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American Canyon has a message for the state — if you don't believe we can meet our state housing mandate, just look at the homes already being built.

Watson Ranch subdivisions are going up. Apartments are being built along Highway 29. The city must make room for 622 homes by 2031 under a California mandate and says it has 1,556 planned.

Yet the California Department of Housing and Community Development lists American Canyon as “out of compliance” for the city's required general plan housing element. The City Council approved the element for submission on Jan. 31.

American Canyon's assertion that it has plenty of homes in the pipeline isn’t enough. The state wants to be convinced the houses will actually be built by 2031.

Show the city’s ability to realize housing plans, give anticipated timelines for final approvals and provide other additional information, the state agency wrote to the city.

As a result, American Canyon is attempting to convince the state that its home-building track record is for real.

“We will be sending HCD photos of recent construction actually underway, which should address their need for clarification,” city Community Development Director Brent Cooper told the Napa Valley Register in a recent email.

He speculated at a recent Planning Commission meeting that California is skeptical because of what it is experiencing with other cities.

"American Canyon is really a special place, and I don't think the state understands that, but perhaps they will soon," Cooper said.

About 44% of California communities are listed as out of compliance on a state HCD website. Locally, Napa County and its five cities were all listed as noncompliant as of Friday.

Unlike many cities, American Canyon isn’t faced with the often controversial task of rezoning land for housing to meet the state mandate. With Watson Ranch, its Broadway plan for Highway 29 and Oat Hill, it has enough housing sites already.

“Fortunately in American Canyon, we are able to satisfy our regional housing needs with projects that are already approved and under construction, in some cases,” Cooper told the City Council and Planning Commission earlier this year.

The city is reaping the benefits of years of planning, with Watson Ranch proposals dating back to 2006, Cooper said.

HCD has other quibbles with American Canyon’s draft housing element. The City Council and Planning Commission are doing some cleanup work to resolve things.

For example, the agency is targeting city growth controls dating to the 1990s that tie housing construction to highway and other infrastructure improvements. That might conflict with the Housing Crisis Act of 2019, the state said.

On Tuesday, the City Council will decide whether to delete its 1990s-era growth controls instead of arguing.

Doing so would not abandon rational planning, Cooper wrote to the City Council. What is important is that city land use, mobility and other policies work together to connect growth with infrastructure.

Implementing such actions as impact fees for traffic, water and parks helps pay development-related costs. The California Environmental Quality Act plays a role in evaluating proposed development and associated infrastructure needs, he wrote.

“There are other ways the city can more appropriately manage its growth,” Cooper told the Planning Commission on March 23.

A Chicken Guy fast food restaurant operator wants to come to American Canyon, though this fowl endeavor could run afoul of climate change concerns.

The restaurant proposal includes both indoor dining and a drive-thru. Some county residents say idling autos at the drive-thru would add to greenhouse gas emissions.

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“I’m concerned if new drive-thrus continue to be developed, we adults will be sending the message to our youth that we value convenience today over their chance for a livable future tomorrow,” county resident Lori Stelling said.

On Thursday, the American Canyon Planning Commission continued its Chicken Guy hearing. That delay came at the request of the property owner, who wanted more time to look at staff-recommended conditions of approval.

City staff recommended approving Chicken Guy with the drive-thru. It also called for conditions ranging from burying utility line to showing the drive-thru vehicle pathway is safe.

Chandi Hospitality Group is seeking a use permit for a Chicken Guy to be built at 200 American Canyon Road. This shopping center already hosts a Walgreens pharmacy and a 7-Eleven store.

Chicken Guy is a chicken sandwich chain co-founded by the celebrity chef Guy Fieri of television fame and Planet Hollywood restaurateur Robert Earl. Chandi says it has rights to open Chicken Guy restaurants in nine Northern California counties.

A Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers restaurant will not be coming to Napa after the Napa City Council upheld an appeal of a proposed drive-thru.

But proposed chicken fast food restaurants with drive-thrus have faced a tough road in Napa County of late.

