State Comp, has proposed a multi-phase Vacaville campus with approximately 430,000 square feet of office space

Largest Vaca office plans afoot

By Amanda Janis/Business Editor

Article Launched:10/06/2006 06:29:33 AM PDT

Plans for what will be Vacaville's largest-ever office development are beginning to take shape.
California's State Compensation Insurance Fund, commonly called State Comp, has proposed a multi-phase campus with approximately 430,000 square feet of office space, confirmed Mike Palombo, the city's economic development manager. That's nearly four times the size of Travis Credit Union's headquarters, currently the largest office complex in Vacaville.

State Comp's master plan calls for five buildings on land just south of Genentech and adjacent to Interstate 505. Each building would be two stories and approximately 86,000 square feet. State Comp, a nonprofit organization providing workers compensation insurance at cost to California employers, purchased the 32.7-acre site in the Vaca Valley Business Park from Stockton-based AG Spanos.

"The first phase would be three of those five buildings," Palombo said, noting that State Comp plans to occupy the buildings in late 2007 to early 2008.

"We hope to begin work in November, assuming we receive all city approvals, most specifically a development agreement," noted Jim Zelinski, spokesman for State Comp.

The proposed development agreement between State Comp and the city is slightly unconventional.

The city would pay a portion of the project's development impact fees - levied to help pay for needed infrastructure work and public services as created by new development - based on two conditions: At least one full-time worker must be employed for every 350 square feet of structure; and full-time employees, on average, should be paid an annual salary of $45,000, not including benefits.

In addition to trying to attract a better-balanced mix of businesses, Palombo explained, "We're trying to upgrade the wage rate in the city."

Zelinski noted State Comp estimates 750 jobs will be associated with the first phase, and approximately 500 with the second. Work on phase two will likely begin between 2009 and 2011.

State Comp's plans are due to go before the planning commission Oct. 17, and to the City Council at its first November meeting.

Amanda Janis can be reached at business@thereporter.com.