Rocklin moves ahead with future housing developments

The city of Rocklin held two public hearings on two future housing projects this month, approving edits to one plan and a second phase of another. During its Oct. 10 meeting, the city council heard details behind a design modification to an already-approved housing project within the city. The Estia at Rocklin was originally approved in September 2022 and sold as a one-story apartment community with onsite amenities including a community center, pool, open recreation areas, a children's play area, dog park, internal pedestrian walkways and a carwash on the 20-acre site across from Jessup University. The original project consists of 181 residential units and various amenities. The modification council considered was the addition of 19 units in one 4-plex and two 8-plex buildings (three two-story buildings). Representatives for the project owners spoke on behalf of the project and stated the project had some financial hardships but reminded the council, "There is not a local agency that can afford to leave units on a high-density site on the table." Some council members expressed their disappointment that the project, which required a rezone from commercial space, was back before council. "When this project came to us, I was hesitant due to it taking away commercial development," said Councilman Greg Janda. "If this two-story was initially proposed, I would not have supported it. In this case I'm not thrilled, but I understand the constraints the developer is against financially." Mayor Ken Broadway questioned why the project did not add more affordable units beyond the minimum requirement with this amendment. The original project included 18 low-income units; the proposed design modification added two additional low-income units. "What I am being presented with is a project that is completely different than what was sold originally on land that was designed to create jobs and revenue that is no longer going to do that," he said. "What efforts are being made to help the city? Asking to do more when there has been a tremendous amount already done – this was a rezone and now we are compressing even more on it. What are we getting? Two affordable units." Broadway said their low-income offer "doesn't move the needle at all in our requirement of affordability." The council eventually approved the design modification for the site 4-1, with Broadway dissenting. Councilman Bill Halldin provided a comment after his vote in favor. "Please get it done," he said. "Coming back here a third time is a really bad idea." Council also considered Phase 2 of the Lonetree Apartments, which are located at West Oaks Boulevard and Lonetree Boulevard, south of Atherton Road. Phase 2 of the project includes a 160-unit multifamily residential community on an approximate 6.6-acre parcel. The Lonetree Apartments Project is a 237-unit apartment complex directly to the west of the project site. Chris Scerri spoke on behalf of the project owner The Harper, LLC who also was in charge of The Terraces at Stanford Ranch communities currently being constructed in Rocklin. Scerri spoke about the owner's intention to "get in, get out and move on," when it comes to their housing projects. Council unanimously approved the project's design review. Halldin said he wants to have the city consider taking away parking on Atherton and West Oaks Boulevards, forcing nearby apartment communities to search for their onsite parking.