The city of Napa in 2021 rejected a Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. The reason was that restaurant planners wanted a drive-thru, but a majority of the City Council didn’t want idling autos spouting greenhouse gas emissions.

Napa Climate NOW! made a similar argument to the American Canyon Planning Commission over a Chicken Guy drive-thru.

Bayard Fox of the group noted American Canyon last year set the goal of reaching net zero climate pollution by 2030. He cited a restaurant industry publication as saying the average drive-thru wait time at leading fast food chains is more than five minutes per vehicle.

“The pandemic has revealed the solution: expand curbside and walk-up service,” Fox wrote to the city.

County resident Yvonne Baginski told commissioners that idling cars damage air quality, causing not only such problems as climate change, but such health woes as asthma.

“We don’t have to pick on Chicken Guy to do what’s best for us all,” Baginski said. “Chicken Guy can open their indoor space and still have a very successful business.”

American Canyon resident Tammy Wong also made the point about air quality.

“Who lives here, who suffers through that?” Wong said. “We do. The residents.”

Later in the meeting, after the Chicken Guy item had already been postponed by the commission, Commissioner Andrew Goff took up the topic of not allowing new drive-thrus.

“I would like to see the city take some action on that, sort of a moratorium, similar to what we do for gas stations," Goff said.

In fact, he said, he'd like to see a citywide policy that prohibits people from just letting cars sit and idle.

In November, the owner of the proposed Chicken Guy site made the argument to the city that a restaurant can be developed there without obtaining a new Planning Commission-approved use permit. The reasoning was that the city in May 2008 approved the shopping center as a phased project.

But American Canyon responded that the original project approvals have expired unless already used.

VALLEJO – Two American Canyon residents sued the city of Vallejo in August in an attempt to block construction of a controversial 48-unit supportive housing project in Vallejo.

The residents, Russell Charpentier and William Baker, alleged in the lawsuit that the project “will have significant adverse impacts in and around the project area including impacts related to aesthetics, air quality, noise, and traffic.”

“These impacts will significantly affect the existing single-family residential neighborhood, the adjacent community park, and will result in serious health, safety, and other issues including a drastic and adverse effect on surrounding residents’ existing quality of life,” the lawsuit alleges.

The proposed project includes 47 studio apartments, each about 305 square feet, in a building to be constructed on a parcel near the border of Vallejo and American Canyon. A 48th unit would be occupied by an onsite manager.

The lawsuit accuses Vallejo of violating the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). by “improperly relying on a series of statutory, ministerial, and categorical exemptions without substantial evidence in the record to support those exceptions.”

The lawsuit was filed a month after the Vallejo City Council voted to proceed with the project, including declaring the project is statutorily exempt from review under CEQA. Such review provides government officials and the public with information about the possible environmental impacts of a proposed project.

At the same meeting, the council also approved an affordability covenant that places a deed restriction on the property, ensuring it is used as a permanent supportive housing project for at least 55 years. The council also authorized City Manager Mike Malone to sign an acquisition agreement that allows the city to acquire the property once the project is built.

The Castro Valley nonprofit Firm Foundation Community Housing, which is contracted to build the development, purchased the property in September for $600,000 from Richard and Emily Fisher of the nonprofit 4th Second and will transfer it at “no cost” to the city once the project is complete.

Firm Foundation is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also raises concerns about the use of modular housing units in the project, arguing that they are “untested” by being located next to an existing railroad line and near earthquake fault lines.

Mare Island-based Factory_OS is slated to supply the modular housing units. The company is also supplying units for a 75-unit permanent supportive housing project on Sacramento Street.

The project has been met with resistance from the start as American Canyon accused Vallejo leaders of violating the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law, hours before the June 7 Vallejo City Council meeting.

American Canyon has also disputed Vallejo’s interpretation regarding environmental review of the project.

The project is being funded with $12 million from Project HomeKey, a $1.45 billion state program to house people without shelter or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Vallejo argued that projects funded by Project HomeKey are exempt from CEQA review.

Representatives from Firm Foundation, and the cities of Vallejo and American Canyon couldn’t be immediately reached.

Check out all the businesses launched by young entrepreneurs at the upcoming "Meet Me In The Street" event.

