by John Glidden | glid24@protonmail.com | November 5, 2025
VALLEJO – The Vallejo Planning Commission unanimously approved a new housing development Monday night which will see the construction of 130 single-family homes on the site of four abandoned little league baseball fields in East Vallejo.
Commissioners spent over two-hours debating the merits of the project, including addressing traffic concerns, the impact the project may create for the surrounding neighborhood, and the decision by the developer, KB Home North Bay, LLC, to build only market-rate homes.
Jerome Marcus, director of land acquisition at KB Home, responded to questions from Commission Chair Anthony Taylor about why affordable housing was not included in this project but was required for a development KB Home is also working on in Southern California.
“Vallejo does not have a below-market rate ordinance, so a lot of times, these projects are driven by what is required by the city,” Marcus explained. “But we think this is a uniquely suited (project) for Vallejo.”
Marcus said KB Home hopes to break ground in the spring with homes to go on sale a year after that. He said the company is targeting first-time home buyers and move-up buyers.
“We definitely look at medium income and attainability,” Marcus added. “Our data shows that a lot of our buyers will be from the immediate area, that is what we’re expecting and what we’re targeting toward.”
Commissioner Tara Beasley-Stansberry expressed irritation with the flow of questioning on why only market-rate housing was included in the project.
“I think we are missing the mark again. This is not about affordable housing; we don’t even have an inclusionary housing policy so cannot expect a developer to come here and have that in mind. That’s not what their job is. They don’t care if we have it or not,” Beasley-Stansberry said, adding that the developers are seeking to make money.
“We do need folks that work a certain wage,” she added, stating that over 40% of residents are on social services. “We can’t save everybody, we can’t but we can bring in folks to offset the large, enormous amount of folks who are reliant on our county to live day-to-day.”
Later in the meeting, Matt Sauls, division president at KB Home for North Bay/Central Valley/Fresno, responded to Beasley-Stansberry’s comments, confirming that “we are a builder that needs to make money as well, too.”
Sauls further stated that the conventional wisdom is to add as many houses as possible on the property but with fire issues and fees from the Homeowner Association and insurance that can increase the costs of the homes.
The commission received comments from a few residents that live near the project.
Isidra Mencos, who lives on nearby Dryden Drive, said that the project will come at a cost of privacy and property values for many living on Dryden.
“I want to start by saying that I’m not one of those people that say, ‘not in my backyard,’ I support development, I understand Vallejo needs more housing, and I support this development in particular,” she said.
Mencos said she had issues with the proposed map, stating she’d like to see the 18 homes proposed next to the houses on Dryden be pulled from the project.
“But the unfortunate consequence is that the 19 neighbors, or families, who live on Dryden Drive, which are one-story houses, are now going to have a row of 18 two-story houses directly in our noses.”
At the start of his presentation, Marcus said the developer will be adding a landscape buffer between the proposed homes and those on Dryden Drive.
“That is something we hear loud and clear, and we definitely want to address and be good neighbors,” he said.
Fellow Dryden Drive resident, Ron Richardson said additional traffic control measures are needed. Richardson said that there have been several fatal accidents at the intersection of Dryden Drive and Rollingwood; so many that Richardson installed a large planter in his front yard to prevent cars involved in the accidents from crashing into his home.
Bill Burton, principal at Fehr & Peers which conducted the traffic study addressed the traffic concerns
“There will be a mild traffic calming effect of the project when the curb and gutter and sidewalk go in,” he said.
Flashing lights and signage will be added at Dryden. There will be two entrances/exits along Rollingwood.
Commissioners declined to add a condition of approval that the developer build a masonry wall to the south of the project. The wall was proposed by the owner of 1300 Benicia Road, which is seeking the wall. However, the commission rejected the idea since the property at 1300 Benicia Road, which was once home to a drive-in theater, is undeveloped.
Plans include 10 new parcels for stormwater detention, biotreatment retention, open space and roadway dedication, and installation of new landscaping improvements, public and private streets, and lighting, according to a staff report.
The applicant is proposing five different floor plans from 1,664 square feet to 2,204 square feet with each home containing three bedrooms and two and half bathrooms, the same staff report states.
“Floor plan three has the option of converting an upstairs loft into a fourth bedroom while floor plans four and five have the option of converting a downstairs den into a fourth bedroom and/or an upstairs loft into a fourth or fifth bedroom,” the staff report further states. “Each floor plan also has the option to add a covered patio in the rear. Lastly, each floor plan comes standard with an attached garage that includes an additional minimum 200 square-feet of storage space.”
KB Home North Bay, LLC, agreed to purchased the 17.71 acres of land from the Vallejo school district for more than $8 million in 2022. Completion of the land sale was dependent on approval of the housing subdivision. The land was once home of East Vallejo Little League Baseball.
This isn’t the first time KB attempted to build homes on the site. In 2006, the developer agreed to buy the property for $17.5 million, however, citing the 2008 financial crisis, and the city’s entry into bankruptcy, KB Homes stopped making its annual $3 million payment to the district in 2008. Plans at that time included 214 homes.
Both times, the property was placed on the market, as way for the school district to close budget shortfalls.
In June, the school district announced that it was exiting state receivership after over 20 years. The district entered receivership in 2004 after receiving a $60 million bailout from the California Legislature.
Overall, the planning commission approved multiple entitlements, including Design Review for a residential project of 50 or more units, Development Review and Vesting Tentative Map for the construction of 130 new single-family residences and creation of 140 parcels, landscape design (including the planting of 384 new trees) and a Minor Use Permit for the proposed small lot subdivision, according to the city staff report.
The commission also approved an exception allowing an increase in the garage size to include a standard size two-car garage width measuring 18.75 feet in width.
“Without the exception, the maximum garage width would be 15 feet for the proposed 30-foot-wide residential units. Staff finds the proposed increase in garage width would not negatively impact the streetscape, the overall design, nor dominate the primary façade, staff added. “Additionally, the wider garages would allow for additional off-street parking for residents and visitors, where street parking may be limited.”
Meeting notes
The commission selected a new chair and vice chair. Commission Chair Eric Blind nominated Vice Chair Anthony Taylor as chair, which received a “second” from Commissioner Wanda Madeiros.
Commissioner Tara Beasley-Stansberry nominated Phillip Balbuena as chair, but the motion didn’t receive a “second.”
Taylor was elected chair via a 5-0 vote with Taylor not voting and Commissioner Donald Douglass abstaining.
Blind then nominated Douglass for vice chair, with Beasley-Stansberry offering a “second.” The commission unanimously approved the appointment.
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