suggestion" so we know how to vote on things that aren't very clear in their poll.

I had to put "no opinion" on a bunch as I don't know if they have a negative or positive impact on OHV access.

 

[matt1216]

Thanks for posting this.
As someone who knows nothing about Prairie City, I think it would be really helpful if someone who is knowledgeable with the area and issues we are commenting on posted a "BARF position suggestion" so we know how to vote on things that aren't very clear in their poll.

I had to put "no opinion" on a bunch as I don't know if they have a negative or positive impact on OHV access.

Agreed, should I just agree with everything? I want to help but don't really want to read all the fine print. I don't ride off road but would like to have places available for it.

 

[liferider]

I'm not an expert or a lawyer, but I have ridden at PC many, many times.

In general, it looks they are proposing to expand the site to take advantage of the unused land between the entrance and Aerojet (AFAIK, they own this already). It would also add better parking for large events (such as the AMA Hangtown event, which is a great event with shit parking) and some overnight camping areas. All in all, looks good. Am I missing anything?

 

[Surj]

Thanks for posting this.
As someone who knows nothing about Prairie City, I think it would be really helpful if someone who is knowledgeable with the area and issues we are commenting on posted a "BARF position suggestion" so we know how to vote on things that aren't very clear in their poll.

I had to put "no opinion" on a bunch as I don't know if they have a negative or positive impact on OHV access.

Agreed, should I just agree with everything? I want to help but don't really want to read all the fine print. I don't ride off road but would like to have places available for it.

Sorry for the delay, guys. Here are suggested comments from the AMA again (from the OP):

• Continued commitment to providing OHV recreation
• Maintaining and expanding the world class motocross facilities and track
• Continued commitment to existing OHV only trails and open riding areas
• The creation of new OHV only trails and areas

I'm working on getting some more background on some of the issues from the AMA. I don't know have an informed opinion on "Distributed OHV recreation (existing vegetation protected per CVC Division 16.5)” for example.

However, reviewing the plan on the page answers a lot of questions, and that's the idea—review the plan and comment based on your opinion. The idea isn't so much that we all answer exactly the same, but that we all show up to give our opinion.

 

[Surj]

More information from the District 36 folks. Deadline is This Friday—hopefully this additional info helps inform folks to make comments. Please share!

- General plan info here
- Here's a bigger version of the general plan map.
- Comment form is here

The Prairie City General Plan process is accepting comments until this Friday, October 31, 2014

We desperately need to have comments submitted by District 36 members. If we fail to act others will designate what Prairie City will be. We are being outnumbered by non-motorized folks making comments so we NEED a thousand of you to make some kind of comment, even if a short one. Numbers of comments are CRITICAL, so have each member of your family send one, even if a duplicate of yours!

Of Special Note: On the General Plan Map you will see that for zones 2, 3 4, 5 It states under "Potential Facilities":
OHV Recreation allowed on identified route and trail systems.

One of their goals is to create a “trail system” and if this is allowed to happen it will effectively stop open riding that we have all enjoyed for years and by default reduce the actual riding area. This must not happen!

...

To assist you, below are some Bullet Points that are very important. Use one or more, but we need SOMETHING sent in, as numbers on comments count. (feel free to copy, paste and edit directly in the General Plan Comment form)

- Prairie City is an SVRA. State VEHICLE Recreation Area. Motorized vehicle recreation opportunity MUST be the number #1 priority within the Preferred Plan. This would include Zones 1,2,3,4 and 5

- This General Plan creates a “trail system”. This will effectively stop open riding that we have all enjoyed for years and by default reduce the actual riding area. This must not happen!

- PC-SVRA must be a World Class Motocross Facility. The Hangtown National Motocross is known would wide, and every effort to improve this facility must be implemented. This would include full exterior track lighting for evening use, and state of the art watering facilities. Zone 3

- Zone 5 – The quarry area should include a high quality Dirt Track Facility, including exterior lighting for night races, with watering facilities, permanent sanitation facilities, parking and bleachers for spectators. This same area could do double duty for other special events, and the entire area should be open for staging at special events and day use for practice.