Patch Staff

AMERICAN CANYON, CA — American Canyon announced the successful launch of Kids Commerce, a groundbreaking youth entrepreneurship program, in conjunction with the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce's highly anticipated "Meet Me in the Street" event series which kicks off Wednesday.

In support of its goal of expanding diverse business and employment opportunities, the American Canyon City Council on May 2 approved waiving business license fees for youth participating in the Kids Commerce program.

The American Canyon Chamber of Commerce spearheaded Kids Commerce as a comprehensive program that equips young participants with essential business skills, including business planning, budgeting, marketing strategies and financial literacy.

Through hands-on learning, the program facilitates the creation of business plans, establishment of social media presence, opening of bank accounts, and application for necessary permits at the city, state and county levels.

Local American Canyon businesses partnered with the Chamber to provide educational sessions. Redwood Credit Union facilitated financial literacy education by teaching participants how to budget and manage a bank account. Darelle Doi with Invesdid led a vision board session to teach young participants how to find their purpose and vision. Furthermore, Kasama Lee, an expert from Re/Max Gold American Canyon, shared her knowledge of marketing strategies with the young entrepreneurs.

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Kids Commerce showcases a diverse range of youth businesses, highlighting the creativity and innovation of young entrepreneurs. From homemade dog biscuits, handmade hair scrunchies, and jewelry to key chains, tie-dye shirts, and mouth-watering treats like ice cream sandwich cookies and truffles, the Kids Commerce businesses have it all. Additional offerings in the fields of art, clothing, plants, tacos and even slime create a vibrant marketplace.

"The response to Kids Commerce has been phenomenal," said Valeria Zizak-Morais, president and CEO of the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce. "We have witnessed firsthand the transformation in these young entrepreneurs as they develop crucial business skills and gain the confidence to pursue their passions."

The "Meet Me in the Street" event acts as a bridge connecting businesses with the community. It features 100 business tables, 40 food vendors, live music, yard games, kids' activities, and a bar offering a selection of wine, beer and seasonal cocktails.

"This year’s Meet Me in the Street promises to be an exciting and engaging experience for attendees of all ages," said Jen Kansanback, spokesperson for the city of American Canyon.

The event takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, and again on Wednesday, July 12 and Wednesday, Aug. 9 on West American Canyon Road between James and Elliott.

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AMERICAN CANYON, CA — Guy Fieri's Chicken Guy Restaurant may be coming to the North Bay.

Chandi Hospitality Group, which operates Mountain Mike's Pizza, Beer Baron and Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven, has proposed to construct a new drive-through Chicken Guy Restaurant on a 1.03-acre site south of the Walgreens at 210 American Canyon Road, the city of American Canyon announced this week in a public notice.

It remains early in the development review process for the 2,818-square-foot restaurant that would have 70 fixed seats, a drive-through and 29 parking stalls.

The restaurant would have two entries on Broadway Street and its proposed hours of operation are 8 a.m. to midnight daily.

The project site is situated in the city of American Canyon's Neighborhood Commerical zoning district of the Broadway District Specific Plan, therefore, a conditional use permit is required for eateries adjacent to residential zones or uses.

Find out what's happening in Napa Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

An application for a conditional use permit was submitted to the city in August for the project.

There are seven existing Chicken Guy Restaurants across the United States, including in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Nashville, Tennessee, with at least three more in the works. The American Canyon location would be the second in California; the lone Chicken Guy Restaurant in the Golden State is at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.

From the kitchen of Guy Fieri, "Chicken Guy! features one-of-a-kind all-natural fresh chicken tenders, hand-pounded to maximize crunch and paired with a wide selection of delicious sauces. Brined in fresh lemon juice, pickle brine and buttermilk, and infused with fresh herbs, these tenders deliver on flavor and texture. Choose from a wide array of sauces created by Chef Guy to enjoy with your meal and sides."

The city will post updates here about the project.

Anyone with questions or comments can contact Senior Planner William He by email at [email protected] or by phone at (707) 647-4337. Comments can also be submitted by clicking here.