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SACRAMENTO-

A coalition of labor groups, former city officials and east Sacramento residents are pushing for the approval of the controversial McKinley Village housing development by the city council.

The project is bounded by the Business 80 freeway and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, and McKinley Park residents fear that neighborhood traffic will be funneled through the neighborhood because there is only two access points.

A community meeting is expected to draw hundreds of people, but those who favor the project say that fears about traffic are overblown. Some feel it will be traffic neutral because residents for the 330 planned homes will live closer to workplaces downtown.  Commutes will be shorter and some my even bike to work.

Almost everyone agrees that a tunnel access point at the end of Alhambra Boulevard would be ideal, but the cost of nearly 30 million dollars would make the development an economic no-go.

The city planning commission unanimously approved the project which has the endorsement of smart planning organizations and groups.

But the City Council can over-rule the decision.  Politics may play a big role in the vote.  The developer, Phil Angelides, is the former State Treasurer and State Democratic Party fundraiser who is politically well-connected.

City Council member Steve Cohn represents McKinley Park and is running for the State Assembly.  He has said the project needs another access point and feels the final outcome is uncertain.  The City Council will vote on the project on next Tuesday.