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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

October 20, 2004

Lagoon Valley measure draws two proposals

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But the people who put the measure together see it as a step toward preserving the valley as open space. Lagoon Valley is along Interstate 80 in southern Vacaville.

Both sides are framing the issues months before the vote will take place.

The referendum would overturn the City Council's recent approvals necessary for Triad's proposed community with 1,325 homes, a golf course and up to one million square feet of businesses and offices.

But overturning the council's approvals wouldn't ban development from the valley. Rather, the zoning would revert to what a previous council approved in 1991.

Triad has presented an alternative development proposal to Vacaville it says complies with this 1991 zoning. The proposal calls for 300 fewer homes and more offices and businesses. The golf course would remain.

If the referendum succeeds, Triad could still move forward with this development, said Curt Johansen of the company.

"We don't want everybody to wonder what the alternative would be," Johansen said. "We think it's better to get it out there and let people make the choice."

Brent Schoradt of the Greenbelt Alliance said there's a third possibility: The City Council could ultimately rescind the 1991 commercial and residential zoning for Lagoon Valley. Then people could work to buy the land for open space.

"Nobody's going to buy land for open space that's zoned commercial, because they're going to have to pay commercial prices for it," he said.

Triad prefers its proposal for 1,325 homes approved by the City Council in June, Johansen said. But it would still try its best under the alternative proposal meeting the 1991 standards, he said.

The 1991 zoning allows five million square feet of office and commercial buildings. Johansen talked of scaling this back.

"Certainly, that valley is too important and sensitive to put that type of project there," he said.

Schoradt expressed doubt that the Triad alternative proposal meets the 1991 standards. He wants to further study that issue.

A developer a decade ago tried and failed to build in Lagoon Valley. Plans for Bank of America and Kaiser offices there fell through. Some have questioned whether Triad could do any better using the 1991 standards.

Johansen expressed confidence that Triad could indeed succeed.

That proposed development a decade ago came forth during a recession, Johansen said. Also, it relied on Bank of America building there, he said.

Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646 Ext. 232 or at beberling@dailyrepublic.net.

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