Escalon planning panel recommends approval of Murphy Ranch subdivision, urges traffic mitigations at Brennan/Highway 120

The Escalon Planning Commission voted 3–2 on Oct. 14 to recommend that the City Council approve Florsheim Homes’ application to annex two parcels totaling about 17.98 acres and subdivide them into 72 single-family lots, contingent on standard entitlements and mitigation measures.

Staff said the project — called the Murphy Ranch proposal in the staff packet — would create a specific plan and Plan Development (PD-4) overlay, a tentative subdivision map, a development agreement and an inclusionary housing agreement. The developer proposes eight moderate-income affordable units (out of 72 lots) and expansion of Shadowwood Park by about 1.095 acres, including a single-stall restroom, a half-court that can be striped for pickleball, a gazebo and looped sidewalks. The city adopted an Initial Study and a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project; noise and cultural/archaeological resources were among the categories with mitigation measures.

The staff report, presented by city planner Jalen French, said the proposal is consistent with the city general plan designation of low-density residential,…