Rural Elk Grove residents urge City Council to reject Summer Villas project

Six rural Elk Grove residents urged Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and the City Council on Wednesday to reject a proposed housing development near Waterman and Sheldon roads, arguing that it would violate the city’s commitment to preserving its designated rural area.

The comments were made during the Sept. 9 City Council meeting as part of public comment on non-agenda items. Because the proposed Summer Villas at Sheldon project was not on the agenda, the council did not consider or comment on the application.

The proposed development would include as many as 499 single-story homes in an age-restricted community, along with a private clubhouse and recreation center. The approximately 116-acre property is currently designated Rural Residential in the city’s general plan.

The developer is seeking a general plan amendment and rezoning that would remove the property from the rural area. About 72 acres would be redesignated for low-density residential development, with approximately 44 acres designated as open space along Laguna Creek and beneath power lines east of Waterman Road, according to the city’s project description.

Constance Conley told council members that the general plan represents a commitment to residents who participated in the planning process.

“The general plan is more than a policy document,” Conley said. “It is a promise to residents about how our city will grow and the values that will guide that growth.”

Conley said rural Elk Grove remains an important part of the city’s character and history, providing farmland, wildlife habitat and open space as the city continues to grow.

Residents also presented council members with a booklet compiling 23 installments of “Rural Roots Sunday,” a weekly series featuring stories, photographs and personal reflections about life in rural Elk Grove.

Eileen Conwell said the first installment was published Jan. 25 and the final story included in the booklet appeared June 28. The series has continued weekly and has reached 33 published stories, she said.

Conwell described the series as a way to share the rural community’s perspective and preserve memories of the people and places that distinguish the area.

George Murphy said the personal accounts could help city officials understand why residents want the area protected.

“These stories provide insights into why the rural area is special and should remain protected, preserved and intact,” Murphy said.

The Summer Villas application was submitted to the city in January 2023. The public comment period for the project’s draft environmental impact report ended in November 2025, and city staff members are reviewing the final report.

The proposal will eventually be considered by the Elk Grove Planning Commission, which will make a recommendation to the City Council. The council will have final authority to approve or deny the requested general plan amendment and rezoning.

No dates have been announced for hearings before either body.