Yuba City planning commission recommends City Council approve Homekey-funded Merriman Village project

The Yuba City Planning Commission on Aug. 27 voted to recommend that the City Council rescind its earlier approval of Development Plan 23-02 and adopt the updated Development Plan 25-02 for Merriman Village Apartments, a 218-unit, income-restricted housing project proposed for 428 North Walton Avenue.

Development Services Director Doug Libby told commissioners that the project, sited on about 7.7 acres, would average 28 dwelling units per acre and be carried out in phases, with Phase 1 (Building 4, along Walton Avenue) containing 79 units. Libby said the project has a General Plan designation of high-density multi-family residential and an R-3 zoning district with an X overlay that requires a minimum of 20 units per acre; Merriman would exceed that minimum.

"This project is consistent with the general plan," Libby said, adding that the city had secured a Homekey grant of $24,600,000 for phase 1 and that Habitat for Humanity is working to close a remaining funding gap.

Nut graf: The commission’s recommendation asks the City Council to treat Merriman Village as a Homekey-funded, ministerial project under the cited Health and Safety Code provision and to…