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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

July 28, 2006

Annexation request gets nod from LAFCO

Subheading

Monty Norris

Although winning approval from the Contra Costa County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to annex 2,100 acres of unincorporated land was a major step forward for Oakley, the city still faces some hurdles before the process is complete.

The city wants to annex land along what is commonly referred to as the East Cypress Corridor between Oakley and Bethel Island. The land will eventually be the site of some 4,500 residential units, 90 acres of commercial space, manmade lakes, several schools, parks, wetlands, dunes and new urban levee system. If eventually approved, the annexation will increase the city limits by up to 31 percent and its population by more than 60 percent.

The area, which has been under the city’s sphere of influence since 2003, is now mostly undeveloped, with some agricultural or cattle grazing uses. About 50 acres of the area in Bethel Island has some residential neighborhoods. City officials say Oakley can provide enhanced municipal services to current and new residents more effectively than the county.

Councilwoman Pat Anderson applauded the agency’s decision, saying that the city is better equipped to make good land use decisions along the East Cypress Corridor. City leaders have long said that Oakley will turn the area into a livable and viable community with compatible neighborhoods and controlled development.

Three major homebuilders and a Bethel Island partnership propose the largest number of homes on five parcels:

• Shea Homes, 686-acre Summer Lakes project: 2,330 units.

• KB Home, 700-acre Dal Porto North and Lesher properties: 1,800 units.

• D.R. Horton, 180-acre Dal Porto South property: 400 units.

• Bethel Island LLC, 350-acre Biggs property: 1,100 units.

Plans for the area also include more than eight miles of new and rebuilt levees costing $25 million in order to protect both new and existing homes. Construction costs will be shared by developers. New homebuyers will assume maintenance fees for the levee system.

The next step in the annexation process is for the boundary change proposal to go before neighboring landowners and registered voters for written protests or endorsements. The written protest or endorsements could result in either annexation approval, a vote election or termination of annexation proceedings, depending on the written responses.

The proposal already has its opponents. Among them is the Greenbelt Alliance, the land conservation and urban planning nonprofit organization, which has filed a lawsuit in opposition to the plan, complaining that it fails to meet state standards and would negatively impact the environment and public health and safety.

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