By Tony Hicks – The Contra Costa County Supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday to approve the Tassajara Parks development, bringing 125 homes to 30 acres east of Blackhawk, moving the urban limit line and keeping developers’ hands off a huge swath of Tassajara Valley.
Supervisor Candace Andersen, whose District 2 includes Danville – which officially opposes the project – was the only board member to dissent.
Local officials were out in force speaking on either side of the issue during two hours of public comment. Representatives from the city of San Ramon, East Bay Regional Park District – the beneficiary of 727 acres of the project site – Save Mount Diablo and others, supported the project. As did the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, which will receive seven acres of land in the deal, for a training facility.
Lining up against the development were representatives of East Bay Municipal Utility District – whose board formally said on June 8 it does not have adequate water for project – the Sierra Club, the town of Danville, former county Supervisor Donna Gerber, and others. The county’s own planning commission also recommended the supervisors deny the project.
Supervisor John Gioia, a former EBMUD board member, said he understood the water issues, but approval means what is likely the largest land donation, at least as far as ratio of preserved to developed acreage, in county history: 24 acres to 1.
“To me, what this really comes down to is can we put a stop to the decades-long battle to develop the Tassajara Valley in a significant way,” Gioia said.
“It seems like it is in the public’s interest to approve development on five percent of the property, with nearly 95 percent dedicated to the park district,” said Gioia, who district includes West Contra Costa County. “If we did not approve this, there would be continued development pressures in the valley.”
Danville says the environmental impact report isn’t adequate and the town wasn’t included in the process. Andersen, a former member of the Danville Town Council, said she would prefer that voters decide whether to move the urban limit line.
“I also have very, very strong reservations about certifying an EIR when we do not have water,” Andersen said.
Instead of offering 15 percent of the units for lower-income housing, as mandated by state law, developer FT Land LLC will pay the county $484,000 so affordable housing can be built elsewhere in the county.
Gioia asked the board to impose a few more conditions on the project, including the county refusing to issue building permits for the project if EBMUD has declared a water emergency requiring 20 percent conservation from customers. Currently, EBMUD is asking customers to conserve at least 10 percent. Gioia also asked the developer to build homes that run only on electricity rather than natural gas.
Last month, EBMUD’s board officially declared “the district has not planned to serve the project and does not have adequate water supplies to support the proposed annexation of the project into the district’s service area.”
Instead, the developer would fund off-site, accelerated conservation measures, to mitigate the water demand of the 375 people anticipated to live in the development. A county staff report says development can’t proceed without water agreements in place. Homeowners will face water limits as enforceable provisions of the project’s covenants, conditions and restrictions.
The residential area, which is limited to parcels north of Camino Tassajara, will also include a community park. Lot sizes will range between 5,000 and 12,744 square feet.
The project was bigger when first proposed in 2007, under the name New Farm. The scope has since shrunk from a planned 185 homes on both sides of Camino Tassajara, surrounded by working orchards and vineyards. That plan drew considerable opposition from environmentalists before being changed.
27 comments
It was a done deal BEFORE the vote.
… of course they approved it – they just want the $$ out of it from fees, taxes, etc… they could care less about infrastructure needed to support it …. water, traffic, power, schools, etc wake up Cali
Stop voting for these idiots!
We have flex alerts so let’s build electric homes only!
Gioia also asked the developer to build homes that run only on electricity rather than natural gas.
There ya go, exactly why I’m not cutting back our water usage at all!
Screw these idiots in California their agendas and not worrying what the consequences are from them all.
“Instead of offering 15 percent of the units for lower-income housing, as mandated by state law, developer FT Land LLC will pay the county $484,000 so affordable housing can be built elsewhere in the county.”
Ha ha ha ha ha. ‘Affordable housing’ is a little ritual libation poured out to the gods of PC. A little fig leaf to cover up the ‘indecency’ of wanting and paying for exclusivity.
“Instead of offering 15 percent of the units for lower-income housing, as mandated by state law, developer FT Land LLC will pay the county $484,000 so affordable housing can be built elsewhere in the county.”
State law, affordable house. Only when convenient. LOL!
And $484,000? $10 says this money never goes to “affordable housing”, whatever that means. Is there a special account this $484,000 goes to for “affordable housing”?
I guess the appropriate amount of silver crossed the appropriate palms.
The County will keep selling off small chunks of the Valley until it’s all homes and shopping.
They’ll worry about the water later.
It’s all about the money.
Sure they approved it they just lined there pockets with some more cash.
So John Gioia wants all the homes to be electric only. Add this to all electric cars, and with the flex alerts, brown outs, and just plain power outages, they will be able to sit home in the dark, as they will not be able to drive any where, as they can not charge their cars! One just can’t make this stuff u
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The Urban Limit Line gates are open! First in Pittsburg with the Seeno companies bribing the City of Pittsburg for their hillside development. Now we have the County Board disregarding the will of the voters who approved the limit line, and the advice of its Planning Commission.
