Galt Council approves 65‑lot Sheffield subdivision on 9.5 acres, 3–1 vote; conditions added for traffic calming and tree mitigation

The Galt City Council on Dec. 2 approved the Sheffield subdivision — a proposed 65‑lot infill development on about 9.5 acres in the city’s Northeast Area Specific Plan — after a public hearing that focused on tree removals, traffic impacts and setbacks.

Kristen Bitz, the city’s principal planner, told the council the proposal includes an initial study and mitigated negative declaration (ISMND), a general plan amendment, a Northeast area specific plan amendment, a rezone to R2 planned development, and a tentative subdivision map. Bitz said the project would be required to participate in the South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan, obtain plan approval prior to grading, secure a tree permit and pay oak mitigation fees, and include traffic‑calming measures listed in the project’s Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan (MMRP).

Residents at the hearing raised concerns about protected oaks and local traffic. One resident, identified in the record as Miss Valencia, asked how the city could justify removing dozens of protected oak trees and whether the trees shown in the packet would be permanently preserved. Aaron Ross Swain, founder of Fieldstone Communities and the project’s builder, responded that the developer currently plans to remove 18 trees and to save nine, and that they had preserved the tree behind the neighbor’s house identified as tree number 31. City staff also said earlier counts of trees targeted for removal had been reduced during review (staff referenced reductions during the public process).

Traffic mitigation was another focal point. The MMRP lists possible measures including marked crosswalks, countdown signal timers, curb extensions, raised crosswalks or speed tables, median islands and similar options; the council asked staff to require specific measures where appropriate. The council’s final approval included an added condition requiring traffic‑calming measures on Saner Street to be determined in consultation with Public Works.

Council members debated density and setbacks as well. Planner Bitz explained the request to rezone the property from R1A to R2PD (medium density plan development) to allow the proposed lot layout and to provide two single‑story floor plan options so lots 1–11 would be conditioned to be single‑story to match existing single‑story homes to the north. Council member Tim Reid voiced concern about a proposed three‑foot side setback for one floor plan and noted public‑safety and access implications; staff said building‑code measures and plan conditions would address fire and safety requirements.

After discussion the council voted to approve the project with the added traffic condition. The roll call on the motion to approve (with the traffic condition) was: Matt Pratt — Aye; Tim Reid — No; Bonnie Rodriguez — Aye; Mayor Sean Farmer — Aye, yielding a 3–1 approval.

The approval moves forward the entitlements listed in staff’s recommendation (ISMND and MMRP adoption, general plan and specific plan amendments, rezone ordinance to R2PD and adoption of a tentative subdivision map). Design review, final engineering and architectural floor plans will return to the planning commission for review as required by the development process.

What happens next: the developer will continue final engineering and building plan submittals; tree mitigation and exact traffic‑calming devices will be implemented through conditions in the improvement plans and the MMRP and enforced through the city’s permit process.