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Press Release

February 3, 2005

Contact:
David Reid, East Bay Field Representative, 925-932-7776, cell 510-289-9028
Bob Baltzer, Friends of Livermore, 925-447-8910

Livermore Trails Proposal Blasted as Sprawl in Sheep's Clothing

Subheading

Livermore—A developer's plan to turn 1400 acres of rolling hills north of Livermore into a 2,450-home subdivision is a sprawl development disguised as "green building," according to Greenbelt Alliance. The open space protection group announced today that they would oppose the developer's initiative to move the city's recently adopted Urban Growth Boundary and alter the city's General Plan.

"This development is sprawl, plain and simple: it would pave open space, increase traffic and air pollution, and waste land. A sprawl development full of green buildings is still a sprawl development," said David Reid, Greenbelt Alliance's East Bay Field Representative. "This is an example of a disturbing trend of developers manipulating the initiative process to get around laws they don't like."

The initiative is being circulated by Pardee Homes to expand the growth boundary to allow the developer to build outside the boundary, in the North Livermore area. The initiative changes existing requirements for ecological restoration, hillside protection, scenic corridor protection, and limits on traffic congestion. Friends of Livermore, a local citizens group, also opposes the initiative. The Friends of Livermore group circulated the petition to establish the Urban Growth Boundary in 2002.

Pardee Homes, a subsidiary of Weyerhauser, Inc., touts the proposal as smart growth infill development. Reid disputes the designation, noting the low overall density, the lack of a real mix of jobs, shops, and homes, and questions about the viability of the proposed transit system. "This development is absolutely not infill. Not only is it not in an urbanized area, it's not even inside the city—it's out on open space. There is plenty of available land in town; that's where the development should go."

The proposed development would surround the Alkali Grasslands, a threatened ecosysyem which is home to an endangered plant species, the palmated birdsbeak. Of the entire world population of this rare plant, 18% lies in the area proposed for development. While the developers would be prevented from building in the habitat area, the surrounding development could change conditions enough to wipe out the population.

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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