MEASURE X

The voters had a number of reasons for rejecting the proposed Covell Village development and Measure X, including concerns about the size and density of the development itself, the traffic and environmental impacts of the proposed development, the marketing style of the campaign, and the process.

I supported Measure X when the project was proposed for 900 units, but I voted against it when it was doubled to 1,800 units because the size was too intensive for the existing infrastructure.

• Traffic Impacts. The Environmental Impact Report identified significant and unavoidable adverse traffic impacts from the Covell Village development. The additional traffic impacts on Pole Line and Covell from the Covell Village development would have had too much of an adverse impact on the quality of life in Davis, particularly in light of the significant traffic impacts that are already anticipated to occur on Pole Line from the Spring Lake development.

• Environmental Impacts. As a member of the Natural Resources Commission, I evaluated a wide range of environmental impacts of the proposed development, and made a number of recommendations to the City Council to reduce the impacts, including reducing the size and design of the developed areas, using permeable paving material to reduce run off, using integrated pest management techniques, developing a system for using recycled water to reduce water use, and habitat improvement. http://www.ci.davis.ca.us/meetings/natural/032805min.pdf

Nevertheless, many reasonable people voted in favor of Measure X because of legitimate concerns over issues of:

• Affordable housing and a predictable housing stock;
• Public safety and the need for another fire station;
• Fiscal stability; and
• Bike path connectivity.

These continue to be significant issues that we must address.

MEASURE J

I strongly support Measure J and I support its renewal. Measure J requires voter approval of any conversion of agricultural lands or open space into an urban designation, and a citizen vote on the undeveloped lands known as Covell Center (also known as Covell Village ) and Nishi Properties. It requires a grassroots-up approach to major developments. I believe that Measure J worked just as it was designed to work in the case of Covell Village. Renewing Measure J will continue to ensure that projects that would change the boundaries of the city or would result in the conversion of agricultural land can only be approved with broad citizen support.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

As an environmental attorney for the State Water Resources Control Board, I bring to the City Council a clear understanding of the potential adverse impacts of development projects, and the innovative methods that are being used across the county to address may of these impacts. When I am elected to the Davis City Council, I’ll help to ensure that future development projects contribute positively to the quality of life in Davis ; employ the best environmentally sensitive practices, including green building construction, solar power, and water conservation; and be of appropriate size and density.