Lagoon Valley
After working for two years to oppose development in Lagoon Valley, a scenic
agricultural valley southwest of Vacaville, Greenbelt Alliance agreed
to a settlement with Triad Communities and the City of Vacaville. The settlement
will reduce the scale of development in Lagoon Valley, and will establish
an Urban Limit Line to guide Vacaville's growth and protect approximately
30,000 acres of open space for the next two decades.
The settlement has now been partially implemented and, Pleasants Valley, Vaca Valley and Upper Lagoon Valley are be off-limits to development for the next 20 years! Mitigation funds from the settlement agreement will also provide several million dollars to purchase conservation easements for these lands, creating a permanent greenbelt in the scenic valleys outside Vacaville's western boundary.
Greenbelt Alliance would prefer to see Lagoon Valley as permanently protected
open space. However, a 1991 development agreement already allows Triad
to build in Lagoon Valley regardless of the results of the referenda previously
scheduled for the March 2005 ballot. The settlement agreement reduces
the negative impacts of the development in Lagoon Valley and helps the
city move away from sprawl toward smarter growth and the long-term protection
of its working farms and natural areas.
Campaign Updates
March 2008
After Greenbelt Alliance and its allies collected over 10,000 signatures from Vacaville residents in less than six weeks in support of a growth boundary, the City Council chose on March 25 to adopt the ordinance outright.
Vacaville joins Fairfield and Benicia as cities in Solano County with boundaries defining where development should and should not go, which significantly aids in protecting open space and promoting sustainable growth. Greenbelt Alliance applauds Vacaville’s leaders for taking this important step.
September 2007
The Friends of Lagoon Valley’s appeal against the City of Vacaville
and Triad Communities was heard on August 22 at the state appeals
court. The appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision that
the City did not violate any laws when it approved the Lagoon Valley
project. The decision becomes final after 30 days if the Friends do not
petition and get granted a rehearing. After that, the next step for the
Friends is to decide if they will appeal to the Supreme Court.
August 2007
Oral arguments will be heard for the Friends of Lagoon Valley/Standard
Pacific/City of Vacaville lawsuit appeal on Wednesday, August 22 at
9:00 a.m. at the First District Court of Appeals, 350 McAllister Street/455
Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. The Court has up
to 90 days to render a decision.
June 2007
Friends of Lagoon Valley filed a lawsuit, claiming the project was not
in compliance with the City’s General Plan. As of June 2007, Greenbelt
Alliance and partners are still waiting for the date to be set for the
oral arguments. The expectation is that the date will be set in the next
month or two. Depending on the outcome of the lawsuit, the project could
be on hold for another year, move forward in 2008, or be stopped indefinitely.
The Army Corps of Engineers is currently reviewing a permit application
for the project.
November 2006
The Friends of Lagoon Valley, the City of Vacaville, Triad Communities,
and Standard Pacific (which purchased development rights for the project)
continue to wait for the date to be set for the oral arguments of the
lawsuit that was filed by the Friends of Lagoon Valley. The expectation
is that the date will be set for early 2007. Depending on the outcome
of the lawsuit, the project may either be on hold for another year, stopped
indefinitely, or moving forward in 2007.
September 2006
The opposition brief and reply brief have been filed by the City of
Vacaville and Triad Communities, and Friends of Lagoon Valley, respectively.
The two parties are now awaiting dates for oral arguments, which are
the next step of the lawsuit. The lawsuit is by the Friends of Lagoon
Valley against the City of Vacaville and Triad Communities on the grounds
that the project is not in accordance with the City’s General
Plan.
August 2006
In the appeal of the lawsuit filed by Friends of Lagoon Valley, the opposition
brief has been filed by the City of Vacaville and Triad Communities, and
the reply brief has been filed by Friends of Lagoon Valley. The two parties
are now awaiting dates for the next step of the lawsuit, oral arguments.
May 2006
The opening briefs for the Friends of Lagoon Valley appeal have been filed.
The lawsuit is against the City of Vacaville and Triad Communities on
the grounds that the project is not in accordance with the City's General
Plan.
03/09/2006 Letter
to the Editor: Never wanted to stop all housing, Vacaville Reporter
February 2006
The Friends of Lagoon Valley have filed an appeal to their April 2005
lawsuit against the City of Vacaville and Triad Communities on the grounds
that the project is not in accordance with the City's General Plan.
04/25/2005 Nature's
advocate, Vacaville Reporter
April 2005
On April 2nd, Greenbelt Alliance and the Solano Orderly Growth Committee
hosted over 25 Vacaville residents for an urban outing and bus tour featuring
the Vacaville Growth Management Initiative. Interested residents learned
that the initiative will protect prime agricultural lands and scenic vistas
in Upper Lagoon Valley, Vaca Valley and Pleasants Valley. Local activists
expressed strong support for the urban planning area, (another term for
an urban limit), that the initiative will establish in Vacaville.
April 10, 2005
Editorial:
Don't try to prevent the inevitable, Fairfield Daily Republic
March 2005
Greenbelt Alliance is working with local community leaders to promote
a citizen-sponsored Planned Growth Initiative that will plan for growth
in Vacaville and protect important farmlands and natural areas surrounding
Vacaville. The initiative will establish an Urban Planning Area (another
term for an Urban Growth Boundary) for the City of Vacaville that will
protect Upper Lagoon Valley, Vaca Valley and Pleasants Valley from development
for the next twenty years. The Planned Growth Initiative will also protect
Travis Air Force Base from urban encroachment. The Initiative has been
endorsed by a growing number of elected officials, citizen groups and
community leaders in Vacaville and Solano County.
