Section 8-2.223 of the Yolo County Code of Ordinances requires that any General Plan Amendment (GPA) proposed by private parties must first be authorized for further study by the Board of Supervisors (Board) before the amendment can be environmentally evaluated and processed by the Department of Community Services. The request was brought before the Board on July 22, 2025, which unanimously authorized the submission of a full application and environmental study of the proposed General Plan Amendment (GPA) and related requests.

The El Macero Country Club (EMCC) submitted a formal application to the County on August 14, 2025, for processing. The project would facilitate the expansion and construction of future residential uses within El Macero, an established community in unincorporated Yolo County, on a portion of Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 068-130-010. The property is approximately 170 acres and currently designated as Parks and Recreation (PR) within the Yolo County 2030 Countywide General Plan (General Plan) and zoned as Parks and Recreation (P-R). EMCC is seeking to create three new residential parcels from a portion of the existing golf course property totaling approximately 0.97 acres. The project requires the following discretionary approvals:

The remaining approximately 169 acres of the golf course parcel would retain its existing PR General Plan land use designation and P-R zoning. The three new parcels would be redesignated to RL and rezoned to R-L/PD-66, consisting of approximately 12,927 square feet (Lot 1), 15,412 square feet (Lot 2), and 13,741 square feet (Lot 3). The project does not include construction of residences at this time; however, future residential development would be consistent with the applicable development standards, as allowed under the R-L/PD-66 zoning regulations.

The proposed project represents a minor infill project and is consistent with the 2030 Countywide General Plan policies that encourage infill development of residential growth on underutilized properties in existing unincorporated communities. The RL land use designation, as described in the General Plan, includes traditional neighborhoods with primarily detached single-family units. Although no development is proposed as part of the project, future construction of residential uses authorized after project approval could include up to two single family residences and an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on each newly created parcel, as allowed under the R-L/PD-66 zoning regulations. The three new parcels are consistent with the RL land use designation and the minimum parcel size for the R-L zone.

The project site is located within the City of Davis sphere of influence (SOI), approximately 0.6 miles south of Interstate-80 (I-80). The three proposed parcels are surrounded by recreational use (golf course), single-family residences, and roadways in an existing community. The El Macero Country Club is a private, member-owned club which features an 18-hole golf course with residential development surrounding the approximately 170-acre course. Lot 1 will be located in the southwest portion of the golf course parcel with access from Clubhouse Drive, while Lots 2 and 3 will be located in the northeastern portion of the golf course parcel with access from Country Club Drive.

The three new parcels will connect to the El Macero County Service Area (CSA) which contracts with the City of Davis for water and sewer services. Water and wastewater service for Lots 2 and 3 would be extended from the fronting roadways, whereas Lot 1 would require an approximately 169-foot extension of an existing sewer main from the intersection of El Macero Drive and Clubhouse Drive. Lot 2 also includes a 15-foot access easement to be reserved by EMCC, adjacent to the existing golf course pond for maintenance purposes. Additionally, the request for a variance will allow future residential development on Lot 2 and 3 of Tentative Parcel Map No. 5267 to match the building envelope of adjacent lots. As described in the Findings in Attachment F, the Variance would not grant special privileges inconsistent with the limitations upon other properties in the vicinity and the zone in which Lots 2 and 3 are located. The size and location of Lots 2 and 3 were carefully considered by EMCC to maintain open space corridors, golf course playability, and the aesthetics enjoyed by the residents of the El Macero community.

The project site is located within the boundary of the South Davis Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) comment area and the project was presented to the Committee on April 8, 2026. The meeting was attended by staff, Cunningham Engineering (on behalf of the applicant), representatives of the El Macero Country Club, and members of the public. The committee’s discussion focused on whether the project had been presented to the El Macero Homeowners Association (HOA) and whether HOA approval is required. The committee also discussed whether the El Macero County Service Area (CSA) had been notified about potential future water and sewer connections, as well as the neighborhood notification process used for the project. In addition, members asked whether the EMCC evaluated potential impacts on the playability of Hole 16 due to the proximity of proposed Lot 2. Further questions addressed how the proposal originated, the justification for advancing it, and whether County staff had received any objections to the project. Staff and the applicant provided responses to the questions raised during the meeting. The Committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of the project to the Planning Commission.

An Initial Study/Negative Declaration (IS/ND) was prepared for the project. The IS/ND determined that no substantial evidence exists supporting a fair argument of significant environmental effects. The IS/ND was circulated for public review for thirty days from April 10, 2026, to May 9, 2026. Because the last day of the comment period fell on a Saturday, staff considered comments through Monday, May 11. As of the publication of this staff report was published, two responses were received from the public and can be found in Attachment I. A comment from a member of the public expressed concern about noise during future construction activities and inquired about limitations on community construction for El Macero to only occur during weekdays. The second comment letter received by members of the public requested clarification regarding the number of residential units that may indirectly result from the project, as analyzed in the Negative Declaration, based on the R-L/PD-66 zoning regulations.

Following a recommendation from the Planning Commission, the project will be set for public hearing and final action at a future Board of Supervisors meeting.

A Request for Comments was sent to local and regional agencies on October 7, 2025. Comments were received from Yolo County Public Works, Yolo County Environmental Health Division, El Macero County Service Area (CSA), City of Davis Department of Community Development, City of Davis Fire Department, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVWQCB), and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), which have been incorporated into the project’s conditions of approval. Agency comment letters received can be found in Attachment H.

A courtesy notice was mailed to interested parties, as well as the property owners within 300 feet of the project site (golf course parcel, APN 068-130-010) on December 15, 2025. Due to the large size of the golf course parcel, the courtesy notice (and all other public correspondence related to the project) was mailed to approximately 560 property addresses. One telephone comment was received from a member of the public expressing concern about potential noise associated with future construction activities. In addition, four email comments were received. These included: sharing of information regarding an existing class action lawsuit involving the El Macero Homeowners Association (HOA); a request for clarification on the types of residential development permitted under the R-L/PD-66 zoning, including whether condominiums are allowed; a letter expressing support for the project based on the opportunity to reinvest lot sale proceeds into facility improvements; and a letter opposing the project due to concerns about diminishing neighborhood aesthetics.

The Yolo Habitat Conservancy, upon a preliminary review of the project’s Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan (HCP/NCCP) Application, concluded that the project is covered under the Yolo Habitat HCP/NCCP; however, the project is not subject to HCP/NCCP mitigation fees. A condition of approval is included in Attachment G that requires compliance with the HCP/NCCP, including implementation of Avoidance and Minimization Measures (AMMs), as identified by the Yolo Habitat Conservancy during the Private Project application review process.

In compliance with Senate Bill (SB) 18 and Assembly Bill (AB) 52 [Public Resources Code Section 21080.3.1 and 65352.3(a)(2)], a project notification letter was distributed on December 11, 2025 to representatives of the Cortina Rancheria Band of Wintun Indians of California, United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria (UAIC), Wilton Rancheria, Ione Band of Miwok Indians, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation (YDWN). Two responses were received. The UAIC declined consultation on December 19, 2025, and YDWN requested consultation on January 15, 2026. Through consultation via a virtual meeting held on February 4, 2026, YDWN recommends cultural sensitivity training for pre-project personnel and requested the Treatment Protocol for Handling Human Remains and Cultural Items Affiliated with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation be incorporated into the project. These requests have been incorporated into the project and implemented as a condition of approval.

Notice of the Planning Commission meeting for the project was published in the Davis Enterprise on April 22, 2026, and mailed to the property owners within 300 feet of the project site.