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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

November 4, 2005

Hold the line

EDITORIAL

That's $62 per registered voter that Pardee Homes will spend to woo Livermore voters to adopt its plan to extend development north of I-580.

The Livermore plan, known as Measure D on the Alameda County ballot, along with Measures K, L and P in Contra Costa County, are a quartet of developer-sponsored initiatives that seek to change established land-use plans. For each, the developers bypassed elected representatives and, instead, took their plans directly to the voters. If this tactic succeeds, then expect to see it employed throughout the region to approve new development without community debate.

The developers have promised a variety of incentives -- funds for transportation projects, a new school, parkland -- in exchange for the right to expand the cities. Together, the measures would affect four cities, two counties and the regional highway system, including two stretches -- Highway 4 and I-580 -- already notorious as traffic congestion hot spots. These measures encourage sprawl and fail to address the region's biggest need: affordable housing linked to transit and jobs.

The measures in the Contra Costa County communities of Antioch, Brentwood and Pittsburg were initiated in response to Measure J, a transportation tax passed by county voters last year. Voters in each city must approve an urban limit by 2009 to receive Measure J funds.

The Livermore measure changes a city-approved urban growth boundary that also requires voter approval for change.

The outcome of these battles on the urban edge will affect the whole Bay Area's economy and commute patterns. The region is ill-served when development plans are made via high-stakes political campaigns rather than carefully deliberated land-use decisions.

Voters in Alameda and Contra Costa counties should hold to the urban limit lines and vote no.

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