Sutter's Landing Park Solar Project

Sutter's Landing Park Solar Project Mound and Site Plan

The City of Sacramento is working with Conergy on a potential Solar Park located at the former 28th Street Landfill (now known as Sutter's Landing Park). The proposed Solar Park will generate up to 20 megawatts of power (that's enough to power 15,000 Sacramento homes). The power from the facility will be sold and will help generate revenue for the City.

The City and Conergy are currently seeking a special use permit for 95,300 solar modules and will then conduct a CEQA review. Pending City Council approval and amendments of the State permit for the landfill, the City anticipates work to begin on this project in summer 2012.

The landfill operations occupied approximately 172 acres. The landfill was used for disposal of nonhazardous residential, commercial and industrial wastes, collected primarily by the City’s waste collection services. Refuse filling took place beginning in 1963. The landfill has not accepted new waste since 1994.

The proposed solar project is a Department of Utilities-sponsored project on City property that has not been released yet for park development because the landfill cannot yet support park development. The solar project is not a park project. It is located at a site designated for a future park. The time period for the solar use may extend beyond the landfill closure period, depending on the progress of post-closure activities.

Last year the City Council looked at a two year study conducted by the Community Development Department to move the zoo to Sutter’s Landing site for a modest expansion of the zoo, those plans never moved forward.

This project would include a viewing platform for the public to use.
Solar Photovoltaic Park Environmental Impact Report

Sacramento Zoo Feasibility Study

This Tuesday the City Council will look over a two year study by the Community Development Department Zoo feasibility study. The Sacramento Zoological Society Long Range Planning Committee had identified Sutter's Landing Regional Park as their preferred site for a modest expansion of the zoo, but alternative sites have also been located for a future zoo.

Cost Premium of Construction on former landfill:
Construction costs will be significantly higher (to account for ground settling and special drainage treatment); thus, it is expected that construction of a zoo on this site would cost $625K/acre ($30 million total for a 50 acre zoo) above the "normal" costs of constructing a zoo on a site without landfill issues.

In addition to Sutter's Landing Regional Park, the consultant conducted preliminary evaluations of other potential sites:
• Natomas Joint Vision: This land area has no land use entitlements or habitat conservation permits.
• Arco Arena area: This site is part of the Convergence proposal
• Job Corps / Delta Shores Regional Park: The southern portion of the Job Corps site has not yet been surplused by the federal government
• North Natomas Regional Park: Already programmed for other uses
• Haggin Oaks Golf Course: This would require reconfiguration of the existing golf course and there may be competition from other potential users
• Cal Expo: This site is part of the Convergence proposal
• Granite Regional Park - east basin: This site is.difficult to evacuate in the event of drainage pump failure
• Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course: This site would require reconfiguration or elimination of the existing golf course.

The study emphasized that:
• The decision and actions to move forward with a zoo of the future are long range planning activities (a 20 year timeframe).
• There are no imminent plans to move or expand the zoo; options are provided for preliminary consideration.
• The community and PRC workshops are an important step in exploring those options for the long term future of the zoo.

The Feasibility Study concluded that:
• The current 14 acre site of the Land Park zoo is not sustainable for the future. The changing exhibit requirements, increasing operating costs, and stagnant revenues, are resulting in a zoo that offers fewer exhibits. Parking is limited and cannot fully accommodate visitors on weekends or during busy seasons.
• Sutter's Landing Regional Park is not well suited for a zoo. The site poses a number of tough challenges (e.g., building new access roads and constructing zoo facilities on a former landfill).
• Initial findings are that other sites are potentially better suited for a future zoo.
• Physically, Land Park could potentially accommodate a modest expansion.