The proposed "Project" is a new County of Solano government administrative center to be known as the Solano County Government Center. The Project has been authorized by the Solano County Board of Supervisors and is proposed to be constructed for occupancy that is scheduled to occur by December 2004. It includes a new County Administration Center office building containing approximately 300,000 square feet of floor space, along with a Public Plaza and a new parking structure to accommodate approximately 1,000 parking spaces. The Project also proposes a Probation Department building of approximately 40,000 square feet along with two support buildings.
The proposed new government center will consolidate Solano County operations currently housed in numerous locations throughout the City of Fairfield, City of Suisun and outlining County areas. Some satellite offices and departments will remain in operation.
Description of the Master Plan project Area: One portion of the Master Plan area contains approximately 9.1 acres of land and is located in downtown Fairfield, and bordered by Texas Street on the north, Broadway Street on the south, Union Avenue on the east and Jefferson Street on the west. This area is partially improved with employee and visitors paved parking lots, the old County Free Library building (circa 1931) currently occupied by the Solano County Department of Environmental Management, a Girl Scout lodge (circa 1931) and eight other buildings as noted above.
Another portion of the Master Plan project area, containing approximately 5.9 acres, is bordered by Texas Street on the south, Empire Street on the north, Jefferson on the west, and Washington Street on the east. This area is improved with the old County Courthouse (circa 1911) currently occupied by Solano County administrative offices, a newer building (courthouse annex circa 1950s) also occupied by Solano County administrative offices, and additional employee and visitor paved parking lots. Located within one of the parking lots is a metal parking structure (circa 1919) and a concrete water tower (circa 1919).
A third portion of the Master Plan project area contains approximately 13.2 acres of land bordered by Texas Street on the north, Union Avenue on the west, and Clay Street on the east and south. This area is improved with various Solano County administrative offices, the Hall of Justice (originally constructed 1913 but subsequently expanded and modernized), the Law and Justice Center, and paved parking.
One other portion of the Master Plan project area consists of a single parcel/building located on the southwest corner of Texas and Jefferson Streets and is occupied by offices of the County Assessor and County Recorder.
The County of Solano has prepared an Initial Environmental Impact Study. In addition, the County has filed a Notice of Preparation for a Draft Environmental Impact Report. All comments received during the public review period November 21, 2001 to December 19, 2001 will be included in the Draft Environmental Impact Report. The Draft Environmental Impact Report will analyze potential project alternatives and identify measures to minimize or eliminate (mitigate) those impacts determined to be significant. All comments received on the Draft EIR during a public review period (schedule to be announced) along with responses to those comments will be included in a Final EIR expected to be completed in August 2002.