EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — Angelo K. Tsakopoulos Investments proposed Tuesday the construction of a 2,800-acre and 8,000-housing unit all-ages community with amenities in Sacramento and El Dorado counties prioritizing service to elderly adults and people with disabilities.
In partnership with UC Davis Health, AKT Investments submitted the proposal for the “Community for Health and Independence” to the city of Folsom and El Dorado County to begin what it hopes is a multi-year process of study, public hearings and community workshops, according to Bill Romanelli, a spokesman for the AKT Investments.
Tuesday’s proposal includes multi-generational housing meant to attract residents and families of all ages and income levels, according to a joint news release from UC Davis and AKT Investments.
The news release says the community, designed for mobility and independent living, will feature technology-enabled homes for seniors and people with disabilities.
Steve Telliano is a spokesman for UC Davis Health who will advise and help with planning to make sure folks who live in the community with health conditions can be monitored.
"There's a lot of technology out there today, things that will help monitor vital signs and help tell people if they are well or if they need to come in for a check up,” Telliano said.
The plan breaks up the community into what they call first, second and third places.
- First places consist of homes: single-family homes, assisted living, apartments, etc.
- Second places refer to places of work, shops and other businesses.
- Third places prioritize recreation, education and social interaction and can be schools, commercial plazas and other community gathering areas.
A 200-acre teaching, research and health complex is planned as a centerpiece for the community, according to a news release.
According to the California State Plan on Aging, the number of older adults in this state grew from 2.5 million to 7.8 million between 1970 and 2016. By 2030, when baby boomers have reached age 60, there will be an estimated 10.9 million older Californians, the plan says.
“We know the key to healthy aging for people starts in their homes,” said UC Davis Health CEO David Lubarsky in a statement. “We believe a reimagined community that leverages technology for human-made spaces where people live, recreate and work will promote better management of chronic disease and increase independence for valuable members of this population.”
In 2021, the UC Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research prepared a report on planning healthy aging communities. In it, they said the population of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities is aging, and when taken into context with a California housing shortage, the report said there is a compelling need for inclusive communities designed to support health.
"Census data shows that we can expect more and more older adults living in our area, so we're looking at new ways that we can provide health care services to those people,” Telliano said.
Applicants hope the community will also feature trails, parks and schools.
"The vision here is a community for health and independence, and it came about from identifying a need expressed by seniors across the country to want to age in place and live in their homes as they get older,” Romanelli said.
Applicants say they plan for the project’s studies to be consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act to address issues such as traffic, water, infrastructure and environmental protections.
Where will it go?
The current proposal only incorporates Sacramento and El Dorado counties and does not fall within Folsom city limits, according to Folsom Vice Mayor Sarah Aquino.
Christine Brainerd, a Folsom city spokeswoman, says the portion of the project west of the El Dorado County line and south of White Rock Road is located adjacent to Folsom, and it includes a proposed 1,416 acres and 4,511 housing units.
In their 62-page plan, AKT Investments and UC Davis Health said the west plan area in Sacramento County is proposed to be annexed by Folsom and receive land use designations determined by the city. The east plan area is in El Dorado County.
“The city of Folsom has received a conceptual annexation and development proposal from AKT and UC Davis for their ‘Community for Healthy Living and Independence’ project,” Brainerd told ABC10 Wednesday.
She said all annexation requests for Folsom would be processed by the Sacramento County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), and the process LAFCO administers would involve Folsom, Sacramento County, UC Davis and AKT Investments.
Romanelli said any annexation requests would come later down the line, and while a formal application has not been submitted to Sacramento County, the project is on their radar.
City staff will be reviewing the proposal and present their analysis and findings to Folsom City Council for discussion and further direction, Brainerd said.
The application was submitted to El Dorado County Tuesday, according to Carla Hass, an El Dorado County spokeswoman.
“There are many, many steps before this comes to the board of supervisors for approval, and it could take years for that process to mature and come before the board for a vote,” Hass said.
She says the county requires projects like this to go through a general plan amendment initiation hearing and voluntary conceptual review process.
“Part of the reason we do this is to be transparent and inform the public that the information has been submitted and to provide early public knowledge and opportunity for public involvement in the general plan,” she said.
No public hearings or votes have been held yet.
