Support te Renewal of Davis's Measure J —Our Right to Vote on Conversion of Agricultural Land and Open Space to Urban Uses
Pam Nieberg (September 2009)
The Sierra Club Yolano Group supports the renewal of Measure J in June of 2010 in its current form with no changes and with no exemptions.
Measure J, the “Citizens Right to Vote on Future Use of Open Space and Agricultural Lands Ordinance” was adopted in June of 2000. It gave the citizens of Davis the right to vote on any development proposal that would convert open space or agricultural land on the city's borders to urban uses. Measure J allows the citizens of Davis to have a say in how our community grows.
A Measure J vote has happened only once in the 9 years since the ordinance was enacted. In November of 2005, 60% of Davis voters turned down the Covell Village proposal to build 1864 homes on 388 acres of agricultural land at the corner of Covell Blvd. and Pole Line Road. The people decided that that proposal was too massive and created too many negative impacts on the environment and community. Measure J functioned exactly as was intended, allowing the people to have a say in shaping their community.
Measure J expires on December 31, 2010 and the Davis City Council are considering its renewal. The Council has tentatively voted to put Measure J back on the ballot in June of 2010 as it is with no changes, but some council members want to consider allowing an exemption to Measure J for a business park on agricultural land. The Council requested that three city commissions review the ordinance and the question of an exemption prior to a final vote by Council. So far, the Business and Economic Commission and the Planning Commission have reviewed the ordinance and the question of an exemption for a business park. Both commissions voted to renew Measure J in its present form with no changes and that there should be no exemption for a business park. The Open Space and Habitat Commission will be reviewing the issue on September 14.
The Yolano Group believes that the people who live in our community should have a say in determining the future our community. Measure J gives Davis residents a tool to make that determination. A business park is an urban use and should go through a Measure J vote.
Contact the council and let them know you want Measure J renewed exactly as it is and that there should be no exemptions for a business park from a Measure J vote.
- Ruth Asmundson rasmundson@cityofdavis.org
- Sue Greenwald suegreen@dcn.davis.ca.us
- Lamar Heystek lheystek@cityofdavis.org
- Don Saylor dsaylor@cityofdavis.org
- Steve Souza sasouza@sbcglobal.net
