osedale Ranch is a new master-planned community where residents can live, work, shop and play. Built around a town center that includes retail businesses and community services, Rosedale Ranch will offer a variety of residential neighborhoods, recreational and open space amenities, schools and a regional employment center.

1. How will this new community differ from typical subdivisions?
2. Why is this a good site for the project?
3. Why is this project being proposed now?
4. Why do you want to annex the project site to Bakersfield?
5. Will this project take valuable agricultural land out of production?
6. What does the entitlement process include and how can the public participate in that process?
7. What will be the economic benefit of this development to Bakersfield and Kern County?
8. Will you preserve and protect the old palm trees on the property?
9. Will this project impact air quality in the area?
10. How will this project impact traffic on local roads?
11. How long will it take to build the project as you envision it?
12. What kind of housing/jobs balance do you anticipate?
13. What kind of transportation will be available to residents both within the community and to other parts of Bakersfield?
14. What school district will the new community be a part of?
    

1. How will this new community differ from typical subdivisions?
Rosedale Ranch will be a balanced community of diverse residential neighborhoods built around a town center offering shopping, entertainment and community services. In addition, the community will provide a variety of recreational facilities and include a 235-acre employment center which will create a high ratio of jobs to housing. Subdivisions are usually much smaller in scale, more homogeneous in nature and typically include little, if any, retail shopping or employment.

2. Why is this a good site for the project?
This is an excellent site for the project. First, the property is large enough to accommodate a balanced master-planned community that supports residents with retail shopping and business services; a variety of entertainment and recreational opportunities; community services, including schools; and a regional employment center. The property is relatively flat and no endangered plants or animals have been identified on the site. The development of the site is also consistent with the growth pattern anticipated by Kern County when it adopted the Western Rosedale Specific Plan in 1994. The project site is adjacent to the new Frontier High School, now under construction, and to the proposed West Beltway.

3. Why is this project being proposed now?
Pressure for new housing has steadily pushed Bakersfield's development beyond its traditional core. In the northwest, nearly a dozen residential projects in the vicinity of Rosedale Ranch are currently approved, proposed or in the planning phase. Plans to widen 7th Standard Road and build a new West Beltway to support the anticipated growth in this area have long been contemplated by the city and county. The Rosedale Ranch property is directly in the path of this growth pattern. Rosedale Ranch will help meet the housing demand with residential neighborhoods that are part of a balanced master-planned community that incorporates retail shopping, community services, schools, recreation and a significant employment center. Comprehensive planning of large parcels, like Rosedale Ranch, allows local government to plan properly for needed infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer systems, and park facilities.

4. Why do you want to annex the project site to Bakersfield?
The project area is currently in county of Kern unincorporated area. The city of Bakersfield is structured to provide urban services to new growth areas. Bakersfield recently completed a Municipal Services Review in anticipation of annexing Rosedale Ranch which demonstrated its ability to plan for growth in this area and to provide infrastructure and needed services including police and fire protection, sewer and water systems, and recreation programs.

5. Will this project take valuable agricultural land out of production?
Kern County and the city of Bakersfield made planning decisions years ago through the adoption of their general plans and specific plans that this area would eventually convert from agricultural to urban use. Given the rapid population growth in California, and now specifically in the Central Valley, it is inevitable that some portion of our state's vast agricultural lands will convert to urban uses. There is virtually no other way to accommodate expected growth in this region. It is important that the process of converting ag land to urban use is an orderly one to assure that ag land is not taken out of production prematurely or in a haphazard fashion. Large scale master-planned developments, like Rosedale Ranch, provide an opportunity for a more compact urban form by putting housing, shopping and employment in close proximity. The Rosedale Ranch project was required to assess the impact of its development on the region's supply of agricultural land through the preparation of its Environmental Impact Report.

6. What does the entitlement process include and how can the public participate in that process?
The public and governmental approval process is currently underway. A comprehensive draft environmental impact report (DEIR) was issued on April 4. The public had an opportunity to submit comments on the DEIR until May 19. The Bakersfield Planning Commission approved the project at a public hearing on July 7, and final City Council action is expected prior to the end of 2005. Annexation to the city of Bakersfield is anticipated in early 2006. The public is welcome to appear and comment at the public hearings. In addition, the city of Bakersfield and the project applicant welcome written communications and emails regarding the public's opinions on this proposal.

7. What will be the economic benefit of this development to Bakersfield and Kern County?
Rosedale Ranch will have a positive economic impact on Bakersfield and Kern County. Property tax revenues will increase due to the land improvements. Sales tax revenues will increase as a result of the household shopping at the commercial and retail businesses located in Rosedale Ranch. In addition, the community's Regional Business Center is expected to attract new businesses to the area and accommodate the expansion needs of existing businesses.

8. Will you preserve and protect the old palm trees on the property?
Absolutely. The magnificent heritage palms lend a distinct character to Rosedale Ranch and will be preserved as the icon of the community's sweeping Heritage Palms Great Park which links many areas of the community together.

9. Will this project impact air quality in the area?
The project conducted a thorough analysis of air quality impacts as part of the EIR and will be subject to mitigation measures to assure that air quality impacts are offset to the maximum extent feasible. By creating residential villages linked with multi-purpose trails and by keeping neighborhoods in close proximity to shopping and recreational amenities, the design of Rosedale Ranch encourages modes of transportation - walking and biking, for instance - other than automobiles. The plan also incorporates the thoughtful use of trees to help cleanse the air and conserve energy. Additionally, the Business Employment Center will be limited to non-polluting industries. It is anticipated that the completed project will produce less air pollution than the dust currently generated by the existing almond orchards.

10. How will this project impact traffic on local roads?
Growth trends in the northwest Bakersfield area are driving the capacity needs of key arterials like 7th Standard Road. Rosedale Ranch will contribute to the increasing volume of traffic in the area. The incorporation of retail shopping, community services and a significant employment center, however, will decrease the number of external car trips by the Rosedale Ranch community as well as other residents of northwest Bakersfield who currently must drive outside the area to access these kinds of services. In addition, we are required to contribute to regional traffic improvements through the payment of traffic impact fees.

11. How long will it take to build the project as you envision it?
Once the project is approved, it is anticipated that development would begin in 2007. The community will be built in phases over a 15-year timeframe.

12. What kind of housing/jobs balance do you anticipate?
Because of its strategic location, bordered by the proposed West Beltway, the railroad and 7th Standard Road, the community's 235-acre Regional Business Center and Town Center are expected to attract a mix of commercial, light industrial, assembly and manufacturing uses which will create a high ratio—roughly 2:1—of jobs to housing, one of the basic principles of smart growth development.

13. What kind of transportation will be available to residents both within the community and to other parts of Bakersfield?
An extensive network of pedestrian and bicycle trails will connect residents to the town center, recreational facilities and schools throughout the community. Arterial road improvements and eventual construction of the West Beltway will connect the project to the rest of the community. The developer will cooperate with Golden Empire Transit in planning for bus turnouts, park and ride facilities and other transit-related programs.

14. What school district will the new community be a part of?
The project site is currently served by the Norris School District, Rosedale Union School District and Kern High School District. A new high school, Frontier High School, is under construction south of the development.