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Home Resource Center In the News Home Greenbelt Alliance in the News |
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Greenbelt Alliance In the News
May 9, 2003 'Smart growth' group evaluates developments Subheading By Barry Eberling FAIRFIELD -- "Smart growth" advocates are applauding Delta Cove in Suisun City and booing plans to develop Lagoon Valley in Vacaville. The Transportation and Land Use Coalition rated the best and worst developments in Bay Area counties. It looked at developments through the lens of "smart growth" principles. Among these principles are revitalizing existing neighborhoods; creating communities near jobs, recreation, transit and services; preserving open spaces and addressing the affordable housing shortage. Still, the report emphasized there is no single definition for "smart growth." "Indeed, appropriate development for a small town in Solano County will look very different from appropriate development for a lot adjacent to an Oakland BART station," it said. Delta Cove took the "best" award for Solano County. It is located along the waterfront in downtown Suisun City. Miller-Sorg is building 23 houses. All can be used for offices or stores, as well as homes. Ten have detached apartments that can be rented out separately. "Delta Cove redevelops an abandoned waterfront site, contributes to its preservation and begins to bring the historic downtown back to its former glory," the report said. The Lagoon Valley proposal won the "worst" award. Vacaville annexed the land in 1990, though development proposals at the time later fell through. Triad Corp. wants to build 1,277 homes, a golf course and offices on 840 acres there. The valley is a buffer between Vacaville and Fairfield, the report said. Residents there would have to drive to Vacaville to meet their daily needs. The low densities proposed would eat up more open space than necessary, it said. But Lagoon Valley can still be preserved as open space, the report said. Vacaville has yet to approve the project. The report can be viewed at www.transcoalition.org. Members of the Transportation and Land Use Coalition include the Greenbelt Alliance, Sierra Club, Latino Issues Forum, BayRail Alliance, Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California and Contra Costa Central Labor Council. Barry Eberling can be contacted at beberling@dailyrepublic.net. ### |
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