Major new housing community breaks ground in Sacramento County. See drone video, maps

Sacramento County is getting a major new planned community.

Officials held a groundbreaking Thursday for Braden, a development that could bring more than 8,000 new homes along with new commercial and retail construction southeast of Rancho Cordova.

The 2,667-acre project, long known as Cordova Hills, was first proposed more than 15 years ago. It is being developed by Somers West.

The first phase of the project will focus on a town center along Grant Line Road. About 900 homes will be built initially.

“Everything is designed and meant to be people first and cars second,” said Somers West Chief Operating Officer Rachel Bardis. “Everything is human scale so you can walk to get your coffee. No more than 10 minutes away for your work, schools, entertainment and restaurants.”