Windsor Town Green’s flat-iron building approved for apartments

A distinctive flat-iron building with 30 apartments, a restaurant and commercial space was approved by the Windsor Planning Commission this week, the latest development in the evolving downtown.

The four-story building is planned on an empty, prominent, wedge-shaped parcel one block from the Town Green, across the street from the new Oliver’s Market and adjoining the McDonald’s parking lot.

For Windsor officials, it fits the vision of an active, compact downtown with convenient services and transportation.

“They can walk out the door and be in a grocery store without getting in a car,” said Mayor Debora Fudge. “They have a five-minute walk to the train.”

SMART train passenger service is scheduled to start in late spring from San Rafael to Santa Rosa, but funding hasn’t yet been secured to extend it north to Windsor.

In the meantime, Windsor’s downtown could have close to 800 more apartment units built, adding to potential ridership numbers.

They include 387 apartments at the Vintage Oaks on the Green, north of Oliver’s, expected to begin construction this summer, and the 360-unit Mill Creek project south of Windsor River Road, anticipated to come before the Planning Commission for a preliminary review mid-summer, according to Planning Director Ken McNab.

The flat-iron building apartments at 9100 Richardson Street will add a relatively small number of residences and are planned as market-rate two-bedroom, two-bath rental units. The developer will be required to contribute approximately $92,000 to build affordable housing elsewhere in Windsor.

“If I could reverse the decision I would,” Fudge said of the “in lieu” fees the developer was allowed to pay, rather than include affordable housing in the plans.

But she described the project as “the highest and best use for the parcel and it will add to the downtown.”

Fudge noted the ground floor, 4,200 square feet of commercial space has adjustable, movable walls that will provide flexibility to accommodate shops and businesses of varying sizes over time.

The project also includes 70 new parking spaces, with 17 on the street.

The nearly one-acre site is one of the last remnants of 20 acres owned by Phil Richardson of Tiburon that were sold to build the Town Green and surrounding mix of townhomes, shops, restaurants and other businesses.

Five years ago, the parcel was proposed as a possible site for an Alzheimer’s Care facility, but that was dropped amid concerns that it was inappropriate for the location.

Developer Bob Dailey, partner in the Walnut Creek-based Pegasus group, was not willing to estimate when his Richardson Street project might break ground.

He acknowledged Planning Commission approval of the use permit this week was a major milestone, but said he still needs to finalize design and working drawings and put together cost estimates with contractors before the town issues a building permit.

“We are incredibly excited,” he said. “It’s a beautiful building. I think it’s going to be obviously a nice architectural addition to the downtown.”

You can reach Staff Writer Clark Mason at 707-521-5214 or clark.mason@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @clarkmas.