A proposed affordable apartment building in north Napa is headed to the City Council after the Planning Commission voted 4-1 on Oct. 1 to recommend approval, despite pointed concerns about parking, traffic and size. Commissioner Alex Myers cast the lone no vote, The Press Democrat reported.

The project

Los Angeles-based Cypress Equity Investments wants to build 178 apartments, 110 one-bedroom and 68 two-bedroom units, on 2.61 acres at 4124 Byway East, between El Centro Avenue and Reed Circle. The site now holds Advantage RV Center, according to Hoodline. The building would rise four to five stories and include 182 car spaces and 101 bike stalls. Apart from two manager units, the apartments would be restricted for 55 years to households earning 30% to 60% of the area median income. Napa County's median for a family of four in 2026 is $165,400, per state figures cited by the Press Democrat.

Why the city's hands are tied

Because the developer applied under the state Housing Crisis Act of 2019, Napa can only judge the project against written, objective standards. The developer is also using the State Density Bonus Law to waive several local rules. City code would call for about 285 parking spaces and a three-story, 35-foot limit; the project seeks to go to five stories, narrow parking stalls, shrink setbacks and provide about 52 square feet of open space per unit instead of 200. City attorney Dan Doporto told commissioners the city must grant such waivers unless it can find they violate federal law or harm public health and safety.

What people said

Myers argued the parking reduction is a safety hazard that could justify denial and asked the council to look closely at it. Commissioner Beverly Shotwell said the site isn't right for a project this size, while Commissioner Lisa Massaro backed the unit mix. Residents praised the affordability but raised traffic worries. A project representative said the developer would issue one parking permit per apartment and tow untagged cars, Hoodline reported.

No council hearing date has been set. The developer needs approvals in 2026 to compete for state bonds and tax credits in 2027, with construction planned for late 2027 and first move-ins targeted for 2029.