Folsom City Council approves Aerojet subdivision of 'Area 40'

The Folsom City Council approved the 148-acre Aerojet "Area 40" subdivision last week. The Folsom Planning Commission on Oct. 30 recommended approval of a large-lot tentative map to subdivide the Aerojet property into seven parcels near Prairie City Road and Mangini Parkway south of Highway 50. The City Council approved the move Dec. 10. Aerojet Rocketdyne is carving up the former rocket plant property for future sale and development as part of future west Folsom Ranch. No development rights are yet approved, and the move is mainly a transfer of ownership, staff said. The parcel includes the infamous Aerojet Area 40 hazardous waste site currently being cleaned up by the Environmental Protection Agency. The undeveloped site features rolling hills with non-native grassland and a variety of trees. A 26-acre open space will be fenced off until high soil vapor levels drop, according to the EPA. The City Council approved the overall Hillsborough project on a 714-acre site along the western edge of Folsom Ranch eight years ago, officials said. As proposed, the Hillsborough project includes 2,018 homes, 737,000 square feet of office/industrial/retail uses, parks and schools at the west end of Folsom Ranch, according to the report. There are 138 acres of parks planned for Folsom Ranch in total. That includes the large 50-acre "Park West." Attorney Roy Brewer, spokesman for Aerojet's Easton Development, noted the toxic cleanup effort in Area 40 has been addressed in environmental documents five times, and the last effort included a community outreach meeting to explain the cleanup effort. The City Council included scheduling another outreach meeting as the 29th condition of approval. "Just to get everybody updated on the progress made since the last session held in 2018," said newly elected Councilperson Barbara Leary. "I think it's fair to let the community know the current status of the site." Since approving Hillsborough in 2016, Area 40 has been cleaned under the direction of the EPA and other federal and state environmental agencies. The remediation includes a permeable barrier to treat groundwater, multiple digs to remove contaminated soil and continued monitoring of water, soil vapor and ambient air to track progress, staff said. When the remedial actions are done, the risks posed by the contamination hazard will be adequately reduced to protect public health, according to the report. Meanwhile, the City Council will be in recess during the holiday season and canceled the normal fourth Tuesday meeting, which falls on Christmas Eve. The next council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2025.