The Folsom City Council took several housing-related actions on August 11, 2026, ranging from a land purchase aimed at future affordable homes to the financing machinery behind a new neighborhood south of Highway 50.

A city land purchase for future affordable housing

The most consequential item for residents was Resolution No. 11686, which approved a purchase and sale agreement with Lakeside Church for roughly 6.69 acres of land. The city is using money from the Folsom Housing Fund — a dedicated pot of money set aside specifically to support affordable and workforce housing — to buy the property.

What this means for residents: the city now owns a sizable piece of land it can steer toward affordable housing rather than market-rate development. Nearly seven acres is enough to accommodate a meaningful apartment or mixed-income project, depending on final density. Buying land upfront is one of the biggest hurdles to getting affordable housing built, so this move positions Folsom to partner with a developer down the road instead of competing for scarce sites later.

Financing the Folsom Heights neighborhood

Three related resolutions dealt with Community Facilities District No. 22A, tied to the Folsom Heights development. A Community Facilities District (CFD) — a special taxing area where property owners pay an extra assessment to fund public infrastructure like roads, sewers, and water lines — is a common tool for financing large new neighborhoods.

Resolution No. 11679 declared the city’s intention to form the district, and Resolution No. 11680 declared the necessity for bonded indebtedness — meaning the city intends to sell bonds (borrow money up front) that will be repaid over time through those special taxes on Folsom Heights property owners. Resolution No. 11685 approved an acquisition and shortfall agreement, the contract spelling out how the city will buy completed infrastructure from the developer and what happens if tax revenue falls short of covering the bond payments.

What this means for residents and buyers: future homeowners in Folsom Heights should expect an added annual special tax on their property tax bills to pay for the roads and utilities serving their neighborhood. This is standard for new developments in Folsom and does not affect existing homeowners elsewhere in the city — but anyone buying in Folsom Heights should factor the extra assessment into their monthly housing costs.

Planning for the city’s next housing cycle

Resolution No. 11676 approved a professional services agreement with the consulting firm Ascent to help update Folsom’s Seventh Cycle Housing Element. The Housing Element — the section of the city’s long-range General Plan that spells out how Folsom will accommodate its share of new housing — must be updated on a schedule set by the state. Every California city is required to show it has planned for enough housing at all income levels, and failing to do so can cost a city state grants and control over local development approvals.

What this means for residents: this is an early, behind-the-scenes step, but it will shape where and how much housing gets planned across Folsom over the coming years. The public typically gets multiple chances to weigh in as the update moves forward.

Historic District rules re-adopted

Ordinance No. 1375 re-adopted an earlier measure, Ordinance 1353, amending Chapter 17.52 of the Municipal Code — the section governing the Historic District. Re-adoption usually happens to correct a procedural issue with the original vote so the rules can stand on firm legal footing.

What this means for residents: property owners in Folsom’s Historic District, largely around Sutter Street and the old downtown, remain subject to the updated standards governing what they can build or change. The re-adoption keeps those rules in effect rather than introducing new ones.

What’s coming up

The Community Facilities District No. 22A actions set the stage for a future public hearing, where affected property owners and residents will have a formal chance to comment before the district and its bonds are finalized. The Housing Element update with Ascent will also generate public input opportunities in the months ahead as the city drafts its plan for the next round of state-mandated housing targets. Residents interested in either can watch the council’s upcoming agendas for hearing dates.