Rural Elk Grove residents object to 499-home senior project. Here’s what to know
A proposed 499-home senior living development is drawing opposition from residents of rural Elk Grove, who say it threatens the area’s protected agricultural character. The Summer Villas project would require a change to the city’s general plan to allow higher-density housing on land currently designated as rural.
FULL STORY: Rural Elk Grove residents fight proposed housing project, change to general plan
Here are key takeaways:
• The project: Summer Villas would build up to 499 senior homes on 115.9 acres southeast of Sheldon Road and Waterman Road, with 349 homes in an eastern neighborhood and 150 in a western one. The plan includes 39.7 acres of open space, a clubhouse and a pedestrian bridge.
• What’s at stake: Elk Grove’s general plan designates roughly 5,265 acres as rural land with no public sewer, water, curbs or sidewalks. New residential lots must be two acres or larger, and small farms with livestock are encouraged.
• Resident concerns: Opponents say the development would strain roads and the watershed, displace wildlife and require sewer and water lines to be extended through the rural area.
• Not a NIMBY issue, opponents say: George Murphey, interim chair of the Sheldon Community Association, said he doesn’t oppose housing generally but opposes large-scale development in the rural area. “This is not a NIMBY issue,” Murphey said. “This is a community issue, a general plan issue.”
• A farmer’s perspective: Matthew Arnold, who supplies meat to local restaurants, said: “I’m not against housing. It’s just the wrong place to do it. ... That land is protected for a reason.”
• What’s next: City staff are reviewing the draft environmental impact report released in September. Once the final report is released, the Planning Commission will hold a hearing and make a recommendation to the City Council, which will decide whether to approve the project.
• The developer: Sacramento County records show Sheldon Business Park Ltd. purchased the land in 2022. Developer Bryan Wilson did not respond to requests for comment.