Abstract
The suburban community of El Dorado Hills (EDH), California, is the embodiment of modern-day suburbanization, characterized by its mostly low-density housing and auto-dependent residents. Suburban developments lack connectivity, walkability, and mixed-uses, thereby requiring residents to drive more. However, continued development of such sprawling communities is not economically, environmentally, or socially sustainable. They do not address reducing green house gas (GHG) emissions or reducing vehicle miles travelled (VMT) as mandated by California’s Assembly Bill 32, and Senate Bill 375. Nor do they address potential future housing demand of the aging baby boomer and millennial generations, preferring smaller housing with minimal yard maintenance and easy access to retail, recreation, employment centers, and transportation choices. This study examined whether it is feasible for EDH to become a sustainable suburb, addressing future housing demand and the reduction of GHG and VMT. The Sacramento Area Council of Governments’ Blueprint provided a benchmark to assess whether current plan policies in EDH are consistent with Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS). In addition, focus interviews with local planning professionals provided an institutional perspective to the viability of a sustainable suburb for EDH. Lastly, EDH residents provided their views on whether a sustainable community is feasible. The methodology intended to elicit information to answer the overall research questions: what are the obstacles to realizing a sustainable, walkable, smart growth suburb for EDH and is it feasible? EDH faces numerous challenges to attain sustainability. One major challenge is consumer preference. The result of this study showed that a majority prefer single-family dwellings in low-density neighborhoods. EDH lacks diverse housing choices and mixed-uses. However, more compact and mixed-use developments offer the greatest impact to lowering GHG and VMT because residents drive less. Current EDH Specific Plans addressed mixed-uses minimally, and some not at all. Lastly, EDH lack walkability, connectivity, and regional mobility. To tackle SCS, EDH residents must be convinced that having a Smart Growth vision is a way to allow growth to take place compactly and at certain areas thus preserving open space and natural resources and ultimately the rural character of the area, the main objective of the General Plan and EDH Specific Plans. Addressing growth utilizing Smart Growth principles could guide EDH to an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable community in the future.