PENRYN, Calif. — A proposed 240-unit affordable housing project has sparked heated opposition in the small town of Penryn, in Placer County.
At a packed community-led town hall meeting, locals voiced strong concerns about the potential impact it would have on their tight-knit community.
The project, called Hope Way Apartments, is designed to bring affordable housing to an undeveloped site near Penryn Road and Interstate 80. However, many argue the scale of the project is too large for their small town of roughly 1,000 people.
"It is just too many residents in one small area," said Kellie Blair, a Penryn resident.
“Penryn is willing to do its fair share, but it is about density," said AJ Hardesty, a Penryn resident.
Residents like Hardesty are worried that the addition of 240 apartments could strain local resources. Brian Myers, a Penryn resident and an advocate with the Placer Citizens for Neighborhood Rights, expressed concerns about the project's impact on traffic, schools and emergency services.
“The state needs affordable housing, but this is not an issue of no money. This is an issue of management," Myers said.
While a Placer County environmental questionnaire estimates the project will add 624 new residents to the town, residents attending the town hall believe the actual number could exceed 1,300. Myers argued that the county's estimates were too low, which could lead to underreporting of the project's true impact on infrastructure.
"When you lower the numbers like that, you change the outcome of your study," he said.
Placer County is under pressure from the state to increase its affordable housing stock. According to recent reports, the county is 1,200 units short of the amount required by state. However, residents argue Penryn is being asked to shoulder an unfair proportion of the burden. Myers said Penryn represents just 0.002% of the county's population, yet it is being tasked with providing 20% of the county's 1,200 affordable housing units.
"That is not appropriate, that is not fair to the people coming here or us,” Myers said.
The county has acknowledged the concerns expressed at the town hall, with a spokesperson saying officials attended the meeting and are carefully reviewing the project.
“We know the community has questions and concerns, and we are here to listen as we continue our careful review of this project," said Community Development Resource Agency Director Paul Hellman.
The developer, Roseville-based USA Properties Fund, also weighed in, saying, "The County will hold a public information meeting once all the project information is complete and USA Properties Fund will participate in that meeting.”
Despite the challenges, Penryn residents remain resolute.
“60 units would be more reasonable than 1,300,” Hardesty said.
The county has emphasized the project is still undergoing design and environmental reviews, and once these are complete, there will be opportunities for public comment at future town hall and planning commission meetings.
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