Measure V - City of Davis
Shall Resolution No. 26-006 be adopted to amend the Davis General Plan to approve a residential development to include parks and open space areas, by changing the land use designations for the Village Farms Davis properties from Agriculture to Urban Agriculture Transition Area, Residential Low, Medium and High Density, and by establishing the Baseline Project Features?"Yes" Votes Needed to Pass: 50% +1 (majority) of the total votes cast on the measure by eligible votersA "Yes" vote will amend the Davis General Plan. A "No" vote will leave the Davis General Plan as it is.For the FULL TEXT OF THE MEASURE go to https://ace.yolocounty.gov/417/Measure-V---City-of-Davis#taba0faf1e2-78f2-4b90-b53e-42e4d1bf1b63_0https://ace.yolocounty.gov/417/Measure-V---City-of-DavisCITY ATTORNEY’S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE VMeasure V was placed on the ballot by the City of Davis City Council. If adopted, Measure V would amend the City of Davis General Plan to allow for development of the Village Farms project (“Village Farms”). The project site is approximately 497.6 acres, bounded by Pole Line Road to the east; East Covell Boulevard to the south; the Cannery neighborhood and Union Pacific Railroad tracks to the west; and recreational and agricultural uses to the north. If Measure V is approved, annexation of the site into the City could proceed. The Municipal Code requires voter approval of General Plan amendments that change the land use designation from agricultural or open space to urban uses. Voter approval of the General Plan amendments includes approval of “baseline project features” that cannot be significantly modified later without voter approval.The project site is currently designated for agricultural uses. Measure V would change the designation to permit the Village Farms project, and establish baseline project features. The General Plan amendments and baseline project features to be provided by the developer are set forth in detail in City Council Resolution 26-006, and include:The City Council’s goals for the development, which include the creation of a “diverse residential neighborhood with housing options for a broad range of income levels” that will incorporate “sustainable design principles and extensive publicly accessible green spaces.” Development of up to 1,800 residential units at Residential High Density, Residential Medium Density, and Residential Low Density zoning designations.Provision of land and capital, including a minimum $6 million donation, by the developer to the City, to facilitate development of deed-restricted affordable housing.Dedication of land by the developer to Davis Joint Unified School District intended for Pre-K facilities and an educational farm.Ongoing preservation of 47 acres of habitat for special-status species.Use of electric energy only in residential units. Residential units will not include natural gas service. All single-family homes will have solar photovoltaic systems.Provision of parkland and recreation facilities including a community park and a neighborhood park.Provision of greenbelts through the project, with an interconnected network of bicycle, pedestrian, and multi-use trails.Planting of at least 4,000 new trees and intention to preserve the majority of existing healthy mature trees on site.Construction or funding of roadway improvements to address the impacts of the project on surrounding roadways.Construction of bicycle and pedestrian grade-separated crossings at the eastern and western borders of the project site.Preparation of a feasibility study for an additional grade-separated crossing of East Covell Boulevard connecting the project to Oak Tree Plaza to the south.The project is required to construct improvements or pay fees to the City to mitigate impacts to City facilities and infrastructure.Measure V requires approval by a majority of the voters in the City voting on it to become effective. A “yes” vote favors the General Plan amendments and baseline project features, and a “no” vote opposes them./s/ Inder KhalsaDavis City Attorney ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE VIt’s been over a generation without family housing approved by voters in Davis. The consequences are real: young families, teachers and local workers can't afford to live here, declining enrollment threatens our schools, small businesses struggle, and tens of thousands commute here daily, adding traffic and emissions. Measure V approves Village Farms Davis – diverse homes for every income level on a site prioritized for decades. Measure V guarantees a dedication of 16 acres of land and $6 million toward affordable housing, the largest contribution in Davis history. Twenty percent of homes are permanently affordable for income-limited households, exceeding city requirements. Seventy percent of market rate homes are attached or on small lots, providing much needed “missing-middle” housing. DJUSD estimates Village Farms Davis will attract young families with 1,100+ new students to help enrollment. Measure V strengthens our city budget and funds critical traffic improvements while generating millions in ongoing revenue for essential city services.Over half of Village Farms Davis is open space, habitat, agriculture, greenbelts, parks and trails. This includes a central park, needed sports fields, and a permanently conserved 47-acre natural habitat with a permanently funded endowment.Surrounded by existing neighborhoods in North Davis, this infill site sits within walking and biking distance of schools and services. Village Farms Davis completes the Davis Bike Loop (Northstar to Wildhorse) with grade-separated crossings.Village Farms Davis is a 100% all-electric, solar-powered sustainable community developed by local families with deep Davis roots – the same builders and planners who pioneered our greenbelt design, urban habitat, and sustainable neighborhoods. After years of thoughtful design and comprehensive study, Village Farms Davis provides a measured plan to strengthen our schools, budget, and community. It can help us meet state housing mandates and keep local control. As Davis parents and grandparents, we care deeply about our community’s future. We urge you, please: Vote Yes on Measure V VillageFarmsDavis.com /s/ Lois WolkFormer State Senator/s/ Will ArnoldFormer Mayor/s/ Brooke AgeeElementary School Teacher/s/ Katharine Dooley-HedrickParent/s/ Rose CholewinskiSmall Business OwnerARGUMENT AGAINST OF MEASURE VVillage Farms, with a 15-year buildout, proposes 1,800 housing units on 498 