Scotts Valley council approves 19‑unit Ridgewood West townhomes after debate over parking, oak grove and design

The Scotts Valley City Council voted to approve a 19‑unit townhome project known as Ridgewood West on Herba Lane after a public hearing that featured neighborhood concerns about parking, safety and protection of a coastal live oak riparian woodland.

The development, proposed by City Ventures, will subdivide a 1.04‑acre parcel and construct four three‑story buildings with a total of 19 for‑sale condominium units; the applicant is using state density‑bonus provisions to add three additional units, two restricted to low‑income buyers and one to moderate‑income buyers. City planning staff said the project will preserve about 40 ordinance‑sized oak trees and locate buildings outside the trees’ drip line.

The project drew sustained public comment from nearby residents and homeowners’ associations who said the site is already well used by families and park visitors and warned the development would increase traffic, create overflow parking and reduce views of the oak canopy. Several speakers also said narrow garage depths and…