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Press Release

July 9, 2004

Contact:
Brent Schoradt, Solano-Napa Field Representative 707-427-2308

Greenbelt Alliance Files Legal Challenge to Lagoon Valley Development

Subheading

Vacaville—Greenbelt Alliance has filed a lawsuit against the City of Vacaville to challenge the Lower Lagoon Valley development proposal approved by Vacaville City Council votes on June 8th and June 22nd.

Triad's proposed development exemplifies the sprawling type of development that Greenbelt Alliance is dedicated to stopping. If built, the proposed development would place over 1,300 luxury homes, a golf course and one million square feet of commercial space in one of the last remaining open valleys between Sacramento and San Francisco along Interstate 80. Lagoon Valley's isolation from the rest of Vacaville will require the estimated 4,000 future Lagoon Valley residents to drive on unimproved County roads and overcrowded Interstate 80 almost every time they leave home.

"Greenbelt Alliance felt it was necessary to take this step because, unchecked, the City of Vacaville's action will pave over Vacaville's most notable open space, clog local roads, and increase development pressure in Upper Lagoon Valley along Pleasants Valley Road," says Brent Schoradt, Solano County Representative for Greenbelt Alliance.

The unmitigated traffic impacts of the proposed development will be central to Greenbelt Alliance's legal challenge. Brent Schoradt says, "The City and Triad are passing the buck onto other jurisdictions and the public by not mitigating the enormous traffic impacts this project will generate. We are convinced that the City has violated the California Environmental Quality Act as well as the California State Planning and Zoning Law."

In addition to traffic, Greenbelt Alliance's legal challenge asserts that the City of Vacaville failed to abide by land use planning requirements and inadequately analyzed the projects' impacts on natural resources, agricultural land and air quality. Brent Schoradt says that filing the lawsuit "complements the local referendum effort to overturn the City's approval of the Lagoon Valley development."

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For 50 years, Greenbelt Alliance has been the San Francisco Bay Area's advocate for open spaces and vibrant places, with offices in San Francisco, San Jose, Walnut Creek, Fairfield, and Santa Rosa. www.greenbelt.org