Calaveras planning panel approves tentative map for 38 townhomes at Copper Mill; traffic-signal deletion deferred to Caltrans

The Calaveras County Planning Commission on July 24 approved an addendum to the Copper Mill environmental impact report and a tentative subdivision map to create 38 individual townhome lots within the Copperopolis Town Square footprint, staff said.

Madeline Swandrow, senior planner for Calaveras County, told the commission the application (tentative subdivision tract map 2023-008) would convert two undeveloped sites inside the previously approved Copper Mill project to 22 townhomes on Site A and 16 on Site B, with common areas for access roads, guest parking and utility easements. She said the proposed map stays within the Copper Mill zoning code limits and would not increase the project’s previously authorized total residential units or floor area.

The action approves an addendum to the 2005 Copper Mill EIR and the tentative map only. The applicant had also sought a concurrent modification to rescind mitigation measure TR3B (which requires two traffic signals on State Route 4) but withdrew that request during the hearing so Caltrans can review additional traffic data. “Caltrans is requiring additional data to make their determination,” Swandrow said; the commission’s approval does not include deletion of TR3B.

Why it matters: the map reconfigures previously approved development within the Copper Mill footprint rather than expanding it, but public-works and state agency requirements remain in force. The project sits in the Calaveras County Water District service area and will require a water services facility agreement and compliance with the Copper…