Valley Springs Area Business Association - Visionary Council’s Vision Statement

For the Commercial Portion of Valley Springs

Downtown Valley Springs is the crossroad of two State Highway routes, 12 and 26. This has been both a blessing and a curse for the community. The downtown area features historical buildings - such as the railroad depot - linked to the town’s past. Unfortunately, the small lot sizes and modern-day congestion of traffic have inhibited commercial development in the downtown core in a fashion to serve the modern-day consumer. The Valley Oak Shopping Center is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of the two highways, but it is hemmed in by the intersection on two sides, a sewer treatment plant on another and Jean Street on the fourth side.

Pockets of commercial development in the Greater Valley Springs area have occurred, mostly along Highway 26, south of the downtown intersection, beginning at Vista Del Lago Drive. The old downtown and the Highway 26 corridor are Valley Springs’ core business areas. To preserve the rural, recreational and historical features that make our area unique and to prepare for orderly growth in the future, commercial development should be concentrated between Vista Del Lago and the downtown core. Such a plan to consolidate businesses along this area will also enhance the future possibility of incorporation.

With proper planning, we believe a renaissance can occur in the core of Valley Springs to create a historical district, emphasizing our roots as a late-1800s railroad town. We are one of only a handful of communities in the state with their original train depot dating back more than 100 years and many of the storefronts of that era exist in our downtown.

The community has an ideal opportunity to redefine its commercial area and preserve the downtown core as a pedestrian-friendly historical district if the county and Caltrans take positive steps to re-route traffic from Highways 12 and 26.

Re-adjusting Highway 12 southward over open land to converge with Highway 26 at Hogan Dam Road seems the sensible solution for a number of factors. Highway 12 then would follow along Spring Valley Creek and Lime Creek Road before meeting its existing route east toward San Andreas. It is envisioned that a portion of this area would also be conducive to light industrial development 

Caltrans would have plenty of open land to construct a cost-efficient, modern-day highway network to meet the challenges of the 21st century instead of trying to shoehorn two highways into the middle of a town designed in the 19th century and the accompanying displacement of several businesses.

The re-adjustment would preserve the downtown’s historical intersection from demolition and without the heavy traffic flow; businesses could begin to re-invest in making the downtown and their properties suitable for pedestrian-friendly activities. The land around the train depot for an example would be ideal for a town plaza.

Secondly, the readjustment would move the center of town about a half-mile to the south. It would be a new center that would be capable of handling modern-day traffic and the community has an opportunity to design it as a new gateway. Three corners would be commercial, while the northeast corner is envisioned for spray and recreation fields, with the possibility of a diversion dam. There is also the possibility of a K-8 school and fire station/community center along this corridor.

The introduction of a roundabout at the new Highway 12/26 intersection would give Valley Springs a uniqueness and characteristic found no where else in Calaveras County. The new corridor could also be landscaped appropriately with Mediterranean-type foliage, such as olive trees, to emphasize our agricultural heritage and future. This uniformed plan for development of the new town center with wide boulevards and an emphasis on encouraging pedestrian traffic with wide paths heading both north and south, between the new center and the old downtown, and east and west, along the new public parks and services corridor, would help brand Valley Springs for its uniqueness as an agri-tourism and recreation destination.

The new corridor through Valley Springs should emphasize mixed-use development that will create a number of new jobs in the retail, public, professional, medical and hospitality sectors. These jobs will range in wages from minimum- to high-income levels. The area's economic base can also be expanded with the introduction of a much-needed higher education learning facility in the area. 

With thoughtful planning now, the county and Caltrans can lay the foundation to turn many of Valley Springs’ liabilities into assets and help create a community that will function well going into the future while preserving its rural heritage.

Approved June 17, 2008 by a unanimous vote.

    VSABA – Visionary Council Members

Nick Baptista – The Valley Springs News

Nick Hodgson – Bank of Rio Vista

Mike Nemme – Trinitas

Julie Moore – First American Title

Mike McDaniel – McDaniel Appraisal Service

Bill Magladry - Independent Financial Advisor

Candace & Buddy Keesey – Candace’s Cleaning

Don Urbanus – Rising Sun Nursery

Al Duncan – Property Management

Tami Allen - Placer Title Company

Danny Norris – Ambassador Funding

Dave Evans - DR Evans Private Investigations

Approved July 11, 2008 by unanimous vote

    Valley Springs Area Business Association Board Members

George Nelson, All Pro Realty – Chairperson

Norma Snyder

Susan Marrone - Haustier Kennels

Dave Evans - DR Evans Private Investigations

Candace Keesey - Candace's Cleaning

Elaine Alves – Rancho Calaveras Property Owners Association

Sharon Floyd - Umpqua Bank