By Tom Philp | June 29, 2026 | The Sacramento Bee

The Upper Westside project would build a 25,000-resident community next to the Sacramento River along Garden Highway, breaking a 2002 agreement in which the county designated the city of Sacramento as the lead planner for the Natomas Basin.

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By Tom Philp | June 16, 2026 | The Sacramento Bee

If the board were to approve this project, the real debate over Upper Westside would only be beginning. It’s quite likely that the city will challenge this project in court, and likely be joined by numerous other stakeholders.

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By Jennah Pendleton | June 15, 2026 | The Sacramento Bee

The Upper Westside Project is a proposed development in unincorporated Natomas which would include more than 9,300 housing units, 3.1 million square feet of commercial space and up to four new public schools. The project has faced considerable pushback from community members, environmental groups and local politicians — including both candidates running to represent the area next year.

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Upper Westside – County Vote June 16

Can you even imagine approving a town the size of Galt in just one meeting?? With little to no public input? Well, that’s what the County Board of Supervisors is poised to do, on June 16, 2026.

The Board has not held a public hearing to address community concerns since 2020. Long, contentious public meetings were held before the Natomas Community Planning Advisory Council and the Planning Commission. The public has plenty to say but the supervisors don’t appear to want to hear it.

To get a feel for the project, go to the intersection of El Centro and W. El Camino and look west to the Garden Highway. All of it, 2000 acres of prime farmland, would be replaced with over 9000 homes and 3 million square feet of commercial uses – larger than the Roseville Galleria and as many people as Galt or El Cerrito.

The traffic congestion alone will be appalling and will lead to worsened air quality for all of us in the region.

Opposition includes the City of Sacramento, Sutter County, the Natomas Basin Conservancy, ECOS, and residents. Also opposed are developers who built Natomas, and who were required to finance the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan to mitigate for the loss of farmland and habitat. Over $140,000,000 has been invested to purchase and manage land for permanent habitat to save endangered and threatened species. If the Upper Westside Project is allowed to proceed, it will destroy the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan.

There is no real plan for water for the project. It would use agricultural water from the Natomas Central Mutual Water Company, which has water rights and approval to supply water for farmland. They would need multiple permissions to provide water for municipal use and to build a water treatment facility.

Finally, there is the myth that this project addresses Sacramento’s housing crisis. Records show that 140,000 housing units have been approved in Sacramento County but not yet built. Construction is the solution, not permission for more projects. We need to BUILD affordable housing, not approve another upscale project that adds to the glut of unbuilt units approved.

Please contact your county supervisors and tell them to say NO to this poorly conceived and destructive mega development. If you want to learn more about the effects of the development on our Natomas community, visit the ECOS webpage for Natomas.

Environmental Council of Sacramento
https://www.ecosacramento.net/what-we-do/committees/climate-change-committee/land-use-natomas-team/
County Board of Supervisors
www.bos.saccounty.gov/
Phone: 916.874.5411

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1684528993233750&set=pcb.1684529963233653