Vanden Cove gets nod from commission
A 26.7-acre subdivision off Vanden Road consisting of 114 lots for single-family homes got the green light from the Vacaville Planning Commission.
The commission unanimously voted to adopt a mitigated negative declaration and approve a tentative subdivision map and planned development for the project at its Tuesday meeting.
The project was put forth by Concord-based construction firm Discovery Builders with the goal of creating new lots on three parcels ranging in size from 6,000 to 11,060 square feet, with four house plan models ranging from 2,056 to 3,357 square feet floor areas and architectural styles using Craftsman, Tuscan and French cottage designs.
The floor plans would consist of four to five bedrooms and three to four bathrooms in each unit as well as two-car and three-car garages. The project site would consist of 16 trees for removal.
Planning Manager Peyman Behvand said the project would be just below the Vandengate subdivision, an approved project consisting of 42 units.
The project would also contain two landscaped water detention basins to maintain access to New Alamo Creek. The site would be accessible through Vanden Road and the Vandengate subdivision, and emergency vehicle access would be via an extension off Purple Martin Drive.
Behvand said staff supported the project, particularly the proposed designs for the homes.
“They are well-designed,” he said. “They do meet the city's residential design guidelines when it comes to family homes. There's a lot of different materials, articulations and elevations, so from that perspective, the project definitely does provide the sort of house designs that the code requires but also that staff has been eager to see in some subdivisions.”
Vice Chair Michael Fortney inquired about a proposed pedestrian bridge and where it would be. Behvand said it would be across New Alamo Creek near Vanden Road.
Commissioner John Wilkerson asked if the project would impact
Alamo Creek. Behvand said Discovery Builders would need to obtain California water quality permits once infrastructure plans are finalized.
“I only ask because every now and then, Alamo floods, so I'm just making sure we have all of our bases covered regarding that,” Wilkerson said.
Kris Kamerzell, project manager for Discovery Builders, said an existing water line that crosses New Alamo Creek from the south side would be dedicated for city maintenance and access and that the basins would be designed specifically to meter water runoff from the site to pre-development levels and act as flood control measures.
Commissioner Amanda Rudeen asked if other housing types were considered apart from single-family. Kamerzell said they were not.
“It kind of fits the character of the surrounding neighborhoods,” he said. “Everything out there is residential low-density, 6(,000) to 7,000 square foot, so it just matches the existing character. It's a product that enables us to build single-story homes as well, which are super desirable right now.”
The commission voted 6-0 to approve the entitlements. Commissioner Ed Labonte was absent.
In other business, the commission received a presentation on the 2022 General Plan Annual Report, which will also be presented to the City Council in March.