Greenbelt Alliance In the News
October 31, 2003
Fairfield set to
weigh in on growth
Subheading
By Pamela Martineau -- Bee Staff Writer
In unlikely coalition of military retirees
and environmentalists is backing an initiative in Fairfield that proponents
say could prevent Travis Air Force Base from being targeted for closure.
But opponents of the Nov. 4 ballot measure claim it would strip land-use
authority from future city councils and do little to preserve Travis.
Measure L requires that voters approve any future developments proposed
on thousands of acres around Travis as well as in Green and Suisun valleys.
The measure would remain in place until 2020.
"The general plan says the areas around Travis and Suisun Valley
and Green Valley are off-limits for development," said Autumn Bernstein,
of Greenbelt Alliance, a group that backs Measure L.
"But the general plan can be changed at any time by a three-person
vote of the City Council," Bernstein said.
The measure has taken a circuitous route to Tuesday's ballot. Earlier
this year, a coalition of military retirees and environmentalists gathered
signatures in hopes of placing such a ballot measure before the voters.
After collecting enough signatures -- more than 7,000 -- the Fairfield
City Council adopted the land-use provisions as law.
But opponents of the measure launched a campaign seeking a referendum
on the issue, which has forced the measure before voters next week.
Fairfield City Councilman John English is working to defeat Measure L.
He believes elected officials, not voters, should make land-use decisions.
"The City Council is given the charge by the citizens to take care
of certain things that are complex and more detailed. And some of those
things are development and zoning," English said. "To enact
things by popular vote and initiative is not effective."
Retired Air Force Master Sgt. John Hancock said he supports Measure L
because he believes it will help keep Travis off any future base closure
lists. If developers are allowed to build near the runways at Travis,
he said, complaints from residents about airplane noise could threaten
the base's future.
"We're trying to protect the base from encroachment, which will protect
Travis," said Hancock. "We have a large retirement population
in Fairfield, Vacaville and Suisun who use that base for their commissary,
medical appointments and other things. To lose it would hurt."
Travis pumps about $1 billion a year into the local economy, officials
said.
Hancock said he supports the measure's provisions requiring voter approval
for development in Suisun and Green valleys because those areas contain
prime agricultural land.
"I haven't talked to any retiree who is against it," Hancock
said of Measure L.
But retired Chief Master Sgt. Ralph Penning heads up the No on Measure
L Committee. He calls backers' assertions that the measure would protect
Travis a "smoke screen." The measure is about limiting growth,
he said.
"This is being backed by environmentalists. The biggest contributors
are the Greenbelt Alliance and the Sierra Club," said Penning.
Opponents claim the measure would severely limit growth in and around
Fairfield, thus driving up the cost of housing.
Specifically, Measure L requires voter approval for developments proposed
in an area dubbed the Travis Reserve, about 4,000 acres east and north
of the Travis runway. That area was designated a reserve by the City Council
a few years ago after developers proposed building 7,800 homes near the
base.
Measure L also requires voter approval for any private development on
land where the outdoor noise level from the Travis runway exceeds the
60-decibel limit. Voter approval also must be sought for projects proposed
outside the city's urban limit line. Suisun and Green valleys are outside
the Fairfield urban limit boundary.
Measure L is supported by the Citizens Committee to Protect Travis AFB,
Fairfield Professional Firefighters Association, the Carpenters Union
Local 180, and the Fairfield Police Officers Association among other groups.
Opponents include the Solano Property Rights Alliance and many members
of the Fairfield business community as well as several local elected officials.
The ballot measure has been hotly debated during Fairfield's City Council
race. Several candidates who are challenging incumbent council members
oppose the measure.
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About the Writer
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The Bee's Pamela Martineau can be reached at (530) 757-7119 or pmartineau@sacbee.com.
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