Rocklin City Council members approved a design review to move forward with a low- and very low-income apartment complex plan in Rocklin.

The Whitney Ranch Apartments, to be located at Wildcat Boulevard and West Ranch View Drive in Whitney Ranch, will provide housing units for low- and very-low income individuals, said Sherri Abbas, development services manager in the City Planning Division, at last week’s city council meeting.

One of the concerns council members had was funding, but City Manager Carlos Urrutia assured them it would not be an issue.

“This money comes from a fund that can only be used for affordable housing,” he said.

The city receives allotted money each year that must be used for this type of housing.

Partnering with St. Anton Partners in Sacramento, the project is under development, with 156 units of affordable housing. Sixteen units will be restricted to very low-income housing, while the remaining 140 units will be limited to low-income.

Councilman Brett Storey said he was concerned that the funds for the project would take away from Rocklin’s first time home buying program. But Urrutia said that although the amount of money available for the program will be reduced, funds will still be available.

Dara Dungworth, associate planner for the city, said the complex is nearing the end of the planning stages. The next step is to prepare construction drawings to be finalized and approved, she said.

Affordable housing provides assistance to low- and very low-income households, restricted to individuals and households earning less than 50 and 60 percent of the Placer County median income, which is $71,000 for a household of four in 2008, according to Dungworth. The local housing authority covers the remaining costs.

Currently Hidden Creek at Sierra College provides five low-income homes within a 47-unit subdivision. Vicara at Whitney Ranch provides 264 low-income two and three bedroom condos with income limitations.