By admin 
On Monday, Rancho Cordova leaders will hold the first of two public meetings on a proposed arena-anchored entertainment district project, which has been pitched as potentially transformative for the community, home to roughly 87,000 residents about 13 miles east of downtown Sacramento.
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The city is considering financial agreements that would extend over 35 years for a 7,500-seat soccer arena near Kilgore Road and Trade Center Drive, where two Major Arena Soccer League teams would play. Developers envision the indoor arena as an anchor for an ambitious entertainment district that could create a downtown lacking in Rancho Cordova since before the city was incorporated in 2003. Some residents, though, have in recent weeks voiced concerns about city fee waivers and other financial incentives for the developers. They are also concerned about the effect the development may have on traffic.
The total value for the city’s financial agreements — including development fee waivers and sharing of sales and hotel tax revenues generated by the project once it is built — is estimated at $185 million. In addition, city leaders will weigh agreements to sell city-owned land for the project. These decisions for the “Downtown Dova” project are scheduled for votes at Rancho Cordova City Council meetings on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.
Construction costs for the first phase — the soccer arena and a plaza — are expected to land between $175 million and $225 million. The larger project of housing, hotels, retail, dining, a card room and what would be the city’s only movie theater may rise to $1 billion to $2 billion, developers have said.
Some local leaders have backed the project since its inception, on the idea that it could deliver the suburban city the makings of a downtown. Rancho Cordova has grown by nearly 47% since its incorporation, but a central gathering place on this scale has yet to take shape. Members of the public, at recent meetings, though, have raised concerns about traffic and the financial agreements the city is contemplating.
“It just is a lot of money,” said Leslie McKeown, a 62-year resident of Rancho Cordova.
Where would the money come from?
The city’s $185 million financial participation includes an estimated $25 million to $40 million in fee waivers — some fees the city would agree to forgo, and some the city would cover by transferring money from its general fund to other city accounts.
The remainder would come largely from an agreement to share tax revenues generated by the project for 35 years after it is built, including hotel, sales and card room taxes.
The city may also cover some public safety costs for the project for up to 15 years. And the city’s initial agreements with the developers left open the possibility of additional funding mechanisms in the future, like an enhanced infrastructure financing district, which would use expected increases in property tax revenues from the site to finance eligible infrastructure costs such as sidewalks and utility lines.
The city will not issue any bonds nor provide the developers any money up front, the developers said. The fee waivers are each contingent upon the project hitting certain milestones, and the revenue sharing would only occur if the project is completed and begins generating sales, hotel and card room tax revenues.
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Who are the developers?
The project is proposed by KozPure Development, a firm co-founded in 2024 by Joshua Wood. He is the twin brother of Sacramento State President Luke Wood, and he previously worked with former Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson’s administration on the campaign to keep the Sacramento Kings in the city.
Wood’s business partner, KozPure co-founder Charanjeet Kaur Tiwana-Purewal, previously worked in development of housing and medical facilities.
The arena would be the firm’s first significant project.
The campaign for public support
The project was passed unanimously last month by the city’s Planning Commission.
Nearly 30 people — including trade union members, people connected to the project and residents — spoke in support, arguing that the development would create jobs, spur economic growth and provide entertainment in a city that lacks it. There were 13 people who spoke in opposition, raising concerns about traffic, environmental effects and the slate of financial incentives the city is weighing for the project.
Near the end of the meeting, before voting to advance the proposal, Planning Commissioner Rehana Rehman called for more community involvement.
“If this project moves forward, continued community engagement and accountability will be essential,” Rehman said. “The people who showed up tonight deserve to remain part of the conversation.”
Traffic concerns
The city hosted an informal meeting Tuesday to field questions about the project. Some residents questioned the location, and especially the potential effect on local traffic. Eileen Sedilko, who moved to the city in 1978, called it the “wrong location for a good idea.”
After the meeting, Wood acknowledged that traffic has been the most common concern among residents. City Manager Micah Runner said there will be improvements like striping and traffic signals required for the project.
“Ultimately, it will generate more traffic,” Runner said. “That’s expected.”
The Oct. 26 city council meeting
The council will discuss all of those topics at the first meeting, on Monday at 5:30 p.m., but will only take action on the first two issues. The council will act on the financial agreements at the second meeting, on Nov. 2.
The city had not yet posted an agenda for the first meeting as of publication. Under the Brown Act, public meeting agendas must be available at least 72 hours ahead of time, or Friday evening for a Monday evening meeting.
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