After nearly three hours of public testimony and council deliberation, the Oakdale City Council voted 4-1 on Monday, March 3 to approve amendments to the Sierra Pointe Specific Plan, including a General Plan Amendment, Prezone, Environmental Impact Report addendum, and annexation of approximately 297 acres in the southeastern portion of the city. Councilmember Jarod Pitassi cast the lone dissenting vote.
Background of the Proposal
Applicant Randall P. Thomas requested the amendments, covering 297 acres of the Sierra Pointe Specific Plan area, with 182.35 acres currently under his ownership. The project aims to accommodate phased residential and commercial development, with a focus on future growth while addressing infrastructure, school impacts, and emergency services.
According to Contract Planner Mark Niskanen, the Sierra Pointe Specific Plan was initially approved on March 3, 2014, alongside the city’s 2030 General Plan and the Crane Crossing Specific Plan. Monday’s vote refined the plan to include eight development phases and updated land use designations, including increased park space and adjustments to residential densities to better transition between existing neighborhoods.
Community Concerns
The meeting drew significant public participation, with residents voicing concerns about school capacity, water resources, traffic, emergency response times, and the preservation of rural character.
One resident, a retired paramedic, raised alarms about emergency services.
“Considering how the system is currently configured in Oakdale, I doubt that they could make it from their station in the middle of town out to this area within five minutes for the fire department, and it’s questionable whether the ambulance can make it within eight minutes,” he said, recommending the development include new fire and ambulance facilities.
Water supply was another prominent concern. One resident shared his experience with the nearby Sterling Hills development, where dust, traffic, and well failure plagued the construction period. “My well went dry, and I spent 18 months trying to get a permit from the city to drill. I had no water. I just got married. It was terrible,” he said.
School Impacts
Potential impacts on Oakdale schools were also heavily discussed. Updated projections indicate the development may generate approximately 220 elementary school students, 72 junior high students, and 152 high school students. The high school, with a capacity of 2,077, currently enrolls around 1,600 students, suggesting sufficient room in the short term.
In response to school concerns, project language was modified to strengthen agreements with the Oakdale Joint Unified School District. Dave Romano, representing the applicant, confirmed that a mandatory mitigation agreement would be required before the first residential subdivision is approved. “The wording just wasn’t quite firm enough to give (the superintendent) comfort, so we immediately modified that wording. It’s mandatory now,” Romano said.
Council Discussion
Councilmembers cited the long-standing inclusion of the Sierra Pointe area in Oakdale’s growth plans, dating back to the 1994 General Plan. Councilmember Christopher Smith emphasized the need for controlled growth to maintain the city’s vitality.
“Cities are going to either expand or they’re going to contract, and if they contract, they’re going to die,” Smith said.
While acknowledging community concerns, supporters on the council highlighted the lack of available housing in Oakdale and the need to provide opportunities for future generations.
“There are 8,200 homes in Oakdale and only about 30 available properties for sale,” Smith noted.
Next Steps
With City Council approval secured, the annexation process now moves to the Stanislaus Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for consideration. Further studies and permits, including hydrology reviews, infrastructure improvements, and school agreements, will be required as the development progresses.
As Mayor Cherilyn Bairos summarized, “This is a project that’s been decades in the making, and while there are legitimate concerns to address, tonight’s vote reflects our commitment to carefully managed growth for the future of Oakdale.”
For more information on the annexation plans, contact City Hall at 209-845-3571.
