Notice of Preparation of a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Amendments to the City of Folsom’s 2035 General Plan and Folsom Plan Area Specific Plan for Increased Residential Densities

A scoping meeting, open to agencies, organizations, and individuals, will be held to receive public comments and suggestions on the scope of environmental matters to be studied in the EIR.

The virtual scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 6 p.m. via Zoom:
us06web.zoom.us/j/88553569127?pwd=eE5pRnNsaEp6VWJQRjdvenJjWnc4Zz09

Call In Phone: 1-669-900-6833 (audio only) Webinar ID: 885 5356 9127 and Passcode: 182263.

Document: Notice of Preparation

The City of Folsom encourages residents to attend the virtual scoping meeting to provide comments, questions, and concerns. Comments will be addressed as required by law in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and included in the final environmental impact report.

Project Overview

In response to state housing requirements, the City of Folsom began a two-part effort to increase housing capacity for multi-family and affordable development in certain areas.  In total, the Project proposes to create capacity for up to 6,046 additional residential units in the city.  By increasing capacity in targeted areas, the city will be able to maintain an adequate supply of land for multi-family housing without having to rezone land in established residential neighborhoods, which could be required under the state’s housing element requirements. 

Part 2: City of Folsom’s 2035 General Plan and Folsom Plan Area Specific Plan Amendments (Currently Underway)

The city has begun the second part (Part 2) of its effort to increase opportunities for higher density housing in the targeted areas. The three targeted areas are the East Bidwell Street corridor, the transit priority areas around the Glenn and Iron Point light rail stations, and the Folsom Plan Area, particularly the Folsom Town Center, south of Highway 50. Part 2 involves the technical and environmental analyses to increase housing capacity and for necessary amendments to the General Plan, Folsom Plan Area Specific Plan (FPASP), and Zoning Code. 

The Project includes amendments to the 2035 General Plan and Zoning Code to increase the minimum density and maximum floor area ratio (FAR) standards for the East Bidwell corridor mixed-use overlay and establish a new Transit Development Overlay (and associated development standards) for the areas surrounding Iron Point and Glenn Stations.  The project also allows for the potential of an additional 1,882 residential units in the Folsom Plan Area over the next 12 to 20 years. To account for increased residential development the project would reduce 251,266 square feet of non-residential development capacity in the Folsom Plan Area.  In total, the project proposes to create capacity for up to 6,046 additional residential units in the city.  By increasing capacity in targeted areas, the city will be able to maintain an adequate supply of land for multi-family housing without having to rezone land in established residential neighborhoods.  It is anticipated that this effort will be completed in early 2024. 

Additional information on the project proposal and proposed scope of the EIR is contained in the Notice of Preparation.  If you have any questions regarding this scoping meeting, contact the Project Manager, Stephanie Henry at shenry@folsom.ca.us. 

Part 1: Targeted Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Housing Study (Completed Summer 2022)

For Part 1 of this effort, the city hired Opticos Design, Inc. to prepare a targeted multi-family and mixed-use housing study. The study evaluated attractive design, density, development standards, and market feasibility for multi-family and residential mixed-use development in three targeted areas. On July 26, 2022, staff presented the final study with specific recommendations regarding changes to density, design, and development standards in these targeted areas to the City Council.  The Council provided input and was generally supportive of staff’s recommendations. To learn more about the targeted multi-family and mixed-use housing study view the project materials under the Resources tab below.

The results of the study and direction provided by City Council are being used to guide the increased housing capacity project’s proposed amendments to the General Plan, Folsom Plan Area Specific Plan (FPASP), and Zoning Code.