Measure P: The Official Story

Any analysis of a voter issue should begin with the ballot language of the measure and the impartial analysis offered in the Voter Guide.  This guide is mailed to each registered voter and available online at the Yolo County Office of Elections website and reprinted, in part, below.

Important dates to note:

Monday, October 19: Last day to register to vote for this election.  You’ll find information on how to do so here. Not sure whether you’re registered?  Check here.

Tuesday, October 27: Last day to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot by mail.  Find out how to do so here.

Tuesday, November 3: Election Day. Vote-by-mail ballots must be received at the Yolo County Elections Office or any polling place in Yolo County by 8:00 pm.  Postmarks do not count.  If voting in person, polls open at 7:00 am and close at 8:00 pm.  Your polling place for this election may be different from the polling place you went for your last election.  Check the back of your Voter Guide for location or check here.

Ballot Text of Measure P

The Davis City Council voted to place this issue on the November ballot at their July 28, 2009 meeting.  You can view that archived meeting online.

Shall Resolution No. 09-132, amending the Davis General Plan to change the land use designations for the Wildhorse Ranch property from agricultural to residential uses, as set forth in the Resolution and establishing the Base Line Project Features for development of the Wildhorse Ranch Project be approved?

After the jump, find the Full Text of Resolution 09-132.

Full Text of Resolution 09-132

RESOLUTION NO. 09-132, SERIES 2009

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DAVIS AMENDING THE GENERAL PLAN TO RE-DESIGNATE THE “WILDHORSE RANCH” PROPERTY FROM AGRICULTURE TO FIVE LAND USE DESIGNATIONS OF RESIDENTIAL HIGH DENSITY, RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY, NEIGHBORHOOD GREENBELT, NATURAL HABITAT AREA, AND URBAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION AREA AND
ESTABLISH THE BASELINE PROJECT FEATURES SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE VOTERS

WHEREAS, the City of Davis has visions to foster a safe, sustainable, healthy, diverse and stimulating environment for all in the community; maintain Davis as a cohesive, compact, university-oriented city surrounded by and containing farmland, greenbelts, natural habitats and natural resources; and preserve and create an array of distinct neighborhoods so that all residents can identify a neighborhood that is “home” for them.

WHEREAS; the City Council has established goals of providing slow steady additions to the housing stock and providing housing for people who live/work in Davis; and

WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on July 8, 2009 to receive comments and consider the proposed amendment; and

WHEREAS, the City Council held a public hearing on July 28, 2009 to receive comments and consider the proposed amendment; and

WHEREAS, Environmental Impact Report SCH #2007072020 adequately assesses the impacts of this General Plan Amendment; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DAVIS: Section 1 – Land Use Map. The City of Davis General Plan Land Use Map (Figures 11a and 11b) are hereby amended with the change of the “Wildhorse Ranch” property from a designation of “Agriculture” to the following land use designations: Residential High Density, Residential Medium Density, Neighborhood Greenbelt, Natural Habitat Area, and Urban Agricultural Transition Area, as shown in the map, Exhibit A, to this resolution.

Section 2 – Baseline Project Features. The Baseline Project Features for the applications, as established by Ordinance 2008, are included as Exhibit B to this Resolution.

Section 3 – Effective Date. This Amendment shall not be effective unless and until the action is ratifi ed by the voters in a “Measure J” election, as specifi ed in City of Davis Ordinance 2008, the Citizen’s Right to Vote on Future Use of Open Space and Agricultural Lands Ordinance.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Davis this 28th day of July, 2009, by the following vote:

AYES: Heystek, Saylor, Asmundson
NOES: Greenwald, Souza

Ruth Uy Asmundson, Ph. D.
Mayor

ATTEST:
Zoe S. Mirabile, CMC
City Clerk

Exhibits

A. General Plan Land Use Map
B. Measure J Features

City of Davis Attorney’s Impartial Analysis of Measure P

If approved by a majority of the voters voting, Measure P would amend the Davis General Plan to change the land use designation on the Wildhorse Ranch property from agricultural to urban residential uses. The Measure would establish Wildhorse Ranch “Baseline Project Features,” that would govern project development.

In 2000, Davis voters approved “Measure J,” which requires voter approval of any amendment to the City’s General Plan that changes the land use designation of a property from agricultural or open space to urban land uses.  It also requires that the voters approve baseline project features that cannot be changed without voter approval.

Wildhorse Ranch is a 25.8-acre project located within the City adjacent to the existing Wildhorse project, north of Mace Boulevard. In 1994, in the Wildhorse project approvals, the Wildhorse Ranch property retained its Agricultural designation and continued in use as a horse ranch. If approved by the voters, Measure P would approve changing the land use designation to urban uses, providing, in summary, that the Project cannot exceed 191 dwelling units and cannot be less than 174 units. There would be up to 73 single family units, up to 78 townhomes and up to 40 apartments of which 38 apartment units must be affordable to very low and low income households. It would be developed in substantial conformity with the Baseline Project Features.

The Baseline Project Features are set forth in Measure P in full. They include, but are not limited to:

Development in accordance with the General Plan Amendment;

Specific housing types, locations, and affordability requirements;

Not less than 38 affordable units, all of which must be fully ADA accessible;

Specified public and private open space, greenbelt and habitat requirements;

Greenhouse Gas Emissions reductions on site of 90% below the City’s Resolution 09-043 base line;

Dedication of 2.26 acres to the City to the Urban Agricultural Transition Area;

Dedication of 1.61 acres of Greenbelt to the City to provide a connection from the existing neighborhood on the west through the Project to the Agricultural Transition Area on the east;

A Community Facilities District to provide $300 per year per market rate unit, adjusted 3% per year, to provide additional funding for City police and fi re services;

Dedication of fee title or easements to the City on 50 acres for agricultural preservation;

Dedication of 15.5 acres for Swainson’s Hawk foraging habitat through purchase of conservation easements or payment of mitigation fee; and

Payment of impact fees to the City, School District and County.

Measure J will be submitted to the voters for renewal before December 2010. However, unless expressly modified or repealed by the voters, Measure P will remain in effect for the Wildhorse Ranch project even if Measure J is not renewed, meaning that the Baseline Project Features cannot be changed before the project is fully built out, without a further vote of the voters. After build out, the project would be subject to City ordinances and regulations, including the City’s General Plan and zoning.

/s/ Harriet Steiner
Davis City Attorney

Future Davis Voice posts will include ballot arguments for and against the measure, and rebuttals to those arguments.