When was the last time the Board denied a development permit? Does not fair well for saving the Seven Hills Ranch property in Walnut Creek.
Ma$$ive campaign donations are on the way!
I mean, if you are paying $485K instead of building affordable housing, what is that? 1 or 2 units? Of course they will take that option. Glad to see someone is at least thinking about water and infrastructure instead of just covering every square inch with high density ugly housing.
this is why and i have no idea why the people are for this and allow this and let it happen
Supervisor John Gioia, a former EBMUD board member, said he >>understood<>>but<<< when a dem says this …it equals
approval and means what is likely the largest land donation, at least as far as ratio of preserved to developed acreage, in county history: 24 acres to 1.
“To me, what this really comes down to is can we put a stop to the decades-long battle to develop the Tassajara Valley in a significant way,” Gioia said.
and there it is …..the board has to bend to unions over the peoples wishes and concerns
in other words after coming to meetings and placing many many obvious concerns
again the boards dont care about you or your concerns
they do what ever their backers want them to do (unions special interests political agendas )etc
the idiot voters who elect them
and allow them to rip the same voters off
by funneling money to unions that turn and send it back as donations
i have never been to a board meeting or hoa meeting directly involved with stopping stupidity from said entities
only to see them negate and deflect and do as they want
you have no rights and your shouting and concerns go into a void of dont care
you effectively give these people the right to rip you off and pay for the re elections while you foot the bill repeatedly
pat your back your being owned
with a direct concern as we are being slapped with more conserve water rhetoric
these tools move forward and directly push the narrative of conceding to their best interests and not yours
its too funny to watch people go through the motions every time
thinking the out come will change this time
and the boards and councils will listen
its like watching ants run from the water only to get torched
congrats your being used and are happy about it …well obviously
your on the hook for more taxes and higher water rates and pge and sanitation as well as looking like fools yet again
man where do i get a cushy job where i get money under the table
and tell people i can do what ever i want
and there is nothing they can do about it because they gave us the rights to their money and lives and children and homes and rights
sign me up to be a mini dictator
it looks like lots of fun
now get in line for gas ….tools
march
wow you cant make this stuff up its happening
you voters are sure showing yourselves to do real good….
come on man !
Will the public have access to those donated lands? Or will the neighborhood put up barriers to keep us away.
From KPIX5 this morning, a glimmer of hope:
“Supervisors said it will be up to the developer to identify a water supply before any construction can begin. Without it, the land may stay dry and open for a long time to come.”
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/07/13/tassajara-parks-subdivision-near-danville-approved-ebmud-water-questions/
The object of the Biden clan is to put multiple low income housing in and around single family homes. They will use federal money bribes to obtain that goal. So if your city is in love with federal dollars your neighborhood has had it. Please vote democrats out in 22. If they have a D by their name vote them out.
“Let them drink wine!”
I think they switched from wine to dope!
Does EBMUD have a requirement to provide water to every development approved or can it just say no, we will not allow any connection to our existing infrastructure? Its customers need to file a lawsuit to protect their water supply from overallocation, forcing the developer to consider digging wells and deal with permits from the State Water Resources Control Board.
Sounds like a Win Win Win situation here.
So how many tough sheds can the county buy with 484,000?
I am guessing about three after all the planning and studies.
Seems to me the basic math here would be more like :
484000×15=7,260,00.00
Those Urban Limit lines when determined were hotly debated, widely supported, agreed upon, and are practically sacred. A body such as the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors should not be able to change them at their discretion completely without public debate in an open forum. I’m appalled that this move is even legal, at this point. It sets a terrible “power grab” precedent. If they are allowed to get away with this it is pretty much “game on” and we can kiss any public input on future development outside Urban Limit lines “Goodbye.” Seeno’s and other’s dream of Clayton development reaching Antioch development all along Marsh Creek Road will be the reality, as well as every square inch of Contra Costa developed wall-to-wall.
Very hot topic and good responses that do not support the Board of Supervisors’ throwing out the publicly supported Urban Limit Line. It should be shot anyway because the Board has said the developer must find a water source before they begin. Cloud seeding?
This idea of payola instead of a measly 15% affordable housing (below market rate) sounds like a way around the housing problem. I wonder where that money goes, too.
democrats, never pass up a change to tax, because it means you can steal the rest
“the big guy always gets his 10%”
The original plan also included a cemetery. Guess that got nixed.
You would have to be pretty desperate to buy a home in that development. EBMUD says they won’t provide water. The developer supplies water? How long will that last? lol
And this gem:
“Homeowners will face water limits as enforceable provisions of the project’s covenants, conditions and restrictions.”
Err, that’s a no, dawg.
We all get the Government we deserve! Great job, everyone! You voted for these guys! Well done!!
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