Payton Perspective: Antioch Planning Commission should say no to housing that’s more of the same, support staff recommendations
By Allen Payton, Publisher
This Wednesday evening, October 7, the Antioch Planning Commission will provide a preliminary review of a 1,667 home development, proposed for the property across Deer Valley Road from the Kaiser hospital.
While homes have long been proposed for the area, this development would allow more of the same size lots and homes as we currently have in the southeast part of our city.
When I was on the City Council, the plan was as the city developed further south, we would approve larger homes on larger lots until we got to Roddy Ranch, where there would have been $1- to $2 million homes on half-acre lots.
But, the Ranch Project, as proposed by Richland Communities, would allow “lot sizes under 5,000 square feet, between 5,000 and 7,000 square feet, and 7,000 to 10,200 square feet,” according to the staff report for the item on the Commission’s agenda. The report also states “The majority of the proposed project is developed at a residential density of 7-8.0 units/acre” which would result in lot sizes of between 5,500 and 6,300 square feet.
We already have more than enough of that type of housing in Antioch. While the 5,000 square foot designation was intended for lots adjacent to the golf course, it is no longer included in the plan.
If the 5,000 to 7,000 square foot lots were included as part of a senior community, that would be one thing. But, the senior community, also in the original plan, is not in the Ranch Project plan, either.
Fortunately, city staff recommends a minimum lot size of 7,000 square feet, and hillside estate lots of 20,000 square feet minimum, be included in the plan.
They also recommend an alternative open space program in place of the previously planned golf course.
New Housing Types Needed
At this point in our city’s history, we need to add two different types of housing to our housing mix, specifically senior housing communities, as well as gated communities with upscale housing, like those in Brentwood, and what staff is recommending.
Residents of senior housing communities don’t impact schools or commute traffic, in general, and spend their money at restaurants and businesses, in town, during the day, helping grow our local economy.
Gated communities, with upscale housing, will attract executives, professionals and business owners who will bring their companies to our city and employ our people.
Antioch doesn’t need more of the same type of housing that we already have. The Planning Commissioners should heed the staff recommendations, send that message to the project proponents and ask them to try again.
The Commission meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the City Council Chambers, located between West Second and Third Streets in downtown Antioch.
Water Water Water! Do not build any more homes unless you are solving the water problems. For every house built each existing home today will get less water allotted to them until none of us have water at all. Do not build homes unless desalinization plants are also built to cover the water the homes will use.
Antioch should not be building new homes at all for any reason.
While I agree with the editor , no more housing developments , and also the concerns in regards to our water problems, which by the way is not addressed by the planning committee or city council ,
It makes me smile reading the editors way of thinking if antioch builts high end housing , the biz owners and CEOs will come buy those houses and then built their companies in antioch.
You can’t be serious.
The very same way of thinking, let’s change street names and biz will come?
Or let’s built condos down town and those 25 condo owners will
Rescue down town?
That’s how it works, Karl.
Executives and business owners like to live close to the location of their businesses.
So, once the type of housing is built that they want, and they purchase the homes and move to Antioch, their businesses will follow.
It’s part of a spiral upward, along with additional police, Highway 4 widening and the eBART extension, etc.
Allen Payton, Publisher
Antioch needs to get the prioritys straight.
Hire all promised police, hire a full staffed
Code enforcement department , hire back all cso’s ,
Hire a economic development director.
Put the city manager on notice, set a plan including
Concequences
To vitalize down town, we need to bring people down
Town, biz will follow right away.
We need to keep access to the water for ALL
Residents
We need a park/ event center.
And we need a council who listen to the people
Who elected them, and we need a council who
Is not changing their votes behind closed doors
[…] Payton Perspective: Antioch Planning Commission should say no to housing that’s more of the same, … – While the 5,000 square foot designation was intended for lots adjacent to the golf course, it is no longer included … specifically senior housing communities, as well as gated communities with upscale housing, like those in Brentwood, and what staff … […]
Publisher Payton is right. Why do you think Brentwood built big homes, plus developed their agriculture. Brentwood is still building more big homes n if Antioch doesn’t, they’ll lose out. Also, You can’t force people to become a police officer, or force them to stay. The city is doing its best on hiring officers. I will speak in favor of big homes if you need Allen, lmk…
[…] Payton Perspective: Antioch Planning Commission should say no to housing that’s more of the same, … – New Housing Types Needed At this point in our city’s history, we need to add two different types of housing to our housing mix, specifically senior housing communities, as well as gated communities with upscale housing, like those in Brentwood … […]
[…] Payton Perspective: Antioch Planning Commission should say no to housing that’s more of the same, … – New Housing Types Needed At this point in our city’s history, we need to add two different types of housing to our housing mix, specifically senior housing communities, as well as gated communities with upscale housing, like those in Brentwood … […]