GALT CREEKSIDE NEWS
City schedules meeting with Creekside residents: Aug. 6, 5 p.m. at City Hall
July 30, 2025
Some Creekside residents received an email from the City of Galt inviting them to a community meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, regarding access to the new 162-home Fairway Oaks subdivision. The vast majority of us did NOT receive this communication.
The City plans to provide an "update" on the project. In the view of Creekside residents, the "update" should simply be that the City will move forward with the development as discussed and approved at several meetings of the Galt City Council and Galt Planning Commission since 2020. Instead, the City has proposed closing the connection from Cornell Road to the new homes. This would serve to appease residents of nine homes on that quarter-mile road and divert that share of traffic into our neighborhood. We're already going to get plenty from the new connection on Ranch Road!
The email from the city states:
"We understand that there have been questions and concerns about traffic patterns and neighborhood impacts, and we are committed to working collaboratively with you to address them.
"As part of our efforts, the City of Galt invites you to a neighborhood meeting where we'll discuss the project and provide more information about access to the subdivision -- including an update on access from Cornell Road.
"This will be a great opportunity to speak directly with the City Manager, ask questions, and help shape a reasonable solution that reflects the concerns of those who live in the area."
Creekside residents need to attend this meeting to understand what is meant by a "reasonable solution." We should be very concerned the City will want to act in a manner that is not consistent with the project as approved.
We all need to be asking why things at City Hall suddenly changed after the disastrous community meeting at the Chabolla Community Center on May 29. At that meeting, Cornell Road residents shouted at City staff and lied about the City's past outreach efforts, preventing Creekside residents from receiving the information they wanted.
We need to ask why the City suddenly capitulated to these handful of residents who did not object to the Fairway Oaks plans in 2020 and 2022. Our city manager supported the project in 2020. Our theory is at least one City Council member is putting pressure on staff to unilaterally change the plan.
We need to be concerned that some of these Cornell Road residents, who had their private meeting with City officials in June, will try hijacking this meeting as well!
Be sure to attend the meeting and keep the city from harming us by caving in to the wishes of nine homes on Cornell Road!
City Council delays Fairway Oaks vote
July 16, 2025
The City Council last night held off approving the final map for the Fairway Oaks subdivision, which would include through access on Cornell Road, saying there were issues that needed to be addressed before a vote could be taken.
Cornell Road residents want to close access to the new development, which would have the effect of pushing even more cars on Ranch Road than previously disclosed!
Many residents from Creekside addressed the City Council last night, despite the matter being removed from the agenda. Click here for a YouTube video of the meeting. Public comments on this issue begin at the 16:35 point.
Creekside residents should continue writing and calling their City Council members about this issue. Delay means an opportunity to undo the past five years of unanimous City Council and Planning Commission votes with another backroom deal to satisfy a handful of Cornell Road residents at the expense of Creekside! Council contact information is below.
Stay tuned for more information as it unfolds! More details on the issues are in the articles below.
Cornell residents will ask Council to close street!
July 14, 2025
Cornell Road residents plan to ask the City Council to set aside 35 years of planning, multiple studies and multiple approvals at public hearings so they can have the equivalent of a gated community.
An email among residents on Cornell Road sent today states they are determined to close the street's connection to the new Fairway Oaks subdivision, calling it their "highest of priority." It asks residents of the street to come out in force at the 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, July 15 at Galt City Hall.
Closing the Cornell Road connection will negatively affect the Creekside neighborhood by adding even more traffic than projected from the new development. We don't want more traffic, either!
The City Council accommodated the Cornell Road residents' concerns in 2020, agreeing to allow them to maintain their properties in the current condition without upgrades upon being annexed. Now that construction has begun on Fairway Oaks, they've changed their minds. Meanwhile, the City Council is scheduled to consider approving the final map for Fairway Oaks, which includes access to the new hoes from Lincoln Way from Cornell Road, Ranch Road, Chase Road and Glendale Avenue.
Creekside/Ranch Road residents need to be out in force at Tuesday's meetings to let the Council know they need to stick to the plan!
Council to consider final Fairway Oaks map on Tuesday
July 10, 2025 update
The agenda for the City Council meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, includes the final map for the Fairway Oaks subdivision, which includes Cornell Road being completed and providing access to the new homes.
A link to the City Council report is here. ITEM J5!
Ask questions! Be heard! Protect Ranch Road from even more traffic!
While seeing the adoption of the final map on the agenda is an encouraging step, Creekside residents need to attend the meeting and get answers to questions such as:
1) Why did city officials meeting with Cornell Road residents (signs on Cornell Road advertised the meeting) and NOT residents on Ranch Road after Cornell residents hijacked the public meeting in May at the Chabolla Community Center?
