A preliminary application for a massive 368-unit to 384-unit housing development in Windsor has ignited a heated debate among residents concerned about wildfire evacuation routes and traffic congestion on narrow residential streets.

The proposal, slated for the former Windsor Creek Elementary School site at 8955 Conde Lane, seeks significant changes to the town's General Plan and zoning, sparking worries that the project could exacerbate emergency egress issues in a region still scarred by the 2017 Tubbs Fire.

Residents near 8955 Conde Lane in Windsor are raising alarms over a proposed 368-384 unit multi-family development, fearing it could transform their quiet neighborhood into a "fire trap" by overwhelming limited evacuation infrastructure. The project, submitted by Gregg Wanke of Gallaher Companies, seeks to redevelop the 12-acre former Windsor Creek Elementary School site, according to official Town of Windsor planning documents.

The preliminary application, received by the Town of Windsor on July 13, 2026, calls for a General Plan Amendment to rezone the parcel from Public/Quasi-Public to High Density Residential and a Zoning Map Amendment from Public/Institutional to Compact Residential. The developer intends to construct seven four-story buildings containing apartment flats, along with a recreation center and up to 567 parking spaces. The project leverages California’s Density Bonus Law, seeking a 50% density bonus and several waivers from town development standards. Twenty percent of the units are designated for very-low-income households.

Neighbors, many of whom were forced to evacuate during the devastating 2017 Tubbs Fire that killed 22 people and destroyed over 5,600 structures across Sonoma and Napa counties according to CAL FIRE records, voiced their concerns at a Planning Commission informational presentation on July 14, 2026. Melanie Markarian, a resident living directly opposite the site, told CBS News the proposal was "horrific." Another nearby resident, Tim Vallery, echoed these fears, stating there is "really nowhere to go" in an emergency, as reported by Hoodline.

The Dissent was unable to identify the developer from publicly available town filings and had no entity to contact for comment before publication, beyond the named applicant Gregg Wanke. The Windsor Unified School District confirmed the sale of the property to Gallaher Community Homes prior to the preliminary application filing.

Complicating the local traffic picture, Gallaher Companies has already secured approval for a separate 106-unit affordable housing project, Cora Creek, on an adjacent 3.69-acre parcel also on Conde Lane. This project, distinct from the larger development, already has a grading permit in hand, according to the Town of Windsor's Major Project Development List. Residents are particularly focused on the proposed driveways on Armando Renzullo Way and an emergency vehicle access point connecting to Oakfield Drive and Conde Lane, expressing worry that these could become pinch points during a mass evacuation.