Sacramento County supervisors have postponed a high-stakes vote on a massive Natomas housing development just one day before the scheduled meeting, responding to mounting community opposition. The controversial Upper Westside project would transform over 2,000 acres of farmland into nearly 10,000 homes, sparking fierce debate between growth advocates and preservation supporters. The meeting was supposed to take place at the Sacramento County building on Tuesday. Community organizer Josh Harmatz said, "I was ecstatic when I heard it got postponed," suggesting that county leaders may either lack the votes to approve the project or are finally paying attention to community concerns, according to KCRA,
Massive Development Plans
The Upper Westside development would rezone more than 2,000 acres of farmland to build nearly 10,000 homes, as reported by KCRA. ABC10 details that the project would transform roughly 2,066 acres of mostly agricultural land west of the 49er Travel Plaza, north of Interstate 80 and east of Garden Highway into a mixed-use, walkable community. Developers say only 1,524 acres would be built out, with 542 acres near the Sacramento River set aside as a permanent agricultural buffer. The development would house approximately 25,000 new residents and include three elementary schools and a high school.
City-County Friction Intensifies
The postponement follows a week of intense political opposition, with Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty sending a letter on behalf of the city council opposing the project, as noted by KCRA. The Sacramento City Council voted 8-1 to oppose the Upper Westside Project. In its letter, the city raised several unresolved issues, as per ABC10: the county not honoring a memorandum of understanding designating the city as the appropriate urbanizer, the project's assumption it can use city water, threats to the city's infill strategy and tax base, and potential impacts to fire, police, parks and the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan.
Environmental and Historical Opposition
Former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, now president of the Environmental Council of Sacramento, is leading opposition efforts. ECOS notes that Fargo and other project opponents are meeting with officials to explain their concerns about the massive development. A key issue identified by KCRA is that this project conflicts with the Natomas Vision Plan, adopted back in 2002. The 2002 agreement between the City of Sacramento and the County aimed to prevent the county from voting on large-scale development in unincorporated Natomas, though county documents indicate the city did not advance new developments in the area after 2005.
Traffic and Infrastructure Concerns
Garden Highway residents have expressed concerns about the impact of new development on their community, particularly regarding traffic, infrastructure, and the environment. Josh Harmatz, who lives along the narrow two-lane levee road, warned, "There's just no room and there's no shoulder for this amount of traffic," fearing that new homes and businesses could triple traffic, as mentioned by CBS News Sacramento. Community members also questioned how the massive development would be supported by existing services and utilities, raising broader concerns about infrastructure funding and environmental effects.
Developer Perspective
Nick Avdis, an Upper Westside land use attorney representing Upper Westside LLC, praised the project, calling it "It's an extraordinary proposal that aligns seamlessly with the county's vision for smart, sustainable planning," as detailed by CBS News Sacrament. He noted that the community will be the first all-electric development and said it is the right plan for the right location. Some local landowners also support the plan, including Joe Brazil, whose family has farmed the area for 80 years, saying that farming there is no longer practical, sustainable, or profitable.
Project Timeline and Next Steps
The Sacramento County Planning Commission voted unanimously 4-0 to allow the project to move forward, though it still needs to go before the county Board of Supervisors for final approval. Upper Westside stated that the county published a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the project on August 30, 2024. In December 2024, the Natomas CPAC voted to recommend that the County Board of Supervisors approve the Upper Westside Specific Plan as presented, and most recently, the County Planning Commission voted unanimously on June 23 to move the plan forward. KCRA notes that it is unclear when county leaders plan to vote on this issue. The postponement gives both sides more time to prepare their arguments for what promises to be a contentious final decision on one of Sacramento County's largest proposed developments in decades.
