To: [email protected]
Subject: Comment to Council
Re: Yountville Commons
From: Megan Mason
Date: Jan 12, 2026
Dear Mayor and Town Council,
It is with great concern that I write to you regarding the above project. I have attended several of the outreach meetings and other planned meetings regarding the development of the Yountville Commons; trying to understand the breadth of the project which is huge for this town of 3,000 people. I am continually amazed at the lack of fiscal responsibility and viability of this project for the town residents and its future.
My main concerns regarding this project are the following:
1. Size of the project. 125 up to 150 units; primarily studios. Ratio of housing is dense with 16 units per acre versus our current density of 4.4 to 8.6 units per acre. This is too large and dense. This project was initially defined as having 72 units. How did it get inflated to 150?
2. Parking: only 56 new parking spaces allocated. With 80% of the units proposed to be studios, that means 1 car per studio= 80 parking spaces. It is not realistic to hope that people living in these units will not have a car. More spaces will be required for the additional units.
3. Swimming Pool: I don’t understand how the town can build and subsidize a swimming pool. With 1/3 of the residents having their own pool or use of a pool through their HOA community facilities, it is irresponsible to build a pool costing upwards of 1 million dollars, along with annual maintenance, unexpected emergencies, plus operating costs of $335,000-$355,000 a year. Why would the Town subsidize a pool that would only be used by Yountville Fit or for the Commons residents or more realistically for Napa residents? How can the Town justify the expense of a pool and subsidize such a project when it has minimal benefits to the residents? I would like to see the Town Council and Mayor put pressure on the State to allow us to utilize our funds to help repair and use the Veterans Pool as well as the Veteran’s Theatre, that is empty and is deteriorating.
4. Financial Planning: We need to know now the cost of building and operating the entire project. One figure I have read regarding the development of the Commons is $50,000,000. We know everything always ends up costing double what is projected. With this large sum, we are putting our town at great risk, leaving us little reserves for unknown necessities and emergencies. Projects worth considering for our future could include undergrounding our utility poles and address future water needs.
This project needs to slow down. A business plan is needed before any building commences.
5. Downsize: The Yountville Commons has developed into its name - something that is common and not appropriate to our town. We have gotten caught up in the trend of providing housing for everyone. How can we afford to do this? Napa has built numerous apartments that are affordable. I never thought that it was a prerequisite to live and work in the same place. We don’t need to sacrifice long-term health for our town to meet shortterm popularity. Our job marketplace is changing and shrinking. The Estate Yountville has closed in entirety. Restaurants are downsizing and closing. Let’s not put all our egg in one basket.
6. Open space: one of the biggest concerns I have repeatedly spoken up on is keeping the open space of the existing playing field. With this new plan you are eliminating 48,000 sq. feet of open space. Once we build over this cherished land, we will never get it back.
7. Future for Yountville: Our town is changing quickly and it concerns me. I agree we need more affordable housing, but it should not be restricted to just the workforce. I do not believe building up to 150 units is what is best for our town’s health. We need more young families and people who want to establish Yountville as their home, who will contribute to the community and be involved. The Town has had a successful history of caring for its residents, to perpetuate a close-knit community. To house 150 transient work force people is only going to weaken the warm, small-town community that we love and seek.
The town will lose its charm; for its residents as well as for our tourists that are valuable to our economy and are seeking something different from where they live. We need to reduce the units by one third; with some moderate-sized houses that could accommodate young families who want to establish Yountville as their permanent home. Plus now there is the Catholic Church land that will be available and can be developed for additional housing in the future by a different owner/developer. We can do this with your guidance.
I appreciate the time, consideration and energy you have put into this project.
Thank you,
Megan Mason