Planning commission approves 73‑unit Orange Apartments and 9,600‑sf retail building

The Vacaville Planning Commission on May 19 approved entitlements for the Orange Apartments and Retail project, a proposed development that includes a 73‑unit apartment complex and a 9,600‑square‑foot retail building on a 3.76‑acre infill parcel near Orange Drive and Leisure Town Road.

Planning staff said the project requires three entitlements: reaffirmation of prior environmental assessments under the California Environmental Quality Act (staff cited CEQA section 15162), a major design review and a tentative parcel map. “Staff supports the proposed project and finds it complies with the general plan and zoning, objective design standards and development standards,” planning staff member Albert said during the presentation.

Staff told commissioners the residential portion would occupy about 2.76 acres with 73 multifamily units (including one manager’s unit) at a density of roughly 26.1 units per acre and would include a clubhouse and pool. The retail parcel would be about 1.0 acre yielding a 0.22 floor‑area‑ratio. Staff reported a total of 121 parking spaces would be provided, based on municipal code calculations assigning one space per unit/studio and two for two‑bedroom units.

Commissioners questioned parking sufficiency, overflow parking onto Orange Drive, whether the retail portion would remain vacant given local vacancies, and whether any units would be affordable. Staff answered that all units are planned as market‑rate, parking meets code requirements, and that retail tenancy would depend on market conditions; staff said the city’s new economic development manager would assist in attracting tenants. The applicant, Jaspreet Sidhu, described retail goals as “some type of commercial, something with something to sit down…that can provide something for the homes.”

Public commenters raised aesthetics and neighborhood concerns. Tom Markle, a Leisure Town resident, said two‑ and three‑story buildings would obscure mountain views and criticized recent building styles downtown as “stark white” and lacking aesthetic appeal. Ruben Galvan, a field representative for Carpenters Union Local 180, urged the commission to require strong labor standards on the project — including fair wages, health benefits and apprenticeship opportunities — so local workers share in the development benefits.

After discussion, Commissioner Vargas moved to approve the project subject to conditions of approval; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll‑call vote. The staff recommendation included conditions to ensure compliance with municipal code, required mitigation measures from prior environmental documents and agency requirements such as the Solano Irrigation District’s conditions for site adjacency to irrigation facilities.

What happens next: the commission’s action recommends the entitlements to move forward per the conditions of approval; the project will proceed to the administrative steps required by the entitlements and any subsequent permit processing identified in the conditions.