OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Davis City Council Meeting January 27, 2026: Village Farms Public Hearing & Actions

City Council & Planning Commission — Tuesday, January 27, 2026
BodyDavis, California
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateTuesday, January 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 6:49:55

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

I'm just trying to even everyone.

0:17

And welcome to the January 20th regular meeting of the Davis City Council.

0:22

Please come on in.

0:22

There's still lots of seats left.

0:24

Please go ahead.

0:26

I'm going to first of all recognize that all of my colleagues are here in attendance.

0:31

And first item of business is just to approve this evening's agenda.

0:36

Is there a motion to approve?

0:39

Moved by Councilmember Dio, seconded by Councilmember Chapman.

0:43

All in favor of approval of the agenda say aye.

0:45

Aye.

0:46

Aye.

0:46

Any no's abstentions.

0:49

Hearing none, the agenda is approved unanimously.

0:52

And now I'm going to turn it over to City Manager Dunstan for some brief announcements.

0:57

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

0:58

Two quick announcements this evening.

1:06

It's annual beautification event on January 24th from 9 a.m.

1:10

to noon.

1:12

This is in partnership with the city's open space program.

1:15

And we are asking participants to meet at all at the Owl Drive entrance.

1:20

Supplies will be provided.

1:21

And just a reminder that any youth under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

1:29

And we are asking folks to register at Puta Creek Council.org backslash events.

1:39

And just another reminder about the Children's Summer Activity Fair being held on February 18th at the Veterans Memorial Center from 5 30 to 7 p.m.

1:49

This is an opportunity for parents to check out all of the programming that the city provides.

1:56

If you're interested in your child participating in summer program, this is a great opportunity to learn more about that and how you can register for those events or seek more information from staff.

2:12

Again, that's February 18th at the Veterans Memorial Center between 5 30 and 7 p.m.

2:18

And that concludes my announcements, Madam Mayor.

2:20

Great.

2:20

Thank you, City Manager Dunstan.

2:23

Are there any reports of two buys or jurisdictional attendances or commissions from my colleagues?

2:29

Seeing none.

2:31

Very good.

2:32

We will now turn our attention to item two, which is the item I'm sure that you are all here for, and that is a public hearing on village farms.

2:42

And for just a moment before I turn it over to staff, I just want to make a couple of brief comments.

2:47

Tonight, as you know, this is a hearing that is made up of many different parts.

2:52

Within this single hearing that we are conducting tonight, we'll be making some potential minor changes to our general plan.

3:00

We'll be doing some work on pre-zoning for the project, as well as planned use development work.

3:06

That's part one.

3:08

Part two deals with land use entitlements that contains issues like the baseline features for the project and the development agreement.

3:18

Part three of the hearing is the environmental impact report, which has been prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act.

3:25

And part four is a series of smaller actions but very important actions that would potentially certify the project for the ballot.

3:33

But what I want to be sure that everyone here in attendance knows is that we will do a single round of public comment on all aspects of the hearing.

3:45

I want to be sure you know that when we do open it up for public comment on the item, whatever your issue is, whether it's the development agreement, the EIR, or whatever, that will be your opportunity to offer public comment on the item.

3:58

And I'll repeat that later for those who may come in late.

4:01

And we're going to follow the same general format that we do for all items of this nature.

4:06

We'll have a staff presentation on the project that will include a brief presentation from our CEQA consultant.

4:13

And then the applicant will have the opportunity to provide a brief presentation as well.

4:18

And then unless there are some brief uh clarifying comments here from the dais from my colleagues, we will turn to public comment and then we'll come back to the dais for our deliberations and actions.

4:29

So with that, and but one oh do you want to move the Sure.

4:35

I'll also just thank you for that.

4:37

I appreciate that.

4:38

You may have noticed on the agenda that we have placed the general public comment, that is public comment on items not on the agenda this evening, at a different position in the agenda that was really necessary in order to accommodate the great interest we have in this item.

5:04

So I don't want anyone to be surprised if you're waiting here just to offer general public comment that will come later this evening after we've taken up and complete concluded this item.

5:15

Thank you for that reminder.

5:16

Appreciate it.

5:17

With that, I am going to turn it over to staff and please go ahead.

5:22

Good evening.

5:23

Thank you, Madam Mayor, Derek Denworth, Principal Planner.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing██████████████████18%
Housing███████████████15%
Procedural███████████11%
Environmental Protection███████████11%
Land Use█████████9%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Public Engagement█████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Flood Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Davis City Council Meeting – January 27, 2026

This special meeting of the Davis City Council was convened primarily for a public hearing on the Village Farms Davis project, a proposed 1,800-unit development on approximately 497 acres north of Covell Boulevard. The Council considered certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), a General Plan Amendment, prezone, Development Agreement, and ballot measures for a June 2, 2026 special election. The meeting lasted from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 12:30 a.m. and included extensive public comment, staff presentations, and Council deliberation.

Consent Calendar

  • The agenda was approved unanimously.
  • City Manager brief announcements: annual beautification event on January 24, 2026, and Children's Summer Activity Fair on February 18, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Over 50 members of the public spoke or submitted recorded comments. Positions were divided:
    • Supporters (including Davis Chamber of Commerce, UC Davis students, parents, local business owners) argued the project would provide much-needed housing, increase school enrollment, support local businesses, and create homeownership opportunities. Many urged the Council to certify the EIR and place the project on the June ballot.
    • Opponents (including hydrologists, planning commissioners, neighborhood association leaders) cited concerns about flood risks, toxic contamination from the adjacent old landfill (PFAS, dioxins), inadequate EIR analysis, traffic congestion, and the project's size. Many asked the Council to reject the EIR or delay the vote for a smaller footprint.
  • Key themes included the need for a grade-separated crossing over Covell Boulevard, the desire for deed-restricted for-sale affordable housing, and the risk of rushing the project to meet a developer timeline.

