McFarland annexes 160 acres

The city of McFarland annexed roughly 160 acres on the city's west side Thursday in what officials hope will soon be a new development with commercial properties and more than 300 new homes.

The annexation was approved unanimously by the Local Agency Formation Commission. LAFCos are state-mandated agencies regulating public boundaries.

"It's no secret that the city of McFarland doesn't have a fair balance of commercial and residential (zones)," Mayor Saul Ayon said.

McFarland's residential zones make up 96% of the city, Ayon said, and commercial only 4%. The new development will hopefully bring in additional tax revenues to support city services.

Ayon said there are plans for a new supermarket, gas station and restaurants that could bring up to 100 new jobs to the area. The annexation would also allow for an additional 300 to 350 homes.

"The housing, that would be mixed from rental to first time homebuyer, all the way to estate size, which are quarter- to half-acre lots," said Community Development Director Paul Saldana.

Saldana could not say when construction might begin on the new expansion, but noted that developers are typically eager to begin construction and officials hope the first stages of the project will start within a year.

The annexed land — mostly populated by grape vines currently — is located west of Garzoli Avenue, south of Perkins Avenue, north of Sherwood Avenue, and east of Stradley Avenue near Restoration Rock Church.

The city has already annexed additional land to the south, Saldana said, and will annex additional land in that area as new development phases are completed.

"Seeing how McFarland is growing at a rapid pace, we need that commercial (zoning)," Ayon said. "We need to get that general sales tax to provide all the services that our residents need and deserve."

Ayon said he hopes to attract new businesses to the city to provide jobs and tax revenue.

"McFarland is open for business," Ayon said.