Planning Commission backs amendments to Placer Vineyards agreement to ease affordable-housing timing

The Placer County Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve two amendments to the Placer Vineyards development agreement and a related small‑lot map modification for Property 1A, actions staff said are intended to align affordable‑housing triggers with tax‑credit financing timelines.

Deputy CEO Michelle Kingsbury told the commission the Property 1A parcel is part of the Placer Vineyards specific plan and includes 1,285 units as approved: about 1,117 age‑restricted single‑family units and a 168‑unit affordable development. The affordable site is under construction by Saint Anton Partners and staff expects building permits to be issued in January or February.

Kingsbury said the first DA amendment (section 2.61) would change the current occupancy trigger that requires the affordable project to receive its certificate of occupancy by 75% overall build‑out (roughly 837 units). "Because tax credit projects take multiple rounds, we are hitting up against that trigger," she said, and staff proposed a two‑year extension from the amendment's effective date, with the County Executive authorized to extend an additional six months if necessary.

The second amendment (section 2.65) adds language acknowledging a dispute over how to calculate the property's affordable‑housing obligation. Staff said the county's interpretation is that Property 1A has a 110‑unit obligation (10% of the base unit count) while the applicant has a lower figure in mind. "They are building 167 affordable units and one manager unit," Kingsbury said. "The county's position is the higher number is used to compute overbuild credits; we propose capping transferable credits at 57."

Kingsbury told the commission staff supports both amendments and said the changes are intended to ensure the on‑site affordable project is completed and credited in a way that preserves the housing element accounting and flexibility for future decisions.

Commissioners asked whether the affordable units would be concentrated on one site and whether the 57 credits represent units that will be built or only accounting credits. Staff confirmed the affordable development is an on‑site, stand‑alone project (Foster Creek affordable apartments) and that the project is constructing 168 units; the 57 figure represents the units above the county's 110‑unit obligation that could be transferred as credits under the proposed language.

Chad Roberts, representing Lennar Homes, said the applicant supports staff's recommendation. The commission then moved and seconded motions recommending the Board of Supervisors (1) find the proposed actions consistent with the Placer Vineyards EIR and addenda, (2) adopt an ordinance approving the DA amendments with Lennar Homes of California LLC and Saint Anton Placer Creek Affordable LLC, and (3) approve the modification to the Placer Vineyards property 1A small‑lot vesting tentative map (PLN17‑00265) subject to modified conditions of approval. Each motion passed on roll call by the commissioners present.

The commission also recorded a comment for the Board: Vice Chair Beckler asked that the Board consider equally applying the 10% affordable‑housing requirement across applicants when it reviews the matter.

Next steps: the Planning Commission's recommendations will be transmitted to the Board of Supervisors, which is the decision body for the development agreement amendments and map modification. The board will take up the items at a future meeting; staff noted supplemental materials related to the Hope Way appeals and housing inventory are posted on the project website.

Notes: The commission recorded no public speakers on this item and staff said the affordable project is financed with tax credits and requires no county financial contribution.