A 20-unit Cherry Hollow duplex project, first approved in 2016 and extended four times previously, was granted a fifth extension last week with an explanation as to why construction has been delayed.
Darrell Ledbetter has a goal to build seven duplex units, one four-plex unit, and two single family units on 1.74 acres at 2800-2808 Blaker Road. The project site is directly east of the eastern parking lot of Blaker Kinser Junior High School. The primary entrance and exit into the project are proposed at the north end of the site onto Blaker Road.
The 20 units would mean a density of 10.7 units per acre.
Ledbetter explained that the project was shelved for a time but that when he started to pursue things COVID hit and slowed everything down.
He also explained that the city has signed off on most of the building plans, including a north block wall that needed some engineering.
“A substantial amount of money has been paid to TID for metering for the project so it has been moving forward,” said Ledbetter.
When Commissioner Gary Condit asked if Ledbetter was confident this would be the last extension before moving forward, he indicated that he may not be ready before the two years is up.
“I have financial plans based on the Copper Trails annexation. I hope it is but we … may have to ask for another one.”
Ledbetter told the commission that he is “heavily invested in this project.”
Condit also opined that Cherry Hollow will be a great infill project.
Community Development Director Lea Simvoulakis described the project as a good infill project. She wanted to see the extension rather than have Ledbetter back through the entitlement process.
“We need housing,” said Simvoulakis. “It’s a higher density project that we would like to see so we are open to the extension.”
The commission voted 4-0 to approve the extension for Ledbetter.
Dhillon Villas
Also last week, the commission voted 4-1 to approve a two-year extension for Dhillon Villas, a mixed use project consisting of 145-unit three-story apartment complex and strip commercial project for Mitchell Road south of Della Drive. The two retail commercial buildings are proposed to be 15,230 and 13,782 square feet on three proposed parcels at 3106 Mitchell Road.
The 9.7-acre project site is the large mostly vacant parcel opposite the Stanislaus County Institute of Learning/Tactical Character Academy on Mitchell Road. Currently only a house, metal warehouse and truck operation occupy the site.
Raj Dhillon of Tracy wants build the two retail commercial buildings closest to Mitchell Road and a 145-unit apartment complex in the back to the east.
Ceres resident John Warren asked the commission to deny the extension, commenting that the project “should never have been approved to begin with.” He cited how the city had to change the zoning to allow the residential. Warren also predicted that the developer will never build the commercial portion.
“What’s going to happen is the apartments are going to get built in the back,” said Warren. “It’s going to be a disaster for people driving in and out of that complex.”
Simvoulakis rebuffed Warren’s claim that the commission could kill the project by not granting the extension. Land use designations and zonings don’t expire and that the extension is just for the subdivision map, she clarified.
“It doesn’t expire for housing,” said Simvoulakis.
She also said that “residences drive being able to fill commercial space so it was a compromise when this project was approved that the front would be commercial and the back would be residential.”
The delay in building the project, said Simvoulakis, was because a traffic study had to first be completed by a traffic engineer. That task has been accomplished along with mitigation measures such as a center median.
“They’re in the middle of finishing their improvement plans which will show all of those required improvements in order to make the situation safer,” she noted.
The applicant has applied for both the residential and commercial building permits.
“We are going to see both commercial and residential on this site,” promised Simvoulakis. “We have to keep in mind our current market we have a lot of vacant commercial sites. We’re trying to fill them. This is a large parcel. Given the current climate with the need for housing and how housing spurs commercial uses, it’s a good balance. You need people to buy things and then people need places to buy things at. So as we get more people, as we house more people, our commercial projects become more viable.”
Dhillon Villas was shot down in 2019 by the Chris Vierra led City Council but then approved in 2023 when it came back under Mayor Javier Lopez.
New members
The meeting held on Tuesday evening, Feb. 18 was the first for new commissioners Ruldip “R.J.” Jammu and Dr. Dorie Perez.
Newly appointed commissioner Ishwar Gill was excused from attending what would have been his first meeting.
