Final hearing scheduled for July 14 in downtown Sacramento
By John Todd | Rio Linda Online
After nearly twenty years of debate, one of Rio Linda’s most controversial undeveloped properties is once again headed before the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.
On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., the Board of Supervisors will hold the final public hearing on a request to remove two longstanding conditions attached to the Chandra Commons property at the southwest corner of Dry Creek Road and E Street.
The hearing will take place in the Board Chambers of the Sacramento County Administration Building, 700 H Street, Sacramento.
The decision could pave the way for a proposed 78-unit market-rate apartment complex, replacing a 2007 agreement that limited the property to owner-occupied housing.
Twenty Years of History
The issue stretches back to 2004, when a proposal for a 70-unit apartment complex generated strong community opposition.
Following months of negotiations, the project was redesigned into a 52-unit townhome development consisting of for-sale residences.
When the Board of Supervisors approved the property’s rezoning in March 2007, it wasn’t a blanket approval.
It was a compromise.
Among the fourteen conditions attached to the rezoning were two critical requirements:
- The property must be developed with for-sale condominiums, townhomes or detached single-family homes.
- Future development must substantially match the architectural plans and site layout presented to the Board unless the Board itself approves significant changes.
County planning staff acknowledge those conditions were negotiated between the property owner, Rio Linda residents and the Board specifically to address neighborhood concerns and reduce opposition.
What Is Being Requested?
Current property owner Lad Wentzel is not asking the Board to approve apartments at Tuesday’s hearing.
Instead, he is requesting that the Board remove the two conditions that currently prevent apartment construction.
Planning staff note that after submitting plans for a 78-unit market-rate apartment complex, the applicant learned the 2007 conditions prohibited the proposal. Rather than redesigning the project to meet those conditions, the applicant instead asked the County to eliminate them.
If the Board removes those conditions, the property would remain zoned RD-20, allowing apartments under current County zoning regulations.
Community Speaks Loudly
Since the proposal resurfaced, Rio Linda residents have consistently voiced opposition.
At the September 24, 2025 meeting of the Rio Linda/Elverta Community Planning Advisory Council (CPAC), 18 members of the public spoke. Seventeen opposed the proposal. One supported it.
Residents cited numerous concerns, including:
- Honoring the original 2007 agreement
- Increased traffic on Dry Creek Road
- Parking impacts
- Existing flooding concerns
- Additional strain on utilities
- Loss of Rio Linda’s rural character
- Preference for owner-occupied housing over rental apartments
Following public testimony, the CPAC voted 5-0 to recommend denying the request and leaving the original conditions intact.
Planning Commission Split
The proposal next moved to the Sacramento County Planning Commission.
At its hearing, six additional residents spoke against removing the conditions, again raising concerns about traffic, parking and preserving owner-occupied housing.
Commissioners voted 2-1 in favor of supporting County staff’s recommendation to approve the request.
However, County rules require three affirmative votes for an official recommendation.
Because only three commissioners were present, the motion failed procedurally.
As a result, the matter now advances to the Board of Supervisors without a formal recommendation from the Planning Commission.
County Staff Recommend Approval
Although the community advisory council unanimously recommended denial, Sacramento County planning staff recommend the Board approve the request.
Their position is that today’s zoning ordinance no longer distinguishes between owner-occupied and rental housing and that the architectural conditions are no longer necessary under current planning standards.
Planning staff also conclude that removing the conditions would remain consistent with the County General Plan and Rio Linda/Elverta Community Plan.
A Familiar Pattern?
For many Rio Linda residents, the Chandra Commons proposal represents something larger than a single apartment project.
It has reignited a longstanding debate over how much influence local advisory bodies actually have in Sacramento County’s land-use decisions.
The Rio Linda/Elverta CPAC exists to advise the County on development proposals affecting the community. In this case, the council unanimously recommended denying the request after hearing extensive public testimony. Yet county planning staff continue to recommend approval.
That disconnect has become a recurring source of frustration for many residents, who point to other controversial issues—from cell tower proposals to zoning changes and major development projects—where local opposition has not aligned with recommendations coming from County planning staff.
Supporters of the CPAC system argue it gives the community a voice in shaping its future.
Critics increasingly ask a different question:
If the County routinely reaches conclusions different from the community’s advisory council, what role does the CPAC actually play in the decision-making process?
That question is likely to surface again later this week.
On Thursday, July 16, at 9:00 a.m., Sacramento County’s Zoning Administrator is scheduled to consider the proposed Greenfarm use permit during a public hearing in the Board Chambers of the Sacramento County Administration Building, 700 H Street, Sacramento—another project that has generated significant community interest.
Whether these hearings are viewed as opportunities for meaningful local input or simply steps in a larger county process is a question many Rio Linda residents continue to ask.
How to Attend
Chandra Commons Final Hearing
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Sacramento County Board Chambers
700 H Street
Sacramento, CA
Residents may attend in person and provide public comment before the Board of Supervisors makes its decision.
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