In a move that could reshape farmland on Sacramento’s northern edge, county supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve the controversial Upper Westside plan, clearing the way for what developers say could become a master‑planned neighborhood on roughly 2,000 acres near Natomas that might eventually house as many as 25,000 people. The vote caps a multi‑year brawl over water rights, wildlife protections and traffic on narrow levee routes like Garden Highway. Supporters argue the project will deliver homes, parks, schools and shops close to downtown, while critics note that major state permits and tough local financing tests still stand between the plan and any shovels in the ground.
What the Plan Would Build
The Upper Westside Specific Plan would rezone approximately 2,066 acres and calls for about 9,356 housing units, roughly 3.1 million square feet of commercial space, room for multiple schools and a network of parks and greenbelts, according to Sacramento County. County materials describe a 1,532‑acre development area plus a roughly 534‑acre agricultural buffer, with construction expected in phases over about 20 years. The plan also folds in technical studies on transportation, water supply and habitat that are expected to guide later permits and required mitigation work.
Board Vote and Developer Reaction
After more than four hours of public comment, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the plan, as reported by CBS Sacramento. Project attorney Nick Avdis told the station the development is “the right project at the right time” to help ease the region’s housing shortage, while supervisors Pat Hume and Rosario Rodriguez framed the area as a major opportunity for new neighborhoods. CBS Sacramento also reported that the city of Sacramento has refused to extend municipal water to the site and that developers will need state permission to repurpose water currently reserved for agriculture.
City Opposition and Infrastructure Questions
City leaders and neighborhood groups urged supervisors to delay or deny the plan, arguing that funding for schools, a reliable drinking water supply and traffic fixes is still unresolved, according to The Sacramento Bee. The Sacramento City Council previously voted to formally oppose the project and sent a letter to the county arguing it conflicts with longstanding habitat agreements, a concern that local advocates have also echoed, as reported by CapRadio. Residents along Garden Highway told officials they fear daily congestion will worsen on the narrow levee road if thousands of new households are added nearby.
What Comes Next
The county’s approval kicks off a lengthy permitting and review process under CEQA, and the project has already produced a draft and partially recirculated final EIR, according to the state CEQA record. That record includes technical appendices on water supply and transportation that will factor into later permit decisions and mitigation requirements. Developers still must secure additional entitlements, line up infrastructure financing and obtain any needed state approvals for water before major construction can begin.
Legal Implications
Opponents say they are already gearing up for court. The City of Sacramento and the Natomas Basin Conservancy have retained counsel and filed formal objections focused on habitat and water issues, meaning the approval could prompt lawsuits that slow or reshape the plan, according to the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS). County staff and project backers counter that mitigation measures and a public‑financing plan are in place to address many of the concerns, but they acknowledge that legal challenges and appeals are likely in the next phase. For neighbors, that means the project is technically approved yet far from built, with court fights, permit conditions and funding negotiations poised to determine whether and when new streets and houses actually arrive.
