Escalon holds public workshop on proposed Jackson Avenue apartment project; traffic and parking top concerns

Escalon City held a public workshop on a proposed Jackson Avenue apartment project, where city staff and the applicant presented plans for a two-story development with 17 residential units and two 900-square-foot commercial pads and took public comment on traffic, parking and neighborhood impacts.

The project, presented by Escalon City Manager Jaylen French, would redevelop an approximately 0.89-acre parcel on Jackson Avenue just north of Elizabeth Avenue. The applicant proposes two commercial pads facing Jackson Avenue and a 17-unit apartment complex behind them, with a mix of one- to three-bedroom units. French said the development would come forward to the City Council as a planned development (a rezone) currently slated for the April 21 council meeting.

Why it matters: residents said the site's proximity to Highway 120 and existing traffic patterns make the corner hazardous for seniors, pedestrians and school buses; supporters said the city needs rental housing and that multifamily development can spur local business activity.

Jaylen French, Escalon City manager, told the workshop the applicant submitted plans showing building…