Folsom Neighborhood Voices Concerns Over Traffic, Parking For New Development

FOLSOM (CBS13) - Neighbors in a popular Folsom neighborhood are voicing some concerns about a new development.

Director of Public Works and Community Development David Miller showed CBS13 the future spot of a proposed retail space.

"It will be a commercial building very similar to the one behind us. Architecture will be the same and there will be individual tenants that go in it," he said.

But the location on Iron Point Road between Folsom High School and Barn Hill Road has come with some opposition.

"It will be about 3,700 square feet, probably take two or three tenants," said Miller.

Neighboring residents say it's minimizing open space and will cause problems with traffic and parking.

"I think Folsom has more open space probably than more cities in this region and certainly more open space than 80 to 90 percent of cities in the state," said Miller.

As for traffic, Miller says this project will add less than half a percent of the traffic the roadway carries. Ultimately it will benefit the surrounding area.

"To add some retail use up front on a busy street, add parking for the development behind us and to preserve an acre of space at the back of the site," said Miller.

The argument stands that the area originally was zoned as a conservation district but was recently changed to accommodate business.

Miller says the city has been in constant communication with those dissatisfied with the changes.

"We've all been trying to work on a solution and this is what we came up with," said Miller.

As it stands, council members approved the general plan. However, any businesses planning on leasing space in the new building will have to be approved by the city.