acres, the largest residential project ever proposed in Davis with many serious impacts.Massive traffic, adding over 15,000 car trips DAILY near Covell Boulevard and Pole Line Road.Unaffordable housing, where 80% of the project is market rate housing costing $740,000 - $1,300,000 which is not affordable to most local workers and families with young kids. How would this help schools?Developer isn’t responsible for building the affordable housing, except potentially 100 affordable units (Phase 3). Is this a good affordable housing plan?Toxics including carcinogenic PFAS “forever chemicals” leaking to Village Farms from the adjacent unlined Old Davis Landfill and Sewage Treatment Plant.200-acre floodplain with serious flooding potential and risk of PFAS groundwater toxics contaminating Channel A which flows through Wildhorse then Willow Slough Bypass, Yolo Basin habitat wetlands and connecting waterways, including Sacramento River.Failed floodplain engineering in the 1990’s resulted in the City buying flooded Howat Ranch to settle the lawsuit. Village Farms has no verified floodplain control plan.Old Davis Landfill’s 30-year burn pits, testing wasn’t done for carcinogenic dioxins. Soil toxics, high neurotoxin levels, toxaphene and lead, on park where kids would recreate.Safe access concerns, including 2 proposed bike/pedestrian grade-separated crossings which have had feasibility issues. After 7 years, this developer hasn’t delivered his Nishi housing project or its overcrossing.Enormous infrastructure costs.ONE MILLION cubic yards (100,000 truckloads) of soil to move, trying to fill the floodplain.Unprotected vernal pools with no conservation easement in place so far.Village Farms is too big, too many impacts, including massive traffic and costs, predominantly unaffordable housing and potential liability to Davis long-term. There are better alternatives, like the “reduced footprint” alternative recommended, below Channel A to avoid risks of flooding and toxics impacts. Vote NO on Measure V! NoOnMeasureV.org/s/ Eileen M. SamitzFormer Davis Planning Commissioner/s/ Vijay KumarCivil Engineer/s/ Jean JackmanNature Columnist/s/ John PrivaraFormer General Plan Mobility Committee Member/s/ David McGlocklinRetired Teacher REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE VVillage Farms cheapest market rate house would be $740,000, up to $1,300,000 which most local workers and families with young children CANNOT AFFORD. So, how would this help schools?It would bring over 15,000 more car trips DAILY near Covell Blvd. and Pole Line Road causing gridlock and Level of Service “F.” The developer is not responsible for building the affordable housing, except potentially 100 units in the last phase of the project. Does this seem like a good plan?Track record matters! This developer HAS NOT built his Nishi housing project after 7 years.Village Farms is county land, NOT INFILL (City of Davis General Plan.)Village Farms has TOXICS including carcinogenic PFAS “forever chemicals” leaking from adjacent unlined Old Davis Landfill and Sewage Treatment Plant, potentially contaminating Channel A, habitat and waterways to Sacramento River. Who wants to risk toxics exposure to their family or the environment? Why are Davis residents asked to vote on Village Farms without a verified flood control plan, potentially exposing Davis to FLOODING RISKS due to the 200-acre floodplain and rerouting Channel A? Village Farms was fast-tracked, prioritizing this developer’s desire for the June ballot, a project with serious impacts, unresolved problems, infrastructure costs, and potential liability to Davis long-term.Davis has a certified Housing Element until 2030. There is no rush to approve Village Farms now. There are better alternatives like the “reduced footprint” alternative below Channel A, with significantly less impacts. Davis CANNOT AFFORD the liability of Village Farms flooding and toxics exposure risks. Vote No on Measure V!NoOnMeasureV.org/s/ Marjorie LongoProfessor of Chemical Engineering, Emeritus/s/ Robert MarrFormer Yolo Land Trust Board Member/s/ Nicholas PinterProfessor of Geology/s/ Dapo OkupeRetired Cal Trans Senior Transportation Engineer/s/ Michael ReynoldsPhysician REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE VIn Davis, a very small, vocal group of nearby residents will try anything to stop new families from moving into their backyard – throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. None of it does.Here are the facts from Village Farms Davis’ independently reviewed Environmental Impact Report, a 5,000+ page analysis that was fully vetted and unanimously certified:Highest Standard of Flood Protection:Village Farms Davis is engineered to California’s most rigorous 200-year flood protection standards, more flood-resilient than almost anywhere in Davis. FEMA-certified; no flood insurance required.Largest Affordable Housing Contribution in Davis History:16 acres plus $6,000,000 toward construction is by a wide margin the most generous affordable housing contribution in Davis history — 360 units serving very low to moderate income households far exceeds requirements. Additionally, over 70% of market-rate homes will be townhomes, half-plexes, and smaller homes, making homeownership possible for younger families with modest incomes.Safe Living:All organic contaminants identified decades ago are now completely gone. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board determined there is “no risk” to future residents.Transportation Improvements:Village Farms Davis is required to improve transportation and bicycle/pedestrian safety. Measure V provides millions for improvements citywide — including traffic signal coordination. Furthermore, housing for tens of thousands of daily commuters to UCD means fewer cars on roads.Completes Davis Bike Loop:Two bike/pedestrian crossings connecting Northstar Park to Wildhorse cannot be removed without another public vote.Village Farms Davis is smart community planning — at the right time, in the best location, by trusted locals. Check the facts: VillageFarmsDavis.com/Myths&FactsVote Yes on Measure V/s/ Hiram JacksonDJUSD School Board President/s/ Alan PryorFormer City of Davis Natural Resources Commissioner/s/ Heather CaswellSmall Business Owner/s/ Patrick HuberConservation Scientist/s/ Helen M. ThomsonFormer California Assembly Member For the FULL TEXT OF THE MEASURE go to https://ace.yolocounty.gov/417/Measure-V---City-of-Davis#taba0faf1e2-78f2-4b90-b53e-42e4d1bf1b63_0 https://ace.yolocounty.gov/417/Measure-V---City-of-Davis
