The Cannery, a Great Project for Davis
By Eileen M. Samitz
After a decade of community input, it’s time to move forward: The Cannery project has been in the planning process for almost a decade, with an unprecedented amount of public input. The abandoned Hunt-Wesson Cannery site had been dormant for years and needed a new use. Residential housing had encroached on what used to be a factory on the edge of town. The site was no longer viable for a large commercial development due to having so much nearby residential and inadequate highway access. The City business park viability studies determined that the site was “infeasible” for a tech park. The Business and Economic Development Commission (BEDC) supported a mixed-use for the site. Nearby neighborhoods opposed a large commercial park use, but supported the mixed-use concept.
The Housing Element Steering Committee (HESC) strongly supported this site for housing for many reasons including: 1) it’s an infill site within the city limits, does not need a Measure J vote, and promotes compact urban design; 2) it’s close proximity to shopping, schools, and parks, and 3) it provides an opportunity for a mix of housing types. The HESC did not want development of the Cannery site tied to the Covell Village which is on county land outside the City boundaries and therefore subject to Measure J.