City Council
Staff Report

Sierra Wilds Apartments / Design Review, DR2025-0005; and Environmental, ENV2025-0008

Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider the Following Actions:

1. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rocklin Approving a Notice of Exemption / CEQA Determination (Sierra Wilds Apartments / ENV2025-0008).
2. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rocklin Approving a Design Review (Sierra Wilds Apartments / DR2025-0005).

The Sierra Wilds Apartments project is a request for Design Review of a 120-unit multi-family apartment project on approximately 4.67 acres of a 6.34-acre partially developed site at 1800 Wildcat Boulevard. The project consists of four three-story apartment buildings, a community center, pool, parking, landscaping, and associated improvements. Of the 120 units, 118 would be affordable to lower-income households and two would be manager’s units.

The City Council initially considered the project on May 12, 2026. At that hearing, the City Council received presentations from staff, the applicant, and the applicant's technical consultants. Due to the significant number of members of the public wishing to speak, the City Council continued the public hearing to August 11, 2026. The City Council also requested additional information regarding several issues raised during its discussion, which was subsequently provided and addressed in the August 11, 2026 staff report.

On August 11, 2026, the City Council resumed the public hearing and received additional presentations from staff and the applicant, as well as public comment regarding the project. Following public comment and City Council discussion, the City Council determined that additional information was necessary before taking action and continued the public hearing to September 22, 2026.

The August 11, 2026 staff report, including its attachments, remains applicable and is included as Attachment 2. The following is intended to supplement that report by summarizing the additional information requested by the City Council at the August 11, 2026 hearing.

Issues Identified at the August 11, 2026 Hearing

Following the August 11, 2026 City Council hearing, staff provided the applicant with a written summary of the additional information requested by the City Council. The requested follow-up focused on the following five items:

1. Emergency Vehicle Access and Hammerhead: The City Council requested additional information regarding the existing emergency vehicle access (EVA), the location and configuration of the recorded hammerhead easement, and the effect of an existing building or structure that appears to be located within a portion of the hammerhead easement area. The applicant was asked to provide a detailed exhibit identifying the location and dimensions of the EVA, recorded hammerhead easement, gates, drive aisles, required turning movements, and any existing improvements or structures that may affect fire apparatus access. The requested information is intended to demonstrate how adequate emergency access and maneuvering would be maintained for both the Sierra Wilds development and the adjacent school following construction of the project.
2. Construction Management Plan: The City Council requested additional detail regarding the Construction Management Plan that would ultimately be prepared in conjunction with improvement plans and building permits. While recognizing that certain details cannot be finalized until that stage, the City Council requested that the applicant identify specific construction management practices and commitments that could reasonably be established as part of the project approval. These include construction hours; truck routes; delivery timing; coordination with the school's schedule and operations; timing of disruptive activities such as grading and pile driving; construction traffic during school drop-off and pick-up periods; staging and worker parking; dust and air quality controls; noise reduction; communication and coordination with the school; a contractor point of contact; and procedures for addressing construction-related concerns.
3. Deceleration/Taper Lane on Wildcat Boulevard: The City Council requested further evaluation of a potential deceleration or taper lane on Wildcat Boulevard at the project entrance. Although the traffic analysis identified potential bicycle-related concerns associated with a taper, the City Council requested that the applicant further evaluate whether a properly designed taper could improve vehicle operations and safety without creating an unacceptable bicycle conflict. The applicant was also asked to indicate whether it would be willing to commit to installation of a deceleration/taper lane, with final design details to be developed during improvement plans to the satisfaction of the City Engineer.
4. Construction Noise and Air Quality: The City Council requested additional information regarding potential construction-related noise and air quality impacts on the adjacent school. While the technical studies prepared for the project concluded that construction impacts would remain within applicable standards, the City Council requested a clearer explanation of how noise, dust, diesel emissions, and other construction-related air quality impacts would be reduced to the fullest extent practicable given the project's proximity to an operating school, including its students and other sensitive receptors. The applicant was asked to identify specific additional measures or commitments that could be incorporated into the Construction Management Plan or conditions of approval to further reduce exposure and disruption during construction.
5. Communication with School and Church: The City Council requested that the applicant make a good-faith effort to meet with representatives of the adjacent school and church prior to the continued hearing regarding outstanding issues associated with private access agreements, easements, property rights, emergency access, circulation, and connectivity between the properties. The applicant was also asked to document its coordination efforts, including meeting requests, correspondence, and responses received, and to provide a summary identifying issues that have been resolved and those that remain outstanding.

Applicant Response

Following the hearing, staff transmitted the above items to the applicant and requested a written response in advance of the September 22, 2026 continued hearing. The applicant's written response to the items identified above, together with any supporting materials provided by the applicant, is included as Attachment 1.

The applicant’s response is provided for the City Council's consideration in connection with the continued public hearing.

Project Modifications

The modified Fencing and Wall Exhibit, which was introduced at the August 11, 2026 City Council hearing, has been incorporated into the revised project plan set Exhibit A. The corresponding condition of approval presented at that hearing has also been incorporated into the project conditions as Condition 13.g.

In addition, the Rocklin Fire Department subsequently conducted a field evaluation of emergency access using a tiller truck to verify required turning movements. Based on this evaluation and the existing configuration of the school access area, Fire determined that the proposed fence immediately south of the hammerhead Emergency Vehicle Access (EVA) must be relocated a minimum of eight feet into the Sierra Wilds project site to provide adequate clearance for all fire apparatus. This requirement has been incorporated into the project conditions as Condition 13.h.

Conclusion

The September 22, 2026 hearing is a continuation of the previously opened public hearing. The August 11, 2026 staff report, including the project analysis, supporting materials, and staff recommendation, remains applicable. This staff report and the applicant’s response included as Attachment 1 are intended to supplement those materials and provide the City Council with the additional information requested at the August 11, 2026 hearing.

During the continued public hearing, staff recommends that the City Council consider the additional information provided by the applicant in response to the issues identified at the August 11, 2026 City Council hearing, together with the previously provided staff report, supporting materials, and public comment.