Project Description

Wildhorse Ranch is a 25.8 acre infill development containing a mix of housing designed to meet the growing needs of the Davis community.  Approval of Wildhorse Ranch will continue a Davis tradition of approving high-quality, environmentally progressive developments on a scale consistent with the intent of the City of Davis General Plan policies, Smart Growth principals,and the desires of the community.  As approved by the City Council, the project will be put to a vote of the people under the rules of Measure J on November 3, 2009.

The Wildhorse Ranch community proposal is for a total of 191 units. Forty (40) apartment homes will provide housing affordable to persons qualifying under the City’s affordable housing policy. The remainder of the homes will provide ownership opportunities for families andworking residents in two housing types. There will be 78 townhome units and 73 single-familydetached homes.

More than 37% of the property will be set aside as permanent open space, including a 4.4 acre area that will be planted in an urban forest/orchard pattern and serve as a reminder of Yolo County’s agricultural history. The remainder of the open space will add an additional 65’ to the existing Urban Agricultural Habitat Transition Area as well as provide greenbelt and bike trail connections to the city-wide network.

Wildhorse Ranch is also planned as a forward thinking, sustainable community providing Davis with a major step forward in the City’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by reducing the  project’s operational Green House Gas emissions by an unprecedented 90%. Each home will include a photovoltaic system to provide clean energy in a cost-effective manner for residents. In addition, site design consideration will maximize both the active and passive solar opportunities for the community.  Energy efficient design, sustainable building materials and provisions for electric vehicle are also planned for the homes in the community.

Affordability: 73 single-family homes and 78 town homes are geared to first time buyers.  The homes are relatively small, thereby reducing the amount of land needed for them and will provide an opportunity for people to purchase an affordable home in Davis.   Additionally, there are 40 affordable apartment homes which will be controlled by the City of Davis affordable housing policy to help people who work here live here.

Sustainability: The project will achieve a 90% Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction, which will exceed the City’s own recommended standards by 100%.  To accomplish this the homes will be designed to exceed the 2005 California Energy Standards for new homes, Title 24, by 50%. The goal here is to reduce the development’s energy needs and create most of the energy needed to power the homes through a 100% solar project.  Clean energy = smaller carbon footprint.

The project will also reduce water consumption by using conservation technologies, water saving fixtures and the use of California native and drought tolerant species throughout the landscaping.   Use of an existing agricultural irrigation well will provide the necessary landscape irrigation water to the private open space areas thereby reducing demand on the City’s water supply.

Project densities are higher at 7.3 units per acre, using less land and reducing its carbon footprint.  Davis has recognized that higher density housing is a major way to reduce our impact on and preserve a finite resource that is our land, and reduce our climate impact.

Visitability & Accessibility: Design of the homes, as well as the streets and sidewalks will take into consideration the needs of people with mobility issues in an effort to provide opportunities for visitability and accessibility to some homes planned for this community. The project will provide a portion of units that are both visitable & accessible.

Working with the existing Wildhorse East neighbors: The Wildhorse Ranch has, at the request of the neighbors:

• Reduced density from 259 units to 191 units.
• Eliminated all four story units, reduced the number of three story units and surrounded the remaining three story units with two story units.
• Moved the project east and south creating a significant open space buffer between the existing Wildhorse neighbors and the project.
• Created a project that is 37% open space including a city greenbelt, agricultural buffer and an urban forest/orchard separating the project from the existing homeowners.
• Offered a 20’ land dedication to the adjacent Wildhorse neighbors along the east side of  Caravaggio Drive.
• Moved the affordable apartment homes to the south next to Covell Blvd. making sure they are built in a seamless look with the rest of the project.
• Created a project that has a much smaller carbon footprint by clustering the homes closer together taking up less space.

Working with the greater Davis community, environmentalists and City Staff: Wildhorse Ranch has designed a sustainable and environmentally progressive project with:

• An operational 90% green house gas emission reduction for homes, exceeding current city standards by 100%.
• A 100% solar community generating much of the power needed by clean renewable energy.
• A passively designed community utilizing energy saving technologies to reduce energy needs.
• A community which exceeds current state Title 24, 2005 standards by 50%.

Together these energy saving elements will make this the most energy efficient project in Davis’ history.

Click here to view the Wildhorse Ranch Measure J Features document.