What Are Urban Growth Boundaries and Why Do We Need Them?
An urban growth boundary (UGB) separates urban areas from the surrounding natural and agricultural lands, or greenbelts. It puts a limit on city expansion.
Climate-Smart Solutions for Solano County
With the arrival of our newest staff member Kevin Riley, Greenbelt Alliance is excited to continue our work in Solano County, one of the largest jurisdictions across the Bay Area. Since 2017, we’ve been using our downtown Fairfield office to work closely with our Solano County partners. This work includes continuing to build on the educational outreach for both local residents and their elected leaders and incorporating powerful messages around the importance of… Read More
City of Sonoma Ready to Renew Urban Growth Boundary
The City of Sonoma is moving forward to renew its existing Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) for another 20 years! This is great news for open space, agricultural lands, and climate-wise city-centered growth. After a robust discussion and hearing from a crowd who care deeply about the community and environment, city leaders agreed unanimously to ask voters to renew the UGB with a ballot measure in the November 2020 election. Next steps will… Read More
Renew the City of Sonoma’s Urban Growth Boundary
Help us tell Sonoma City Council that they must give voters the chance to renew the urban growth boundary that has protected open space and farmland around the city for 20 years!
Voters Protect Natural Lands & Choose Smart Growth For A More Resilient Bay Area
On November 5, 2019, people across the Bay Area made their priorities clear—climate-smart growth that preserves open space lands is the future we choose.
Brentwood Says No to Sprawl by Voting No on Measure L
Brentwood residents stood up against sprawl development by voting no on Measure L. This is a win for the East Bay’s natural and agricultural lands as well as for climate-smart cities. Measure L would have broken the city’s voter-approved Urban Limit Line that provides a clear boundary for major development.
Rohnert Park Votes YES on Measure B to Renew the UGB
The people of Rohnert Park chose to renew the city’s Urban Growth Boundary by an outstanding 90%. This is a huge win for open space in the North Bay, setting a precedent for other Bay Area cities to grow in a climate-smart way—within city boundaries and not on precious open space lands.
City of Sonoma—Back to the Future—1999?
In the city of Sonoma, it feels like some folks are going back to the future, or simply back to about 1999. Back then, the city of Sonoma was among the nine cities in Sonoma County that were fighting sprawl by voting in the first urban growth boundaries. Greenbelt Alliance partnered with the community to gather signatures and put the measure on the ballot, which passed with a 64% majority. Now the… Read More
Renewing Rohnert Park’s UGB with Measure B
Special Election November 5, 2019 The city of Rohnert Park is on its way to renewing its voter-approved urban growth boundary for another 20 years in a special election on Nov. 5, 2019. Get the specifics of the measure here. Greenbelt Alliance partnered with the City Council and staff to develop the UGB renewal Measure B to protect open space and prevent sprawl in this growing city that lies within the heart… Read More
Land Conservation & Smart Growth Work Together in Sonoma County
Written by Sonoma County Ag + Open Space Land conservation and compact, city-centered growth work together to protect Sonoma County’s working and natural lands from urban sprawl while continuing to maintain the many benefits of these lands such as local food, scenic views, greenbelts and community separators, parks and trails, clean abundant drinking water, and habitat for wildlife. Sonoma County cities and communities maintain their small-town character because of the open spaces… Read More