Discussion Items

  • Village Farms Davis Project Overview: Staff presented the project details, including 1,800 dwelling units (maximum), 280 low/very-low income units, 80 moderate-income units, $6 million cash contribution, and various sustainability and transportation commitments.
  • EIR Certification: The Council debated the adequacy of the EIR, particularly regarding the cannery loop roundabout connection and flood/toxics mitigation. The EIR was certified with a finding of overriding considerations.
  • Development Agreement (DA) Amendments: The Council made several amendments to the DA exhibits:
    • Exhibit E (Affordable Housing): Added language specifying that the 100 baseline affordable units shall be lower-income, and that the city shall strive for all 80 moderate-income units to be deed-restricted for sale.
    • Exhibit G (Transportation): Added a provision limiting any cannery loop connection to pedestrians, bicyclists, and emergency vehicles only.
    • Exhibit F (Sustainability): Broadened the carbon offset purchase preference to include local partner agencies (e.g., Yolo Transportation District).
    • Edible landscaping encouragement added to community benefits exhibit.
  • Baseline Project Features: Added a requirement for a feasibility study for a grade-separated crossing over Covell Boulevard connecting to Oak Tree Plaza.
  • Zoning/Preliminary Planned Development: Prohibited turf in front yards and required a solar capacity study to optimize solar generation.
  • Cannery Loop: Council voted 3-2 to restrict vehicular access; emergency vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians only.

Key Outcomes

  • EIR Certification: Approved (5-0) – Resolution certifying the Final EIR, adopting CEQA findings, a statement of overriding considerations, and a mitigation monitoring plan.
  • General Plan Amendment & Baseline Project Features: Approved with amendments (5-0).
  • Prezone & Preliminary Planned Development: Approved with amendments (5-0).
  • Development Agreement: Approved with amendments (5-0).
  • Special Election: Approved (5-0) – Resolution calling a special election on June 2, 2026, for a ballot measure to modify land use designations and establish baseline project features.
  • Election Consolidation: Approved (5-0) – Resolution requesting Yolo County Board of Supervisors to consolidate the special election with the statewide primary.
  • Future Items: The MAP (Muslim, Arab, Palestinian) report was removed from the February 3, 2026 agenda; staff directed to develop a process for its presentation within 30 days.

Meeting Transcript

I'm just trying to even everyone. And welcome to the January 20th regular meeting of the Davis City Council. Please come on in. There's still lots of seats left. Please go ahead. I'm going to first of all recognize that all of my colleagues are here in attendance. And first item of business is just to approve this evening's agenda. Is there a motion to approve? Moved by Councilmember Dio, seconded by Councilmember Chapman. All in favor of approval of the agenda say aye. Aye. Aye. Any no's abstentions. Hearing none, the agenda is approved unanimously. And now I'm going to turn it over to City Manager Dunstan for some brief announcements. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Two quick announcements this evening. It's annual beautification event on January 24th from 9 a.m. to noon. This is in partnership with the city's open space program. And we are asking participants to meet at all at the Owl Drive entrance. Supplies will be provided. And just a reminder that any youth under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult. And we are asking folks to register at Puta Creek Council.org backslash events. And just another reminder about the Children's Summer Activity Fair being held on February 18th at the Veterans Memorial Center from 5 30 to 7 p.m. This is an opportunity for parents to check out all of the programming that the city provides. If you're interested in your child participating in summer program, this is a great opportunity to learn more about that and how you can register for those events or seek more information from staff. Again, that's February 18th at the Veterans Memorial Center between 5 30 and 7 p.m. And that concludes my announcements, Madam Mayor. Great. Thank you, City Manager Dunstan. Are there any reports of two buys or jurisdictional attendances or commissions from my colleagues? Seeing none. Very good. We will now turn our attention to item two, which is the item I'm sure that you are all here for, and that is a public hearing on village farms. And for just a moment before I turn it over to staff, I just want to make a couple of brief comments. Tonight, as you know, this is a hearing that is made up of many different parts. Within this single hearing that we are conducting tonight, we'll be making some potential minor changes to our general plan. We'll be doing some work on pre-zoning for the project, as well as planned use development work. That's part one. Part two deals with land use entitlements that contains issues like the baseline features for the project and the development agreement. Part three of the hearing is the environmental impact report, which has been prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act. And part four is a series of smaller actions but very important actions that would potentially certify the project for the ballot. But what I want to be sure that everyone here in attendance knows is that we will do a single round of public comment on all aspects of the hearing. I want to be sure you know that when we do open it up for public comment on the item, whatever your issue is, whether it's the development agreement, the EIR, or whatever, that will be your opportunity to offer public comment on the item. And I'll repeat that later for those who may come in late. And we're going to follow the same general format that we do for all items of this nature. We'll have a staff presentation on the project that will include a brief presentation from our CEQA consultant. And then the applicant will have the opportunity to provide a brief presentation as well. And then unless there are some brief uh clarifying comments here from the dais from my colleagues, we will turn to public comment and then we'll come back to the dais for our deliberations and actions.

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