- Zone 5 – YOST property acquisition. This area needs to have open/free riding, and not relegated to “trails” only. It has been 10 years since purchase, and opening of this area needs to be a priority.

- Zone 2 – On the map shows the old “gun range” as closed. This area needs to be rehabilitated for OHV use, especially for Permitted Events to enhance the “racing” experience and/or a staging area for permitted events. Nothing in the new Plan even acknowledges this area, and is only listed as closed. PC is a small SVRA and every square foot of opportunity needs to be open.

- Zone 2 – To the west, an area is identified as “closed”, yet not identified for ANY use in the Plan. Clear identification of this area needs to be disclosed. A reference lists this as an ARCH site #1, figure 16-2. This area needs to be opened, or rehabilitated. Rumors state this is an EPA Hot Spot that is contaminated. It needs review and rehabilitation if required, then opened up for additional recreation opportunity.

- To the North, above Zone 4 and to the side of Zone 5, it is listed as Private Property. White Rock Road and Scott Road are the reference points. Nothing is said about this property in the Plan, but consideration of purchase should be explored, and if possible, to be used as mitigation to possibly open back up the CLOSED AREA in Zone 5 identified as the Vernal Pool Management Area. Many riders used this area for YEARS prior to the state purchasing the property from the County of Sacramento. Please review EIR #SCH#910120071 03/ 1991 and the Master Plan PC SVRA adopted and approved 09/20/1991.

- ALL ZONES 1-5. Full free/open riding. Limited Trails to specified use, such as a perimeter facility trails or trails near sediment pounds for exploration trails

- Defined Trails at the most “minimum use” possible

- Explore possible use of “trails” within the Barton Ranch Acquisition. This is not identified as a possible use within the Draft Preferred Concept. See East of Zone 2.

- Clarify the Northern Communications Center [NORCOM] and its relationship to PC SVRA. Does it generate any funds for the SVRA via rents or concessionaire income benefitting the SVRA? It is not identified to the public what it is, why it is there, nor if it generates income to State Parks. It should have full disclosure to the public, as it does reside in a state facility paid for by the user community.

- Overnight Camping should be explored more for all 5 Zones. PC SVRA is the host to many permitted special events, and perhaps thought should be included to add this to the SVRA for enhancement and recreational opportunity.

- In the Draft Plan, identification of CVC Codes need full disclosure so the public can understand easily what the reference means. Example: Zone 3 reference. CVC Division 16.5

- White Rock Road/Pit Entrance is useless. This must be corrected, and is not applicable to entry to the SVRA anymore. General plan should include process explaining why this entrance became inaccessible to making turns into and exit usable since the new 4 lane expressway was installed. Efforts to correct this must be a priority within the General Plan.

- Vegetation. With the new water system now operational, a plan needs to be laid out to plant TREES throughout the SVRA, especially on the north east area of the SVRA. This will enhance view scape, keep dust down, and protect the facility from complaints due to the Folsom SOI process is moving forward. Tree and vegetation in the facility has been requested since the SVRA opened 25 years ago. It is time to move on this, and lay out water lines to address the water needs throughout the SVRA.

- Identify ANY possibilities of purchasing more recreation opportunity to the West of the entry road from White Rock Road to Gate 7 at the end of Zone 1.

- Moon Room. As identified years ago in other plans and discussions going back to when Sacramento County had rights to facility – clean it up and create a visitor center which would include a history center of OHV with museum displays of vintage bikes, event posters, etc. Could be used for educational purposes regarding OHV.

Your ideas or comments. A comment as simple as ONE comment is a comment. You can be as brief as you want, maybe a single issue such as KEEP OPEN RIDING AVAILBLE in all Zones listed on the PC Draft Preferred Plan. Or, I ride and race Dirt Track, and I want a National Caliber DT Facility for my type recreation………………

IMPORTANT. Make sure you identify yourself as a Motorcyclist. Add in AMA and D36 if you wish.