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City holds informational workshop on 650-acre Virginia Smith Trust plan; advocates press for on-site affordable units
Summary
City staff and project representatives briefed the planning commission on the Virginia Smith Trust specific plan (about 650 acres south of UC Merced), highlighting phasing, sustainability goals and projected scholarship revenue; a housing advocate urged commissioners to require on-site, enforceably restricted affordable units rather than an in-lieu fee.
City of Merced senior planner Francisco Mendoza and project representatives briefed the Planning Commission on Dec. 17 on the Virginia Smith Trust (VST) specific plan, an approximately 650-acre mixed-use community planned south of the UC Merced campus. The session was an informational workshop; no action was requested or taken.
Mendoza reviewed the project’s long history and recent milestones, noting the site was annexed in 2024 and that early 2026 would bring several map submittals (one large-lot map and five small-lot maps) focused on Phase 1. He summarized the plan’s land-use balance—about 400 acres for residential uses, 44 acres for commercial, roughly 115 acres for parks/open…
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