Canyon Green Development to Show Off First Batch of Homes Next Month

The controversial Canyon Green development at 1625 Hill Road is inching closer to completion, with an open house planned for December 14 to give both neighbors and prospective customers a sneak peak at the new homes.

The project includes 25 one and two-story homes spread out over 7.5 acres at the former Novato Community Hospital site.

The initial proposal was approved in 2007 and called for 30 homes. But after neighbors complained about impacts on traffic, the plan was scaled down.

Opposition was so fierce that 300 residents signed a petition urging the council to deny the project. Others said it should become a nursing home.

The council rejected the developer’s proposal in July 2007 and brought it back to the drawing board, reducing the number of two-story homes in the development.

The applicant, San Jose-based Swenson Homes, also agreed to reduce the amount of landfill from 21,000 cubic yards to 13,000, add extra parking spaces beyond what was required, and make other concessions on retaining wall heights, views and access roads. 

The project was approved later that year, but because of the economic downturn construction was delayed. Swenson sold the project to San Ramon-based Castle Companies in 2011 and construction began three months ago. The first batch of homes should be completed by mid December, according to Mark Westfall, a spokesman Castle Companies. The others will be finished by September 2014.

As part of the upgrades, the Novato Sanitary District has

replaced more than 1,100 feet of old pipe at a cost of about $90,000, paid for by the developer.

The homes range from 1,864 square feet to 2,719 square feet and start at $759,000.

For more information, visit canyongreenhomes.com