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Developers unveil East of Leisure Town draft plan; council and residents stress schools, water and open‑space protections
Summary
The council received a draft land‑use plan for the East of Leisure Town growth area proposing ~2,400 'missing middle' units, parks, a mixed‑use town center and an 11‑acre school site; developers presented visions and residents urged protection for wildlife, water recharge and emergency corridors.
City staff and property owners presented a draft land‑use plan for Vacaville’s East of Leisure Town growth area on Nov. 19, outlining housing, parks and infrastructure concepts and next steps that will include environmental review and technical studies.
Senior Planner Albert Eno said the draft covers roughly 508 participating acres and anticipates about 2,400 medium and medium‑high residential units (the plan emphasizes "missing middle" housing types), an 11‑acre school site, about 13 acres of mixed‑use development and a network of parks and paseos. Staff said the draft will be the basis for technical work required by the California Environmental Quality Act and for infrastructure analysis, including wastewater, water supply and circulation.
Developers representing large property owners gave presentations showing concept renderings of a town center with grocery‑anchored retail, community clubhouses, turnkey parks and housing typologies such as duets, townhomes and clustered court yards. Todd Chambers of Lewis (Donaldson property representative) and others said they are pursuing grocery, park and school partnerships and suggested working with the school district on facilities agreements and financing tools.
Public commenters and several council members urged caution on several fronts: resident Roberto Valdez asked the city to preserve open space and emergency relief corridors; councilmembers and the public asked for clearer information about water supply and aquifer recharge, school financing, size and design of parks, and how mixed‑use zoning will be used to support grocery and other essential services in a former "food desert." Councilmembers praised elements of the draft while noting that many design and financing details remain to be resolved.
Staff said a Notice of Preparation for the Draft EIR will be published and mailed to thousands of residents and agencies, scoping comments will be accepted through Jan. 2, and a planning commission scoping meeting is scheduled for Dec. 16. Council principally received the presentation and provided direction; no land‑use approvals were adopted at this meeting.
What’s next: technical studies (infrastructure, water, fiscal impact) and CEQA scoping; further public meetings and planning commission review prior to any zoning or specific‑plan approvals.
