City Ventures presents 41‑unit Spring Grove townhome concept; neighbors raise fire, water and parking concerns

City Ventures presented a preliminary plan for a 41‑unit townhome development called Spring Grove to the Saint Helena Planning Commission on Jan. 21, saying the proposal includes 41 townhome units on an assemblage of three parcels on Spring Street and eight deed‑restricted affordable units. Planning staff described the project as a pre‑submittal concept and said the formal application is incomplete.

The company’s lead presenter, Kelso Barnett of City Ventures, told the commission, “we're here tonight to primarily listen,” and outlined a plan for 41 for‑sale townhomes across 2.53 acres at 1447, 1505 and 1515 Spring Street, with 33 market units and eight deed‑restricted units. Staff planner Mike Janacek reviewed procedural rules and state housing law, saying, “SB 330 is an amendment to the Housing Accountability Act,” and noting the project would require a tentative subdivision map, design review, a possible density bonus and two public hearings: once before the Planning Commission and, if forwarded, before City Council.

Why it matters: the site is designated in the city housing element as an opportunity site and sits in a high‑density residential zone. The developer says the design sits at the low end of allowable density — roughly 16.2 dwelling units per acre — and that state housing streamlining laws limit local discretion if a project meets objective standards. Neighbors said the project’s scale, single access…