Greenfield city council to meet and decide on farmworker housing project design

Farmworker housing in Greenfield is back in talks after a modified design was presented to city leaders to start the new year.

The new project would be rolled out in two phases and shrunk from the original design of about 160 housing units to a little over 100.

This also leaves room for the area near 3rd Street and Walnut Avenue to have some commercial development as the city was hoping to do so previously.

The city believes having some shops closer to the highway than the housing project would be more appealing to those who are commuting along Highway 101.

“It’s [Walnut Avenue] right off the highway so when you get off the road you want to see places to shop,” says Greenfield City Manager, Paul Wood.

Residents were concerned the project would eliminate any chance of commercial development in that spot.

City leaders were concerned with that as well and did not approve the initial project last month as it was too large for such a development to take place.

Developers have been discussing with the city ways to modify the design so it still fits within that 3rd and Walnut location while still allowing for commercial development.

What was once a 9 acre plot is now a 5 acre plot designed for the farmworker housing project. this is out of the approximately 60 acres of land which city leaders say could now allow for commercial development and resolve the housing issue in the area by helping farmworkers.

“Farmworker housing is a component of that,” explains Wood. “We hope this project helps the whole region get to a better place as far as housing is concerned.”

The project would be rolled out in two phases if approved. The first phase would consist of about 48 units and be completed by Spring 2020. The second phase would consist of the rest of the units, totalling a little over 100 units by 2021.

Wood says there’s still some pushback from residents regarding the project.

Those interested in hearing more about the modified design as well as provide input can attend the Greenfield City Council meeting scheduled for 1/22 at 6 pm.

Council Agenda Packet for 1/22/19

Previous KION coverage of Greenfield’s farmworker housing project can be found by clicking here