Loomis wins in court over Hidden Grove density

A judge ruled in favor of the Town of Loomis in the Hidden Grove affordable housing case. Loomis Town Manager Wes Heathcock announced Aug. 12 that "the Town prevailed" in defending itself from the developer's 2024 lawsuit, authorities said. StoneBridge Properties, a subsidiary of Teichert, is behind the controversial Hidden Grove housing project in Loomis. StoneBridge proposes 353 total units on 62 acres near downtown. The total would include 204 single-family units, 140 multi-family units and nine residential mixed-use units, according to the StoneBridge website. The acreage is located behind the Raley's shopping center northeast of the Horseshoe Bar Road freeway interchange. The developer submitted the Hidden Grove plan under Senate Bill 330, state law aimed at accelerating affordable housing built across the state. StoneBridge is hoping for a "density bonus," as the project is initially listed in the Loomis Planning Department with only 319 units. The SB 330 rule essentially limits local power to stall or stop low-income housing projects. But it's not working out that way. The lawsuit filed last year claims Loomis is delaying the approval by raising issues outside state law. In its initial court filing last year, StoneBridge stated Loomis "... Has been processing the Project for three years and four months at the mercy of the Town, without having a formal hearing to approve or disapprove the project." Placer County Superior Court Judge Michael W. Jones denied the StoneBridge request July 30 for a writ of mandate, authorities said. StoneBridge claimed the Town "must grant requested bonuses if petitioner seeks and agrees to construct an eligible housing development." However, StoneBridge never agreed to build the affordable housing piece of the project, making the project inconsistent with the State Density Bonus Law, the judge said. Jones further said the town did not abuse discretion to require the developer to "meaningfully address" the construction of Boyington Road. StoneBridge argued that by simply dedicating a certain parcel for affordable housing, the project qualified for a variety of zoning concessions, incentives, reductions of development standards and waivers as permitted, according to the report. "The Town is not barred from imposing fees related to the impacts of the development, nor is it required to approve construction of homes without construction of a road extension, if that extension is required for public safety," said Shannan West, state Housing Accountability Unit Chief. "I am disappointed that it cost us in the six figures to defend ourselves," said Loomis Councilmember Amanda Cortez. "I think most of the people in Loomis would agree that it's time for the developers to possibly pay us back for their costly mistake, and in my opinion, unnecessary lawsuit against the residents and taxpayers of Loomis." "We are awaiting the judge's final order and will be appealing the case to the Court of Appeal," said StoneBridge President Randy Sater in a text Monday. The Hidden Grove site was previously proposed as the "Village at Loomis" project. Staff said the previous plan called for 418 residential units, 56,000 square feet of commercial use and 25,000 square feet in offices on a 66-acre site. An environmental impact report was done and the Village was approved by the Town Council in 2019. However, the approval was overturned by Loomis Town citizens through a voter referendum, leading to the current SB 330 proposal.