County planning documents<\/a> estimate it could eventually become home to about 25,000 people, a population comparable to that of the city of Galt<\/a>. \u201cThe Upper West Side plan is fraught with negative climate and community impacts. The Natomas Basin Conservancy opposes it. The city council itself opposes it,\u201d Marshburn said. \u201cAdding 20,000 residents to the Natomas Basin puts current and future residents in serious danger.\u201d<\/p>\n The planning for Upper West Side began in 2018. Critics have argued the project ignores a 2002 agreement<\/a> between the city and county over how growth should happen in the Natomas farmland areas.\u00a0<\/p>\n City leaders said the agreement made is being ignored and was meant to protect agricultural open space. But the county played a larger role in the project\u2019s future because it has jurisdiction over land use plans outside city limits.<\/p>\n Even so, the Sacramento City Council voted 8-1 last year<\/a> to formally oppose the development. They raised concerns about impacts to traffic, water supply, schools and who would be responsible for emergency response services.\u00a0<\/p>\n At a city council meeting last year, Councilmember Karina Talamantes, who represents part of Natomas, said the county is moving forward without a plan for maintaining safety.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI’m concerned about transportation to and from. People getting to their homes, I’m concerned about police services, fire services, park services and how we’re going to be able to respond to 911 calls out there,\u201d Talamantes said. \u201cThis plan will produce many jobs and thousands of new homes that Sacramento desperately needs, many of them being affordable housing,\u201d Brazil said. \u201cUpper West Side is an amazing gift to Sacramento.\u201d Flojaune Cofer, who took first place in the primary election to replace Serna next year on the Board of Supervisors, said the county is making a special deal for developers. \u201cThey have no reliable source of water. They have no plans to improve the transportation issues or transportation improvements that should be done on either the Interstate 80 or the two-lane roads that connect to it,\u201d Fargo said.<\/p>\n Even with Tuesday\u2019s approval, it could be years before shovels hit the dirt. The project still needs more approvals and could face continued pushback as it moves forward.<\/p>\n
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Drew Marshburn, a Natomas resident, told supervisors the plan would create lasting environmental and community impacts.<\/p>\n![\"UW\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_7038.jpg\")
Melanie Herman holds a sign opposing the Upper Westside project during a Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, June 16, 2026Tony Rodriguez\/CapRadio<\/p>\n
Upper Westside\u2019s supporters told supervisors the region needs more housing and that it would bring new jobs and investment to the area. Lila Brazil said building more housing in the region shouldn\u2019t be stalled when the city doesn\u2019t have enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Supervisor Phil Serna represents the Natomas area andsupported the project.
\u201cThis plan has not been rushed,\u201d Serna said. \u201cI think as a Natomas resident, I see this as an opportunity that probably should have been considered years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDevelopers purchased farmland that was not zoned for development, and then they asked elected officials to change the rules for them,\u201d Cofer said.
The city has also questioned the ability to protect Swainson\u2019s hawk foraging habitat<\/a>. That has been one of the main concerns for environmental advocates, who said the project would threaten habitats near the Sacramento River. Former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo also raised concerns<\/a> about the project\u2019s impact on protected habitat and road planning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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