Open Space Archives

San José Protects Coyote Valley from Industrial Development

For decades, Greenbelt Alliance and partners have fought to protect Coyote Valley from inappropriate development threats—from technology campuses to sprawling subdivisions. This time, the San José’s City Council held a crucial vote to decide on making General Plan amendments that would protect Coyote Valley by removing industrial land-use designation and rezoning it for open space …

San José Protects Coyote Valley from Industrial Development Read More »

Tesla Park Protected From OHV Expansion

After two decades of advocacy efforts, the site known as Tesla Park in eastern Alameda County will finally be protected. In early September, Governor Gavin Newsom, the Legislature, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation reached a $31 million agreement to protect the Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area from off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation on the land. …

Tesla Park Protected From OHV Expansion Read More »

Critical Milestone for Napa Greenbelts

The 80-acre Napa Oaks lands and 195 acres in nearby Brown’s Valley and Timberhill are now newly designated as greenbelts in the draft updated General Plan land use maps. That’s a total of 275 acres that will be preserved in perpetuity to reduce wildfire risk, provide open space, protect trees and habitat, and increase overall …

Critical Milestone for Napa Greenbelts Read More »

Sonoma Vital Lands Initiative Adopted

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the Vital Lands Initiative. The Vital Lands Initiative is a comprehensive plan that will guide the work of the Ag + Open Space District for the next 10 years. Building on nearly 30 years of successful land conservation work, the initiative outlines strategies for protecting vital open …

Sonoma Vital Lands Initiative Adopted Read More »

Measure T Passed: Santa Clara Open Space Authority Trails & Acquisition Funding

Santa Clara County passed Measure T, allowing the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority to expand its legacy of protecting thousands of acres of open space that provide resources for people around the region. Learn more about the Measure T campaign here.

Resort Denied in Protected Sonoma County Greenbelt

In a unanimous 4 – 0 vote, a luxury resort and event center proposed to be built at 3890 Old Redwood Highway in the heart of the key Windsor-Larkfield-Santa Rosa Community Separator was denied by the Sonoma County Board of Zoning Adjustments. Learn more about the protection of this community separator here.

Historic Deal Permanently Protects Land in Coyote Valley

When it comes to open space, you often need to save it over and over again. Case in point is Coyote Valley, an expanse of 7,400 acres of greenbelt lands between San Jose and Morgan Hill on the edge of a dense urban landscape. The lands are home to lush farmland and a vast open …

Historic Deal Permanently Protects Land in Coyote Valley Read More »

Measure L Denied: Brentwood Farm Lands Protected

More precious agricultural land was spared from development when we won No on L in Brentwood in the November 2019 Election. Critical open space land was at risk of being lost to sprawl development just outside the city of Brentwood in eastern Contra Costa County, but Greenbelt Alliance stood with Brentwood residents and partner organizations …

Measure L Denied: Brentwood Farm Lands Protected Read More »

Concord Naval Weapons Station Land to Become a Park

For over a decade Greenbelt Alliance has worked to protect 2,200 acres of the East Bay’s former Concord Naval Weapons Station—an area double the size of Golden Gate Park. On July 2, the U.S. Navy finally transferred the land to the East Bay Regional Park District to make it official. The new park that will …

Concord Naval Weapons Station Land to Become a Park Read More »

Protecting 1,200 Acres of Agricultural & Natural Lands in Antioch

Greenbelt Alliance celebrated a big win when the Antioch City Council voted to protect 1,200 acres of natural and agricultural lands, which had long been in the crosshairs for sprawl development. The protected lands in the foothills of Mount Diablo are in an area called Sand Creek. Known for its well-loved walking routes and scenic …

Protecting 1,200 Acres of Agricultural & Natural Lands in Antioch Read More »

Measure T Passed: Coyote Valley Land Acquisition Funding

The residents of San Jose voted yes on Measure T, resulting in $50 million to fund conservation and restoration efforts in Coyote Valley, vital open space land that Greenbelt Alliance, along with many partners, has been fighting to protect for decades. Greenbelt Alliance spearheaded the Measure T campaign, educating the community on the natural benefits …

Measure T Passed: Coyote Valley Land Acquisition Funding Read More »

Measure C Passed: Improving Coyote Valley Protections + Measure B Denied: Preventing Sprawl Development

Funded by two billionaires, the 367-page Evergreen Initiative would have rewritten local rules to facilitate sprawl development across the city. It posed a major threat to thousands of acres of open space across San Jose, including the iconic Coyote Valley—a lynchpin landscape at the city’s southern edge that connects the Mount Hamilton Range with the …

Measure C Passed: Improving Coyote Valley Protections + Measure B Denied: Preventing Sprawl Development Read More »

Antioch Scraps Sand Creek Plan Defeating Sprawl Development

For the second time in 13 years, Greenbelt Alliance and our partners defeated Antioch’s sprawl plan for the Sand Creek Focus Area, a vital step toward our ultimate goal of long-term protection for the area. The Sand Creek Focus Area plan was one of the largest sprawl development proposals in the entire 9-county Bay Area …

Antioch Scraps Sand Creek Plan Defeating Sprawl Development Read More »

Morgan Hill Farmland Protection of 236 Acres

Greenbelt Alliance and the community of Morgan Hill achieved a huge win for agriculture to protect 236 acres of farmland when the Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) struck down the City of Morgan Hill’s proposal to expand its boundaries and annex an area known as the Southeast Quadrant. Learn more about this …

Morgan Hill Farmland Protection of 236 Acres Read More »

Big Win for Open Space: Priority Conservation Areas Expanded

2015 was a big year for open space protection in the Bay Area. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) voted to expand the region’s Priority Conservation Area (PCA) Program significantly. Priority Conservation Areas are exactly what they sound like: natural areas, recreation lands, farms, ranches, and urban open spaces that should be protected from …

Big Win for Open Space: Priority Conservation Areas Expanded Read More »