Measure Y asks voters to approve the gift of City Parklands to a private developer. This gift of land would set a dangerous precedent that threatens to future of all city parks and parkland.
The developer of 23 large luxury homes wants to construct a bridge and its concrete abutments on city parkland to gain access to his proposed private residential development. Without this precedent-setting gift of city parkland, the proposed development must be reduced in size.
Deceptive advertising campaign by developer:
The Veronica Meadows developer has already begun a deceptive advertising campaign. The Urban Creeks Council had to go to court to get changes in the developer’s misleading ballot statements. The developer has sent out expensive mailers to city voters which distorts the facts, and which are being followed up by calls paid to mislead voters. This is only the beginning.
Some Facts:
Measure Y does not improve Arroyo Burro Creek. The City’s environmental analysis concluded that the bridge over Arroyo Burro Creek will cause permanent negative impacts to creek habitat, kill large oak and sycamore trees and interfere with wildlife movement along this important wildlife migration corridor. Even after the developer’s proposed creek restoration, Arroyo Burro Creek would be permanently damaged by this project.
- Placing the proposed bridge on city parkland would require permanently removing native and non-native riparian habitat, this includes oaks, oak woodland and sycamores.
- Adverse impacts of noise, lighting, human activity, pets, pesticides, etc. associated with the proposed Veronica Meadows luxury home development would have a negative impact on the aquatic and riparian habitats and species in Arroyo Burro Creek.
Bridge site, Veronica Meadows development
The City already has funds to restore Arroyo Burro Creek properly. The City purchased the 6 acres in 1998, and in 2000, voters overwhelmingly (70%) passed an increase to the transient occupancy tax (Measure B) to fund creek restoration. These Measure B funds can be leveraged to gain adequate funding to restore Arroyo Burro Creek down to Cliff Drive, not just a section.
Measure Y means more traffic. The private Veronica Meadows development will worsen traffic along Las Positas Road between Highway 101 and Cliff Drive, and will increase congestion on impacted local roadways. The EIR found that the Project’s traffic would cause a significant cumulative impact at four separate Las Positas Road intersections.
Measure Y does not protect open space. The developer claims credit for preserving “open space” that is too steep and prone to landslides for it to ever be developed. Much of this “open space” will be privately owned and not open to the public.
Measure Y does not create a new public park. The City purchased the six acres in 1998 as open space. The developer counts this as open space, that his project would supposedly “permanently dedicate”; but the City already owns it.
Measure Y access is unsafe. Bike and pedestrian access from Elings Park and the Westside must cross (55 mph) Las Positas Road with only a crosswalk. An existing hike and bike trail already provides safe access on the east side of Las Positas Road from the Elings Park entrance to Cliff Drive.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why is this on the Ballot? Two community groups, the Urban Creeks Council and the Citizens Planning Association raised numerous concerns about this project’s impact on our environment, and when the City Council refused to place the gift of public parkland to a vote of the people, as required by the City Charter, they sued the city to enforce the charter provisions.
When is the election? The election will be held on June 5, 2012.
Who is supporting Measure Y? Veronica Meadows developer Mark Lee is the project’s main advocate. If he is successful in getting City voters to allow him to place a bridge to his private luxury home development, he will make millions of dollars. If he is unsuccessful, he will be forced to design a smaller project that is more appropriate to the site.