LATHROP — Big changes are on the horizon for the City of Lathrop. 

Last week the Lathrop City Council approved a development agreement amendment and assignment for the Central Lathrop Specific Plan – the 514 acres owned by Saybrook CLSP LLC – that will bring more than 6,800 new homes to the community as well as more than 5 million square feet of retail and office space and multiple school sites to serve the growing community. 

When coupled with the 11,000 homes that will be constructed with the completion of River Islands, the two projects will more than double the number of existing single family homes in the community, which is helping drive the South County to be one of the fastest growing areas in the State of California. 

A development agreement was initially signed between the City of Lathrop and Richland Planned Communities in 2004, but was forfeited as part of a settlement agreement in 2011 to cap off a lawsuit between the developer, the city, and a host of subcontractors who were never paid for the work they completed readying the huge swath of land for construction. 

Since then Saybrook LLC has assumed the role of developer for the project, and has invested money not only in the sewer lift station that will serve the project – and finally gave Lathrop High School a hookup to the city’s existing sewer system – but also the engineering work that was required to get the blessing of the State of California to continue building within an existing flood plain while financing for a massive levee overhaul is worked out. 

The project will also include a community part and a trail system along the San Joaquin River. The city’s existing environmental impact report from the 2004 agreement, as well as the mitigation monitoring plan that was also approved by the council, will be utilized for the new project – allowable because the amendment does not change any of the designated land uses within the project. 

The amendment that was approved extends the development agreement until 2036 – at which time, if the homes that were approved are not completed, an extension or a revision of the agreement will need to be reached between the developer and the city. 

Some work has already been completed to prepare the area for its future growth, including some side streets that have already been paved. Work has also been completed on the interchanges at I-5 and both Lathrop Road and Louise Avenue, although additional work is expected to be funded moving forward. 

Both Lathrop High School and the Lathrop Generations Center are within the specific plan area. 

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.