40 new homes planned for vacant lot in Sacramento’s North Natomas neighborhood

A developer plans to build 40 two-story single-family homes at a vacant lot next to Airfield Park in Sacramento’s North Natomas neighborhood.

Cartwright Nor Cal submitted plans to the city for the project, called Rocinante at the Park, in May, according to an email the city sent out last week.

The city’s staff has not yet determined whether the project, located on a 2.5 acre site in the Natomas Crossing area, will require City Council or Planning and Design Commission approval, or if it will only require approval from the city staff, said Julie Hall, a city spokesperson.

“City staff are currently researching the history of the former Natomas Air Field property to determine the necessary entitlements for the project, which will determine the required approval process and hearing level,” Hall said in an email.

“This development is designed to offer modern compact living solutions within an infill neighborhood setting, catering to a diverse range of residents seeking high-quality housing options,” the application said.

The houses would range from 1,472 to 1,638 square feet, with a mix of three and four bedrooms, with a mix of three and a half and four bathrooms each, the application said. Two houses would have their own driveways, while the rest would have shared driveways. Each house would have a two-car garage.

Some neighbors are pleased the project contains single-family homes, like the 70 market-rate units planned for a nearby property at 3590 Airport Road, said Lisa Pray, of the North Natomas Community Coalition.

“A lot of people are happy we are getting single-family homes, not more apartments,” Pray said. “We need housing, and apartments are an easy way to get housing, but it’s sad we don’t have a pathway to homeownership for more people.”

Some neighbors are concerned that the houses will be two stories, and that the developer might not pay to help complete the bike trail in the area, Pray said.

“Right along Airport Way there’s supposed to be a continuous bike trail, and some of the developers here are not completing the bike trail all the way through,” Pray said. “I think some neighbors worried about the buildings being tall.”

Nick Avdis of Avdis & Cucchi LLP, listed as the applicant, did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment about the bike trail. Anthony MacDonald, Cartwright Nor Cal regional director, said he could not comment on the bike trail Friday.

“We are excited once again to collaborate with the city to deliver a community featuring design-forward architecture, while expanding housing opportunities on underutilized properties to help Sacramento meet its housing goals,” MacDonald said.

In November, an LLC connected to homebuilder Next Generation Capital bought the property from a family trust, according to the assessor’s office.