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Council members press staff on density, parking and emergency access for Columbus Parkway site
Summary
During the rezoning hearing councilmembers questioned whether 75 units per acre and up to six stories would preserve community character and whether roads, parking and fire equipment could safely serve a large development; staff said design standards and future project review will assess those issues.
Several councilmembers acknowledged the city’s housing‑element obligations but urged caution about the scale of the proposed Columbus Parkway rezoning and its practical consequences.
"75 units per acre could stretch, you know, the limits," Councilmember Largaswada said, adding, "My primary concern is that we're gonna try to put too many units in an acre just because Sacramento says we can, and granted that's an oversimplification." Councilmembers asked follow‑ups about coverage ratios, parking, intersection capacity and coordination with adjacent developments in Vallejo.
Planning staff said the rezoning will include design standards—stepbacks, landscaping and parking requirements—and that when a developer files a specific project it will undergo its own environmental and traffic reviews. Councilmember Scott pressed whether there had been coordination with Vallejo about intersection improvements; staff replied there had not been detailed coordination and that some recent intersection expansions were already underway.
Fire Chief Josh Chadwick answered council questions about emergency response, stating the department's largest ladder trucks "are about 110 feet" and that while some additional training would be required for taller structures, the department has the equipment to respond. Councilmembers said those operational details and parking ratios should be clarified before final project approvals.
