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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

November 25, 2001

Planners Eye Land Use for Vaca 'Vision'

Farmland a contention area

By Lara Rohr

For several months, city officials, with massive public input, have been working on "Vacaville 2025: A Vision for Our Community." The vision statement is intended to give the city and its residents a sort of blueprint for Vacaville as they would like to see it in 24 years. So far, there have been about a dozen public meetings surrounding the vision statement. It will come in handy when Vacaville officials work on updating the city's general plan, a more formalized document that dictates development and other land uses.

At a meeting this week, the Planning Commission took a look at seven possible land-use plans for the vision statement. The city planning staff will bring back some variations on the seven outlines, following commissioners' suggestions, in time for them to decide on the best route to recommend to the City Council. There will be opportunity for public comment at the council meeting, as there will be through the rest of the process. The City Council likely will look at the preferred alternative in January 2002; the complete vision statement will probably be ready for Planning Commission and City Council consideration by March 2002. After that, the amendments to the general plan will get going.

The plans followed seven different "themes," springing off two reports that came before the city during the summer. One listed consensus points, or principles regarding the desired nature of Vacaville that had broad acceptance during public meetings. The principles included preserving Travis Air Force Base, improving transit services and promoting job growth. The other report covered the "opportunities and restraints" regarding the annexation of six areas surrounding the city, totaling about 6,500 acres. During public meetings, opinions were mixed on whether some of the areas should be developed, left as farmland, or maintained as public-access open space.

Themes for the seven land-use plans ranged from "conservation and redevelopment" to "robust job and housing growth," but most speakers tended to favor the one that promoted "diverse housing and job growth opportunities." Alternative 7, as it was known, showed the most development occurring in Pleasants Valley (1,300 homes), the Vanden Road area (2,100 to 3,200 homes), the area east of Leisure Town Road (4,900 to 7,300 homes) and the Weber and Midway roads area (1,200 acres of commercial, office and industrial uses). "I think (Alternative) 7 is just a knock-your-socks-off opportunity," said Gary Archer, a local land broker, explaining that a few of the other alternatives spelled "opportunities lost" to him. "No. 7 is the most well-thought-out plan I've seen," agreed Cherry Glen Road resident John Pearson. Some people at the meeting, though, commented that Alternative 7 put too much farmland and open space in jeopardy, threatening Vacaville's small-town atmosphere.

Natalie DuMont of the Bay Area-based Greenbelt Alliance, said any annexations of those areas are "unnecessary and premature." "Vacaville should not be asked to sacrifice farmlands that are a part of our heritage for the development of luxury homes and businesses that could be built within existing city limits," she said.

The comment brought farmer Doug Rogers down to the podium in the City Council Chamber. He said it has grown increasingly difficult for farmers to make a living; they are being undermined by overproduction and foreign imports. Area farmers have appeared repeatedly at visioning meetings, urging that something be done with their land. "It's not her heritage - it's mine," Rogers said, explaining that his family has been farming for four generations. "I think the city needs to grow. ... Smart growth doesn't necessarily mean no growth."

Lara Rohr can be reached at vacaville@thereporter.com.

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