The Loomis Town Council voted Dec. 9 to approve Project 2401, the 'Carmenere' vesting tentative subdivision map, clearing the way for a 24‑lot, low‑density development on roughly 98 acres along Delmar Avenue.

Planning staff described the project as located east of the railroad tracks and west of Bankhead Road, with lot sizes ranging from about 2.3 acres in the residential estates area to about 4.6–4.7 acres in the residential agricultural zone. The plan includes two courts (Trellis Court and Vintage Court), a pedestrian pathway linking to the Loomis Union School District property, underground utilities, and five distributed storm drainage basins. Staff noted that of the approximately 499 healthy, protected oak trees on the site, 26 are proposed to be removed for infrastructure installation; the remainder would be retained under project design and mitigation measures (staff presentation: mitigation monitoring and reporting program, permitting and surveys, and CEQA initial study‑mitigated negative declaration circulated for public review July 18–Aug.18, 2025).

To meet the town’s 10% inclusionary housing requirement, the project proposes five deed‑restricted accessory dwelling units (ADUs): three restricted to very‑low‑income households and two restricted to low‑income households, with the deed restrictions lasting 55 years. Staff said the ADUs would be built concurrently with the primary residences and a recordable housing agreement—identifying number, location, target incomes, duration, rent calculations and management—would be submitted to the town manager and attorney if council recommends the approach.

The environmental review (ISMND) identified potential impacts to biological resources, hydrology and water quality, noise, cultural resources, hazards and tribal cultural resources; staff described mitigation measures including special‑status species surveys, wetland delineation and permitting (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), Regional Water Quality Control Board certification, CDFW Lake and Streambed Alteration agreements, oak woodland mitigation, cultural‑resource protocols, soil testing, stormwater pollution prevention planning and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program.

In public comment, resident Randy Green raised concerns about vineyard irrigation and asserted that "unused water rights from Antelope Creek will support this vineyard" and questioned the reliability of that supply. Applicant Mike Fournier and project representative (speaker 16) responded that the property already has existing canal allocations and riparian rights and said, "we have 2 miners inch currently allocated from the canal. 2 miners inch is 32,500 gallons a day," adding that riparian rights are a backup and that no new water rights are proposed. The Loomis Union School District (Al Frangioni) praised the applicant’s utility coordination and said extending utilities to Sierra College Boulevard would benefit broader infrastructure needs.

After questions from council on sidewalks, HOA responsibilities for common areas and the vineyard greenbelt, and utility frontage work on Delmar Avenue, a motion to approve the project as presented carried on a roll call vote.

Next steps noted by staff include recordation of CC&Rs and the housing agreement, compliance with the mitigation monitoring and reporting program, and required permits prior to grading and development.