March 20, 2005
Vacaville
finds itself speeding toward a stop sign, Vacaville Reporter
March 19, 2005
Lagoon
Valley suit threatened, Vallejo Times-Herald
March 18, 2005
Foes
set to sue on building in Lagoon, Vacaville Reporter
February 2005
This spring, Greenbelt Alliance plans to begin implementing the terms
of the agreement we reached with the City of Vacaville and Triad Communities
to settle our lawsuit against the proposed Lagoon Valley development.
We will be taking a lead role in the effort to gather signatures on a
citizen-sponsored Urban Planning Area (UPA) Initiative for the City of
Vacaville. The UPA (another term for an Urban Growth Boundary) will protect
Pleasants Valley, Upper Lagoon Valley and Vaca Valley from development
for the next twenty years. Once adopted, the UPA would also protect Solano
County's largest employer, Travis Air Force Base, from urban encroachment.
February 13, 2005
Golf course foes fight on. Read
the Fairfield Daily Republic article.
December 2004
On December 2, 2004 Greenbelt Alliance signed an agreement with Triad
Communities and the City of Vacaville settling our CEQA lawsuit against
the proposed development of Vacaville's Lagoon Valley. The agreement allows
for Triad to pursue a modified version of the development. However, before
the development can move forward an Urban Planning Area (UPA) (another
term for an Urban Growth Boundary) must be established around Vacaville
via the initiative process. The settlement will also require that $1 million
is spent to acquire open space lands in the Upper Lagoon Valley area north
of the project.
December 14, 2004
Letter to the Editor: Best deal possible on Lagoon Valley. Read
the Vacaville Reporter article.
December 9, 2004
Lagoon Valley project faces long road. Read
the Fairfield Daily Republic article.
December 8, 2004
Vacaville OKs revised Lagoon Valley plan. Read
the Fairfield Daily Republic article.
December 4, 2004
Lagoon Valley pact is far reaching. Read
the Vacaville Reporter article.
October 2004
The referendum campaign to overturn the Vacaville City Council's decision
to develop 1300 homes and one million square feet of commercial development
in Lagoon Valley is set for a March 8th special election. Greenbelt Alliance
is working with the Save Lagoon Valley Steering Committee to build a grassroots
base that will raise funds and organize to stop intensive development
in Lagoon Valley.
September 2004
Greenbelt Alliance is working with Friends of Lagoon Valley to strategize
and build momentum towards the March 8th special election to decide the
fate of large-scale commercial and residential development in Lagoon Valley.
Greenbelt Alliance is also engaged in an ongoing legal challenge against
the City of Vacaville and Triad Communities, the developer, to demand
proper analysis and mitigation of the project’s environmental impacts.
July 2004
The struggle to protect Lagoon Valley is on its way to the ballot. Friends
of Lagoon Valley, with guidance from Greenbelt Alliance, completed a successful
double referenda drive by collecting over 13,500 signatures on two separate
referenda petitions. The General Plan and Specific Plan referenda seek
to overturn the Vacaville City Council's approval of 1,300 homes, a golf
course and one million square feet of commercial space in scenic Lagoon
Valley. Thanks to the effort of over 100 volunteers, the Vacaville voters
will be able to have final say regarding development in Lagoon Valley.
June 2004
This month Greenbelt Alliance teamed with Friends of Lagoon Valley (FLV)
to launch a referendum campaign to prevent large-scale commercial and
residential development in Lagoon Valley. On June 10th Greenbelt Alliance
staff hosted a very successful referendum kick-off and training for over
60 signature gatherers. These volunteers will be charged with the task
of collecting over 3,800 signatures in 30 days to allow the voters of
Vacaville to decide the fate of development in Lagoon Valley.
April 2004
Greenbelt Alliance is teaming with local activists to complete comments
on the Lagoon Valley Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). In the
past month, Greenbelt Alliance has publicly opposed Lagoon Valley development
in presentations to the Vacaville Planning Commission and the Solano County
Board of Supervisors. Our outreach efforts have yielded numerous Letters
to the Editor in the local papers and DEIR comments from interested citizens.
March 2004
Seeking Public Comment on Solano's Lagoon Valley
The City of Vacaville has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report
(DEIR) for development of Lagoon Valley. Now it's time for concerned citizens
to comment on the report.
Please take this opportunity to voice your concerns about developing scenic
Lagoon Valley into a sprawling development of over 1200 homes, a golf
course, and one million square feet of commercial development.
The public comment period ends on April 19, 2004, so please act now!
Greenbelt Alliance is teaming with local activists to generate comments
on the Lagoon Valley Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). On March
3rd, Greenbelt Alliance, in conjunction with Friends of Lagoon Valley,
hosted a workshop to train local citizens how to participate in the 45-day
comment period for the Lagoon Valley Draft Environmental Impact Report.
With a turnout of approximately 50 participants the workshop was a success.
November 2003
The proposal to develop the scenic Lagoon Valley, which lies just south
of Interstate 80 between Vacaville and Fairfield and is valued locally
for its agriculture and recreation amenities, has been slightly delayed.
The draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) is not expected to be released
now until early January. The local citizen's group, Friends
of Lagoon Valley, continues to prepare for an aggressive campaign
to stop the proposal.
February 11, 2003
The City Council voted to proceed with the Environmental Impact Review
(EIR), but did not vote on the General Plan Amendments. Read
the Fairfield Daily Republic article.
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