Sacramento, California – Sacramento Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes is urging Sacramento County leaders to slow down before taking action on the Upper Westside Project, a large development proposal set to return to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, June 16, at 2:00 p.m.
The hearing had originally been scheduled for April, but it was postponed and later placed back on the calendar. Now, with the item coming before the Board again, Talamantes says the questions surrounding the project remain too serious to ignore.
At the center of the debate is a proposal that would bring more than 9,300 housing units, along with major commercial development, to roughly 2,066 acres in unincorporated Natomas.
Supporters of large-scale growth may see the plan as a future neighborhood taking shape on paper. But for Talamantes, the issue is not simply what could be built. It is what the project could mean for Natomas, for city services, for traffic, for water, and for the wider Sacramento region once the dust settles.
“There is no reason to rush a decision on a project of this magnitude,” Talamantes said in her statement.
The vice mayor said she remains “very concerned” about the possible impacts of the Upper Westside Project and believes the Board should delay any action until a new supervisor is in office. In her view, that future supervisor should be the person responsible for overseeing the project’s long-term path and its effects on nearby communities.
Talamantes also raised concern about public outreach, saying communication with Natomas residents has not gone far enough. For a project this large, she said, the public needs more than notice of a hearing. Residents need to be fully informed, meaningfully engaged, and given a clearer picture of how the proposal could change the area around them.
The City of Sacramento has already submitted multiple letters outlining its concerns. Those letters, according to Talamantes, have focused on traffic, water supply, schools, public services, and the need for a full environmental review. The city has also pointed to possible federal review requirements. Talamantes said Sacramento has been involved in the process since 2019 and has consistently raised issues throughout the review.
The item now before the Board is a partially recirculated Environmental Impact Report. It examines a new project alternative, mainly focused on changes tied to water supply and circulation. But Talamantes said the broader shape of the project remains largely the same, including the number of homes, commercial space, and infrastructure demands.
While she acknowledged ongoing talks with county staff, Talamantes said too many issues remain unresolved.
“We need more time, more clarity, and stronger coordination between the City and County before moving forward with a project that will have lasting impacts on Natomas and the entire Sacramento region,” she said.