2) Does approval of the final map mean city officials have ended discussions with Cosumnes Fire and the developer about blocking access on Cornell Road into Fairway Oaks except by emergency vehicles?
3) If not, can Ranch Road residents ask city officials to close Ranch Road to traffic entering Fairway Oaks, and have an emergency vehicle access gate as well? If the City Council wants to placate a small group of residents on Cornell Road, can the much greater number of us on Ranch Road be placated as well?
4) If the final map is adopted, shouldn't this mean that it incorporates the traffic study that shows how vehicles will circulate in Fairway Oaks, including through Cornell Road? Wouldn't shutting Cornell to through traffic be inconsistent with the approved map?
5) If the city wants only emergency access to Cornell Road and prohibit Fairway Oaks residents from using it, will it need to reimburse the developer with taxpayer funds for repaving the road and making other improvements?
6) Since a series of maps dating back more than 35 years show Cornell Road being extended to new development, and the City Council approved maps that included an extended Cornell Road in 2020 and 2022, why change it now that construction has already begun?
Be there! 6 p.m., July 15, 2025, Council Chambers, 380 Civic Drive
Be on the lookout for this flier in the Creekside neighborhood this week!
CREEKSIDE & RANCH ROAD RESIDENTS
July 10, 2025
The city of Galt has posted an item to appear on next week’s Tuesday evening council meeting agenda (7/15). The item is what is called the Final Map for the Fairway Oaks subdivision. As drafted the map shows four streets, including Cornell Road, connecting to the Fairway Oaks subdivision. The item is on what is called the consent calendar and items on consent are typically approved without discussion.
While the timing of the Final Map approval is interesting it may not necessarily be intended as a way to close Cornell at this time, but is likely a housekeeping item that clears the way for the developer to build out the project in accordance with the Final Map - which currently includes Cornell Road as a through street to the subdivision.
If the City wants to later close Cornell, which they have confirmed in writing that they are exploring, then they will do it by installing an emergency vehicle access gate (EVA) or something else to block through traffic at a later time. We will still need to remain vigilant and engaged as the City actively explores these options. We can stop any blocking of Cornell Road by being active on this issue.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW. Attend the Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Galt City Council meeting at 6:00 PM. The Fairway Oaks Final Map item will be on the consent calendar that is typically heard at the beginning of the meeting. We want to be certain they don’t try to make any late changes to the Final Map to try to close Cornell Road. (It would be very unusual to do so) Also, we want to make a clear point that we are watching and we are concerned. The City Council will have received our letter and signatures by the meeting and will know we DO NOT WANT CORNELL CLOSED which will send traffic to Ranch Road!
City Council Meeting: Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 6:00 PM. Galt City Hall, 380 Civic Drive.
City report:
https://www.cityofgalt.org/home/showdocument?id=49429&t=638877545677682706
Backroom deal to put more traffic on Ranch Rd!
July 5, 2025
City officials are working to placate some residents of Cornell Road and eliminate their share of traffic from the new Fairway Oaks subdivision.
This will have the effect of putting even more traffic on Ranch Road!
Fairway Oaks is the 162-home subdivision currently under construction at the end of Ranch and Cornell roads and Chase Drive and connecting to Glendale Avenue near the Fairway Drive exit off Highway 99. Plans for this neighborhood have included a connection to Cornell Road since 1991!
The City approved an environmental study and subdivision map in 2020 for Fairway Oaks after reaching an agreement with Cornell Road residents, who objected to plans for a bke path and street modifications, and were allowed to keep their properties as-is.
When the Fairway Oaks subdivision map needed an extension in 2022, with no change in conditions, there was no opposition from Cornell Road residents.
We all know the new subdivision will increase traffic in our neighborhood. The environmental studies for Fairway Oaks reveal that. The studies also pointed out an increase in traffic on Cornell Road. Those residents didn't object at the time.
Now that construction is underway, Cornell Road residents have had closed-door meetings with City officials to change the plans ... which only recently were disclosed in an email from the City to some Creekside neighbors. This effort at placating a handful of homeowners is not consistent with the subdivision map that was approved after multiple public hearings!
This agreement -- reached without allowing Creekside neighbors to participate -- would close Cornell Road to traffic in or out of the subdivision.
Where will it go? ONTO RANCH ROAD!
What can you do?
Contact our City Council!
- Tell them no more back-door deals!
- Tell them Cornell Road residents already had their chance to weigh in on Fairway Oaks!
- Tell them it isn't fair to make last-minute changes after years of public meetings!
Mayor Shawn Farmer
Council Member Mathew Pratton
