By a 3-2 decision, the Escalon Planning Commission has voted to move a proposal on to the City Council for review, a recommendation that could pave the way for a new housing development near the intersection of Brennan and Highway 120.

Commissioners Barbara Willis and Steve Castellanos opposed moving the proposal on to the council, while commissioners voting in favor were Mike Dunbar, Jenny Thompson and Roxanna Gonzales. The action came at the Oct. 14 Planning Commission meeting.

The single-family home housing development is proposed at the southeast corner of Brennan Avenue and State Route 120.

Specifically, what was brought before the Planning Commission was a request from the applicant for “approval of an Annexation, Pre-Zoning, Tentative Subdivision Map, Specific Plan, Planned Development, Development Agreement, and Inclusionary Housing Agreement to develop approximately 18 acres into a 72-lot single-family housing subdivision with underground utilities, street improvements, and expansion of an adjacent existing park. In accordance with CEQA guidelines, this project has conducted an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration.”

Even before the Planning Commission considered the proposal, a petition drive was underway in opposition to the plan. Spearheading that effort is Lindsey Youngberg, who said she will present the petition to the council, asking that the project be denied.

“Many community members hope to keep Escalon small. Many of us are also opposed to this development due to serious traffic safety concerns at the intersection of Brennan/120,” Youngberg explained in announcing the petition drive. “We hope to collect petition signatures all the way up until this goes before the city council to vote on.”

Among the major concerns Youngberg cites in opposing the Florsheim Homes project include the lengthy timeline before any intersection improvements would likely be done by Caltrans in that area; in addition to the significant increase in daily traffic trips in the area.

“Why make an already dangerous situation worse? We’re asking our city leaders to prioritize public safety over development pressure,” Youngberg said.

The petition is available on change.org at https://c.org/Z5QHWcbjqQ

As of Monday evening, Oct. 20, the change.org website showed the petition with 243 verified signatures, with a stated current goal of 500 signatures. Youngberg is also encouraging those in opposition to the project to email city officials and council members voicing their concerns, as well as asking them to attend council meetings to speak out about the project.

There hasn’t been a date announced yet for when the proposal will go before the council.