Folsom Planning Commission green-lights 118-unit Russell Ranch condo village

The Folsom Planning Commission approved the 118-unit condo project planned for Russell Ranch "Village 5" south of Highway 50. The 12-acre Lennar Homes condominium site is located at the southwest intersection of Empire Ranch Road and Trumpet Vine Drive. The lot is zoned multi-family, low-density residential. The 118 attached, for-sale units will be within 25 three-story, three-plex, four-plex, and five-plex buildings, staff said. Each unit will feature a two-car garage on the lower level and living space on all three levels. Units will feature four bedrooms and between 3½ to four bathrooms. Developers are using the site layout from the previously approved map for Russell Ranch Phase 2, Village 5. However, developers changed the original ownership category from "fee simple" lots to "condominium ownership." Folsom approved the Russell plan for 879 single-family residential homes in the eastern area of Folsom Ranch in 2015, staff said. The plan was updated and scaled down to 852 units the following year. Russell Ranch phases 1 and 3 northwest of Grand Prairie Road were approved in 2019 and 2021 and since built. The City Council approved the five-village, 389-unit residential subdivision known as Russell Ranch Phase 2 in 2018. "Small lot maps for Phase 2 Villages 1-4 were recorded in 2022 and residences have since been built in those villages," staff said. The small lot map for V-5 was approved back then for 118 fee simple, multi-family townhome lots. However, developers have since decided the village should be one condo parcel with 118 townhome units rather than fee-simple. "We think it's what the market wants," said Lennar spokesman Chad Roberts of Hefner Law. "You're going to have an HOA maintaining exteriors, maintaining all the common spaces." While the 12.39-acre site and unit layout remain unchanged, the map type has changed, staff explained. The Folsom Planning Commission unanimously approved the project 6-0 with one vacant seat July 23. "I'm actually very encouraged we're seeing a condo product," said Commission Chair Eileen Reynolds. "It seems like it's pretty rare these days. Hopefully, that means they'll be a little more affordable." The buildings will be placed around a central private park site with play area, shade sails, a garden, bench seating, shade, picnic tables, grills, sports tables and outdoor exercise areas, staff said. Garages will provide 236 parking spaces, and uncovered off-street parking will account for an additional 111 spaces, more than half surrounding the park, according to the report.