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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

December 9, 2004

Lagoon Valley project faces long road

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"If all goes well, we'd certainly like to get some work started in 2005," said Curt Johansen of Seattle-based Triad Communities.

But it could take longer for the city and developer to go through all the necessary steps, city planner Scott Sexton said.

An agreement among Vacaville, Triad and the Greenbelt Alliance approved Tuesday by the City Council sets the framework for the project. It potentially ends a 15-year dispute over whether Lagoon Valley should be developed.

That is only a beginning.

Next, the Planning Commission and City Council must approve such details as how the homes will look and where the streets will go. Public hearings could begin in February 2005.

Triad must also work with the state Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Wildlife Service on environmental issues, Sexton said.

Meanwhile, the project might face further opposition. While the Greenbelt Alliance has agreed not to oppose the Triad project, the grassroots Friends of Lagoon Valley could still fight it.

Friends of Lagoon Valley will hold a strategy meeting Tuesday, said Marian Conning of the group. It may need more time to decide what to do, she said.

"I don't think we'll come out of that with one voice ready to march arm-in-arm down to city hall," Conning said.

She believes the group has options if it wants to stop the project. Among them is doing a referendum on future City Council decisions regarding the development, putting them on the ballot.

"I don't want to threaten that," Conning said. "I don't want to suggest it's a foregone conclusion we would do that."

Some people have suggested recalling council members in light of the recent Lagoon Valley agreement. But Conning doesn't want to go that route.

"It wouldn't solve anything, it would just vent spleen and I don't think it would succeed," Conning said. "I won't participate in anything like that."

Yet another option is filing a lawsuit saying that certain milestones required by the early 1990s Lagoon Valley development agreement haven't been met, she said.

For now, Triad has the right to pursue the development outlined in the agreement among itself, city and the Greenbelt Alliance.

Triad proposes to build up to 1,025 residences, of which 100 will be senior dwellings. Seventy-five will be affordable to households earning 80 percent to 120 percent of the median income. The median family income for the area is $60,754 annually, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

The company will also build an 18-hole golf course, a business village and up to 700,000 square feet of offices. It will pay $3 million for a Lagoon Valley fire station and equipment. It dropped earlier plans for a school in Lagoon Valley.

Triad is to pay $4.5 million to improve Lagoon Valley park. It is to build a 9-acre park with sports field inside the development.

In return, Vacaville will give Triad a $2.8 million credit for park developer fees that could have paid for parks in other parts of town.

Triad is also to give Vacaville 71 acres for open space. Triad can use as much of the area as needed for wetlands and habitat preservation required by environmental laws for the development. The land could become part of Lagoon Valley park.

Seventeen acres is to be available for a church. The First Baptist Church in Vacaville wants to build in Lagoon Valley.

Triad is also to help the Greenbelt Alliance on a ballot initiative to establish what is in essence a 20-year Vacaville growth boundary. If the attempt fails, it is to protect 1,400 acres of open space near the city.

Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646 Ext. 232 or beberling@dailyrepublic.net.

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