Paulina Pineda, PRESS DEMOCRAT
The latest proposal for housing on a 69-acre expanse off Highway 12 in eastern Santa Rosa faced close scrutiny and even outright opposition from some neighbors who packed a Monday meeting to get a first look at the project.
For about an hour, the new developers and city staffers were hit with comments from concerned residents who worry adding hundreds of new residents there would worsen congestion on the narrow, two-lane highway, particularly during an emergency.
Critics also raised concerns about the project’s impact on wildlife and water resources.
The discussion held at the Oakmont Village East Recreation Center served as a first public test for affordable housing developer Burbank Housing, which purchased the property three years ago.
Burbank’s proposal calls for 275 apartments and single-family homes in a 55-and-older mixed-income neighborhood.