ELK GROVE, Calif. — The Elk Grove City Council voted down a controversial affordable housing complex for the unhoused.
The proposed Oak Rose Apartment project would have brought 67 affordable housing units to an empty lot to 9252 Elk Grove Blvd, offering permanent supportive housing along with support services for homeless individuals.
"I don't feel like this is the appropriate place," said Brandy Belasco, owner of Blush Salon & Spa, which sits across from where the complex would be built if approved.
Similar sentiments had been echoed by many residents in the area along with business owners who were concerned about what the project would bring and attract to the area.
"Concerns raised as far as safety goes and because we're all women here and sometimes we're here late at night," said Belasco. "I do feel we would probably lose some customers just out of fear."
The city's planning commission already voted to deny the affordable housing project, but the developer filed an appeal with Elk Grove City Council. On Wednesday, city council upheld the commission's decision.
"I do believe in helping the homeless. I have a heart for the homeless myself — but I do feel like we just need it in a different location, maybe more in an industrial area or somewhere where it's not so close to apartments or businesses," Belasco said.
For some council members, the decision to vote "no" came down to whether the project met the criteria for approval.
“We have standards for reason. We put criteria in place for a reason, and unfortunately this project does meet the standard or the criterion,” said Councilmember Stephanie Nguyen.
Part of the discussion revolved around a state law meant to streamline housing approvals, but officials said the project didn't qualify under it.
“What we’re telling you is there’s a better place to be. We’ve offered you a better place to be, and I please hope that you consider that because we do recognize that there is a problem here and we are trying to solve it and we are committed to it,” said Councilmember Kevin Spease,
ABC10 also spoke to Sarah Bontrager, Elk Grove's Housing and Public Services Program Manager, to get more context on the broader issue of homelessness in the city. At any given time, there's an estimated 100 to 150 homeless individuals in the city, according to Bontrager.
"One of the challenges in recent months has been that when folks have to leave their housing for whatever reason, it's really hard to find new housing. There's very low vacancy rates. There's not much affordable housing available," Bontrager said.
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