Vacaville Planning Commission Receives Update on Downtown Specific Plan

During their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, city staff presented an update to the Vacaville Planning Commission on the Vacaville Downtown Specific Plan.

The meeting first started with a change to the agenda that removed the planned discussion on proposed changes to the Park Parish project. However, one member of the public called in to voice their disapproval of the changes, saying that plans presented by staff and by the developer have always shown Magnolia Park to encompass the full circle with the fire station, rather than having a cut out in the northeast corner for different uses.

Later in the meeting, city staff then presented updates on the Vacaville Downtown Specific Plan, which aims to revitalize the city’s downtown. Currently, work is continuing on a number of documents that will support the creation of the specific plan, including:

• An updated Historic Main Street Design Requirements document
• An Affordable Housing and Anti-Displacement Strategy, as required by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)
• Parking Analysis and Policy Strategy
• Safety Strategy
• Permanent Farmer’s Market Analysis, as first proposed by a UC Davis student

Next steps include the identification and analysis of shovel-ready sites, a Pedestrian-Friendly Design/Placemaking strategy, an Amenities Plan, a Utility and Public Services Plan, a Financing Strategy, CEQA analysis of the draft specific plan, and the implementation of new zoning. Staff anticipate that the plan should be completed by February 2021.

Staff also provided updates on Planning Division activities:

• Alamo Creek Subdivision: A recent application for the construction of 144 new homes west of Leisure Town Road/Jepson Parkway in the Southtown Specific Plan area.
• Midway Commerce Center: A new application for the creation of over 1M square feet of new industrial space in the Interchange Business Park.
• Hampton Inn and Suites: A new application for a hotel to be located at 1000 Mason Street.
• Best Western: The proposed demolition and reconstruction of the current Best Western at East Monte Vista Avenue.
• Sparrow Grove: The first application for new homes within the Roberts' Ranch Specific Plan area.

Construction is expected soon on the LDK Warehouse Project and Harbison Senior Apartments projects.

In other business, the Planning Commission also learned more about Ex Parte Communications.

As always, you can watch the full Planning Commission meeting here.