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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

December 8, 2004

Compromise for Lagoon Valley

Council backs a scaled-down Triad development project, protecting open space and eliminating the need for a special election.

In thus allowing a project proposed by Seattle-based developer Triad Communities to move forward, the council rescinded its unanimous approval of an earlier proposal from Triad. Tuesday's agreement approved calls for 1,025 homes rather than the earlier 1,300, adds affordable housing and senior units, and decreases office space in the complex to 700,000 square feet.

Mayor Len Augustine said, "It's not about building this or nothing. Nothing was never an option."

By approving the agreement, the council eliminated the need for a March vote on referendums challenging its unanimous approval in June of a general plan amendment and a Lagoon Valley Specific Plan.

Triad's new proposal includes a golf course and other amenities on the 730 acres of privately owned land. The project now will go through the necessary city reviews.

Councilmembers had three options. One was their approval of the agreement. Secondly, they could have rejected the agreement and proceeded forward with the March election. Lastly, they could have continued considering the agreement and scheduled a June election.

Greenbelt Alliance had sued the city in July, claiming the city had violated environmental and zoning laws in approving the Triad project.

The group now will drop its suit against the city in exchange for petitioning, along with Triad, for an urban planning area that would essentially draw a boundary around the city within which growth would occur for the next 20 years.

A critical component of the new agreement is the dedication of 71 acres of permanent open space. That land, between Interstate 80 and the lake in the valley, will provide aesthetic views.

Friends of Lagoon Valley, a grass-roots organization opposed to development in the valley, may well have won its battle.

Members of the organization collected thousands of signatures this past summer challenging the council's amendment to the general plan and its approval of the Lagoon Valley Specific Plan, both of which paved the way for Triad's project.

Signatures gathered by the organization were enough to put the matter on a March ballot.

Marian Conning, of Friends of Lagoon Valley, said she was experiencing a mixture of emotions Tuesday night.

"It doesn't really feel like a victory for us," she said. "It feels a little bit like a backroom deal."

Councilmembers later responded to her comments saying the agreement was not that kind of a deal.

"I resent people accusing this council of indiscretion," Vice Mayor Pauline Clancy said.

"That's not true. These are four of the most honest people I know."

Patricia Valenzuela can be reached at vacaville@thereporter.com.

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