The Abridged version:
- Strong debate is stirring around the city of Sacramento’s plans to add a 40-unit tiny home community in Natomas.
- A group of residents is seeking a court order for the city to “immediately cease” all construction activities on the site and alleges that the city did not conduct enough environmental reviews on the site.
- The site is one of four “micro-communities” in the city of Sacramento intended to provide more housing for homeless seniors.
A group of residents went to court this week in an attempt to halt the construction of a 40-unit tiny home site planned in Natomas.
Last September, Sacramento city leaders detailed plans to add four new “micro-community” sites aimed at providing shelter for homeless people over age 55.
A 1.58-acre strip of land at Arena Boulevard and El Centro Road was among the four sites that had been selected by then-interim city manager Leyne Milstein.
While construction on the site was slated to begin as early as April, the group recently filed for a court order for the city to “immediately cease” all construction activity on the site.
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The legal action was filed on March 30 by a group called the “Advisory Council for Legal and Ethical Oversight.” In court records, the group is self-described as an “unincorporated community association” that represents West Natomas residents opposed to the project.
The action names three Sacramento residents as plaintiffs, including Rosalee Lehr, Jaron West and Richard Loek. The action describes them as board members for the residents’ group.
Group alleges lack of environmental review on the site
The group alleges that city’s selection of the site on Arena Boulevard violates Measure O, the homelessness measure approved by voters in 2022. The legal filing alleges that the site is in close proximity to Sundance Park and Fisherman’s Lake Parkway, which could violate the buffer distances outlined in Measure O.
The legal filing alleges that no environmental review of the site has occurred and that the site has a lack of floodplain development permits. The group also alleges that the streamlined process for setting up the site sidestepped the city’s required competitive bidding process.
The group is also seeking a restraining order to prevent the city from “taking any further steps” to advance the project.
Tiny home sites seen as solution for local homelessness
Sacramento leaders are increasingly looking to tiny home sites as one way to alleviate the city’s homelessness crisis.
The Natomas site was detailed within Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty’s “six-point plan” to address homelessness released last fall. The four tiny home sites are included in the plan, as well as an expansion of the city’s current tiny home shelters.
Two more tiny home sites are also planned for 6360 25th St. in Brentwood, near Executive Airport, and 2461 Gardendale Road in Meadowview.
Pocket, Land Park site never named
A fourth site was also mentioned for the city’s District 7, which includes the city’s affluent Pocket and Land Park neighborhoods. Six months later, an address for that site has not been made public.
Representatives for McCarty did not respond to request for comment.
City officials could not be reached on Tuesday to verify the status of the tiny home sites, as March 31 is holiday for most city staffers and state workers. Representatives for the city did not provide comment on the pending legal filing.
City Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, who represents the district where the Natomas site is planned, has been a frequent critic of the process surrounding the tiny homes.
“While I support tiny home communities built on best practices, I am concerned that the city is not following those standards for this project,” Kaplan said, in a written statement.
“I stand with my community in demanding that the city operate with transparency and accountability. We must follow established protocols and statutes, while treating our unhoused neighbors with the dignity they deserve in the development of these shelters.”
The Natomas site was selected by then-interim city manager Leyne Milstein. Since 2023, decision-making power over where the tiny home sites should go lies with the Sacramento city manager, per a vote by the Sacramento City Council that handed over authority to that position.
Felicia Alvarez is a reporter at Abridged covering accountability. She’s called Sacramento home since 2015 and has reported on government, health care and breaking news topics for both local and national news outlets.