Rocklin City Council approves controversial Sierra Wilds Apartments after continued debate

The Rocklin City Council in a 3-2 vote on Tuesday approved the design and environmental review of a proposed 120-unit affordable housing project in spite of residents' concerns about its location next to a charter school. The Sierra Wilds Apartments project would be built on 4.67 acres at 1800 Wildcat Boulevard. Plans call for four apartment buildings, a community center, parking lot and landscaping. The development is planned as 100 percent affordable housing, with units intended for households meeting specified income requirements. The council signed off on the design of the facility as well as a Notice of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act, which means that a much more extensive Environmental Impact Report is not necessary for the proposal. The project has been the subject of several previous council discussions and public hearings. A significant portion of the community discussion has centered on the project's proximity to Maria Montessori Charter Academy, which is located directly next door to the property where the development would take place. "I want to be very clear, I am adamantly opposed to the Sierra Wilds project at this location. It's not an argument against or for affordable development, it's an argument about the location and the safety of our children," said Jennifer Collins, a parent and member of the Maria Montessori Board of Trustees. "When I look at this proposal I don't see a parcel on the map, I see children simply being children. As a board member and parent my responsibility is to speak up when I believe something could compromise safety. Tonight I am asking the city to do the same." Maria Montessori math teacher Christie Boothby added, "Throughout these meetings I have talked about the importance of details, showing your work, using correct calculations and making sure your visuals actually match your work. Those are skills I teach my students and right now I'm teaching them about inequalities. So tonight let's talk about these inequalities when we are talking about Maria Montessori's safety and DSA (Division of the State Architect) site plan regarding the Sierra Wilds Project." Though controversial, the apartment project had its supporters as well. Tuesday's discussion also brought up the broader conversation regarding how Rocklin should accommodate affordable housing while addressing concerns about development locations and California's housing requirements. "I'm here to encourage support for the Sierra Wilds project," Virgil Nelson, a retired pastor and chairperson for Placer People of Faith's Together Affordable Housing Committee, said. "Young married couples in my church cannot afford housing even though both of them are working full time. The Sierra Wilds project provides a step in the right direction." Elizabeth (Beth) Gonzalez, a resident who lives near the project site, said, "I just want people to know this is not quote unquote affordable housing even though it is more affordable, but this is workforce housing so we need housing for the teachers that might teach at the Montessori school and for the firefighters and incoming policemen we all support. We need to have housing for all of the people who are moving here. We need to consider housing that more people can use more than two paychecks to live in." The California Development of Housing and Community Development has said the Sierra Wilds property site was identified for potential housing through Rocklin's state-required housing planning process. Because of the project's affordable housing component and applicable state housing laws, the city's ability to reject qualifying projects through discretionary review is limited. Rocklin Mayor David Bass has said the city recognizes the need for affordable housing but has questioned whether the Sierra Wilds location is appropriate and whether the project is being handled in the right way. A construction start date has not yet been announced.