(Work continues on the Pippin Orchards Apartments on Atkinson Lane. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian)
WATSONVILLE — The Santa Cruz Local Agency Formation Commission approved Watsonville’s annexation request Wednesday, extending the city’s limits by 2.4 acres on Atkinson Lane.
The property is part of a 3.7-acre affordable housing project that is currently under construction on 56 Atkinson Lane, called Pippin Orchards. Before Tuesday’s decision, about half of the development was within city limits, while the other half was in the county.
The $29.1 million project, developed by MidPen Housing, consists of 46 units. Construction is expected to wrap up in 30 days, according to MidPen’s Director of Housing Development Elizabeth Nahas Wilson.
In November, the Watsonville City Council voted 5-2 to move forward with annexing the property.
According to LAFCO Executive Officer Patrick McCormick, the annexation allows all residents of the development to participate in city elections. Police and fire, among other services, will be provided by the city for the entire development.
In a letter to LAFCO, Wilson said MidPen is in support of the annexation.
“Annexation of the county parcel, particularly before our residents begin moving in later in August, will assist with the operation of the property and minimize confusion amongst residents as to their voting location, among many other things,” she wrote.
The project has been many years in the making, and was downsized from 14.4 acres after a settlement with the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau in 2011. In 2014, the City of Watsonville and County of Santa Cruz entered into an agreement where the city provides services such as police and water for the entire project, while the county processes building permits, among other things.
Watsonville City Councilwoman Trina Coffman-Gomez, whose District 6 covers the development, said she hoped Watsonville’s decision to take on the property would “extend the olive branch” to LAFCO and the county, opening the doors for future projects.
“We’ve had lengthy discussions about this, and I’m glad to see the project is coming to fruition,” she said.
Mayor Lowell Hurst, serving as an alternate on LAFCO, agreed.
“This is a compromise on the city’s part,” he said. “We don’t get any revenue out of this, but we get a lot more service calls.”
