Developers Get Green Light for Subdivisions

Developers Get Green Light for Subdivisions
Vacaville City Council Gives Go-ahead so Builders can Receive Permits.
By Tom Hall/Staff Writer

Two small infill developments planned for Vacaville received special housing allocations Tuesday night.

The Vacaville City Council unanimously approved special allocations to the developers of two subdivisions. The allocations mean the homebuilders can be issued permits to get construction under way this year.

Castle Companies and Edenbridge Inc. are the developers that requested the allocations, which were granted in addition to the recently-approved annual planned growth ordinance.

Castle is building 36 homes on small lots on Beard Street in central Vacaville on the site of a former Seventh Day Adventist school.

Edenbridge's proposal for 47 homes on less than five acres adjacent to Hawkins Park in the Summerfield neighborhood was more controversial, drawing heavy criticism from neighbors in late 2004.

Both developers have agreed to pay into a special assessment district to fund police and fire services for future residential infill projects. The district has not yet been created by the city, but the developers agreed to make the concessions in advance of granting the allocations.

In other action, the council approved the hiring of a full-time program coordinator to deter youths from abusing alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, using proceeds from a fund that resulted from the state's settlement with large tobacco companies.

The program coordinator, employed through the city's police department, will help run several programs designed to curb drug abuse in teenagers, including the popular Parent Project, which helps parents through the pitfalls of raising a child in today's world.

The city's special hotel tax was renewed during the meeting, and City Manager David Van Kirk disclosed that he would be attending an upcoming conference on retail development.

Tom Hall can be reached at vacaville@thereporter.com.