Woodland’s City Council granted first approvals for Woodland Research & Technology Park, a 351-acre project that combines a scientific research park with a residential community. During a recent unanimous decision, the council set the stage for significant progress. The approvals included annexing the land from Yolo County into Woodland’s city limits, certifying an environmental document, and adopting a specific plan for the project, featuring 2.2 million square feet of commercial and office space.
The project returns to the council on September 19 for potential final approval. Approval aiming to create an office and research park for ag-tech, food technology, and related industries, which are already prevalent in Woodland.
Developers have faced opposition in nearby Davis, where residents are wary of increased development and traffic.
Woodland residents generally supported the proposal during the public hearing, though concerns were raised about water runoff during flood years.
Woodland Research & Technology Park financing
Public financing will fund $255M in infrastructure and development costs, to be repaid by tenants and owners within the area. Plans include 155 acres of residential development with approximately 1,600 homes adjacent to the Spring Lakes subdivision. The research and office buildings will front Highway 113, the main road connecting Woodland and Davis.
The Woodland Research and Technology Park was proposed in 2017. Funding will also contribute to a freeway offramp and overcrossing of Highway 113 south of the city limits.
The city plans to submit the annexation application to the Yolo Local Agency Formation Commission by year-end. The project received unanimous approval from the Woodland Planning Commission last month.
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The Woodland Research and Technology Park development represents the largest mixed-use specific plan in the city’s history. The last plan approval in Woodland was in 2021 for the 1,100-acre Spring Lake Specific Plan, primarily residential with minimal office, commercial, and retail uses.
At the recent council meeting, they made vital decisions. These decisions included certifying the environmental report, amending the city’s 2035 general plan, adopting the Woodland Research and Technology Park’s specific plan, pre-zoning for annexation, initiating annexation proceedings, approving infrastructure financing, and endorsing a development agreement with five landowners of the current agricultural land
