Developer Initiatives in Pittsburg and Brentwood
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Developer Initiatives in Pittsburg and Brentwood |
The Nunn family sponsored Brentwood's Measure L, which would have
expanded Brentwood by 1,700 acres. Much of the land that would be opened to
development is owned by the Nunns. Fortunately, Measure L lost.
Likewise, in Pittsburg, the Seeno family sponsored Measure P to expand the city by 2,200 acres; much of this 2,200 acres of land is owned by the Seenos. Unfortunately, Measure P won by a narrow margin.
These sprawl developers used paid signature gatherers and their City Hall connections to qualify their self-serving initiatives in record time. The initiatives claimed to establish "voter-approved urban limit lines" but didn't mention that these new lines included thousands of acres that are currently off-limits to development. They also claimed to bring in millions of dollars for transportation funding, but that funding was already secure: if the cities abide by the current county-wide urban limit line, money would come regardless of whether these measures passed.
Click here for a map of the land affected.
Greenbelt Alliance will continue to work in both Pittsburg and Brentwood to stop sprawl development.
The land threatened by the passage of Pittsburg's Measure P includes very rugged terrain that would require extensive grading in order to develop. Measure P also proposes to develop wetlands that deserve protection. In Brentwood, the threatened land to the city's east is all highly productive working farmland. Much of this land is part of the region's agricultural core, made up of prime farmland that is irreplaceable. The threatened land to the city's west is part of a wildlife corridor connecting Cowell Ranch State Park with Black Diamond Mines Regional Park.
February 2006
Developers are moving fast in Antioch and Pittsburg to bring development proposals
in the wake of last November's election. The City of Antioch voted to begin
the annexation process, and will likely apply to the Local Agency Formation
Commission by summer. In Pittsburg, Seeno is moving forward with a plan for
the Faria Ranch area in the hills between Pittsburg and Concord. In response,
Greenbelt Alliance is working with regional partners to organize grassroots
opposition, especially in light of November's city council elections.
January 2006
The November election ushered in expansive developer-backed urban limit lines
in Pittsburg, while Brentwood's line was narrowly defeated. Greenbelt Alliance
is working with local and regional allies to prepare for next steps ranging
from new initiatives to CEQA challenges. The election campaign galvanized activists
in each city; Greenbelt Alliance is working to build upon this new capacity.
December 2005 Slow-Growthers Dominate Election, CP&DR (California Planning & Development Report)
12/30/2005 In Depth: Replay 2005: Year in Review, East Bay Business Times
November 2005
Brentwood
The Nunn family spent over $600,000 to support Measure L in Brentwood, which
would have expanded the city by 2,000 acres to allow 2,800 new houses. Despite
the extravagant campaign and endorsements from state Sen. Tom Torlakson and
Save Mount Diablo's Ron Brown, Measure L was defeated at the polls by a very
narrow margin. The opposition campaign was very limited, including only automated
calls and fliers handed out by volunteers at community events. Voters in Brentwood
apparently understood that the initiative would expand the city and put stress
on roads and schools.
Pittsburg
Measure P, backed by Albert Seeno Jr. and Discovery Homes, won by a narrow margin
of 331 votes. In Pittsburg, the proponents reported spending $600,000, while
the opposition spent $86,000 in Pittsburg and Antioch together. As in Antioch,
the proponents of the measure promised growth control and traffic relief, downplaying
the housing component of the initiative. Also as in Antioch, the opponents of
the measure found it difficult to keep signs in the ground, with hundreds of
signs disappearing overnight from private property. Grassroots efforts, including
phoning and sign waving, helped keep the measure close.
11/16/2005 Sierra Club to challenge development, Contra Costa Times
11/10/2005 Property line votes draw debate, Tri-Valley Herald
11/09/2005 East Contra Costa voters splitting on growth, Contra Costa Times
11/09/2005 Back to Ballot for the Bay Area Growth: East Bay voters open land to thousands of homes, San Francisco Chronicle
11/04/2005 Hold the line, San Francisco Chronicle
11/02/2005 'Yes on L' signs in Brentwood deceptive, foes say, Contra Costa Times
October 2005
Brentwood
Opposition to Measure L, the developers sprawl initiative in Brentwood, continues
to grow. The Contra Costa Times has editorialized against the measure. The Sierra
Club, the East County Democratic club and many others have joined Greenbelt
Alliance in endorsing the "No on L" campaign. During October and early
November, Greenbelt Alliance plans to contact voters in Brentwood and urge them
to vote no on Measure L.
Pittsburg
Greenbelt Alliance is working with local activists to oppose Measure P, the
developer-backed initiative in Pittsburg. The Pittsburg initiative is backed
by the Seeno family of developers and landowners and would open up 2,200 acres
of natural areas to development. The initiative creates a new Urban Limit Line
that supplants the county-wide line now in effect. The proposal includes very
hilly land atop Kirker Ridge between Concord and Pittsburg. It also includes
wetlands at the Suisun Bayshore. We are confident that Pittsburg's voters will
see through this deceptive measure and vote against Measure P.
10/31/2005 Spending Big at the Ballot Box to Build, Los Angeles Times
10/29/2005 Pro-growth groups outspend their opponents, Contra Costa Times
10/24/2005 Developers asking voters to open land for housing, San Francisco Chronicle
10/19/2005 The Space Races, East Bay Express
10/13/2005 Developers devoting thousands to measures, Contra Costa Times
09/26/2005 Cities strive to cater to executives, Contra Costa Times
September 2005
Brentwood
Greenbelt Alliance is working with local farmers and activists to oppose Measure
L, the developer-backed initiative in Brentwood. The Brentwood initiative is
backed by the Nunn family of developers and landowners and would add 1,700 acres
of natural areas and working farms to Brentwood. The initiative creates a new
Urban Limit Line that supplants the county-wide line now in effect. The proposal
includes hilly habitat land that provides a potential link between Cowell Ranch
and Black Diamond Mines. It also includes hundreds of acres of productive farmland
in the agricultural core.
Pittsburg
Greenbelt Alliance is working with local activists to oppose Measure P, the
developer-backed initiative in Pittsburg. The Pittsburg initiative is backed
by the Seeno family of developers and landowners and would add 2,200 acres of
natural areas to Pittsburg. The initiative creates a new Urban Limit Line that
supplants the county-wide line now in effect. The proposal includes very hilly
land atop Kirker ridge between Concord and Pittsburg. It also includes wetlands
at the Suisun Bayshore. We are confident that Pittsburg's voters will see through
this deceptive measure and vote against this phony growth control.