WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A new housing development that looks to bring 3,000 units to West Sacramento’s Southport community can move forward.
The decision comes after the city council denied an appeal late Wednesday night from a long-time resident, who said the project needs more vetting before construction begins.
16 years after it was initially passed, the proposed Yarbrough community is estimated to be 713 acres along the south end of Jefferson Blvd. It looks to build 3,000 mixed-use units, an 18-hole golf course, new parks, and trails.
The project received the green light after some community members asked city leaders to stop it in its tracks because the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is 16 years old.
“How long before an EIR is too old to be meaningful,” said Kimber Goddard, who lives in the area and filed the appeal.
Goddard said he has lived in West Sacramento for 45 years and much has changed since the EIR was created.
“They changed the development agreement all around, but they think that somehow a 30-page impact report from 16 years ago predicted everything that is ever going happen out here, including the Pandemic, including everything that has happened during that time period,” said Goddard. You are surrounded by 50 miles of levee in a flat bottom bathtub, a break anywhere in that levee. This whole area will be in 20 feet of water within two hours and there is only two ways out of this community.”
The city staff said a new report is not needed.
“It can't just be a rehash of the same issues that were raised in 2007” said Jeff Mitchell, West Sacramento City Attorney.
The city says this project will help with the state's goal to build more affordable housing.
The project developer did not respond to ABC10’s request for comment but said this during the meeting.
“Goddard’s appeal, a lot of the information he has provided is either found somewhere we cannot find it, or it is inaccurate, misstated or misrepresented,” said David Stroud, who is with ASB Properties.
The council denied the appeal with a 4-1 vote and is allowing the project’s Phase One, which looks to build around 500 homes, some affordable, to proceed.
Goddard tells ABC10 this is far from over. he can file a lawsuit within the next 90 days, under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
