The Voter Information Guide for Brentwood’s measure L was mailed out in late September. It contains an impartial analysis and arguments in favor and against.

If you did not receive your voter information guide, you can read the statements here: https://www.cocovote.us/measure-l-city-of-brentwood/

If building more houses could fix our problems, Brentwood would have no problems.

Rebuttal to the Argument in Favor of Measure L

Measure Wording

Shall the Initiative to Allow for Development of Residential Dwellings and Commercial/Civic Uses, and the Protection of Open Space, by amending the Urban Limit Line, the Brentwood General Plan, and Municipal Code; Adopting a New Specific Plan; Constructing Road Improvements; and Providing Funds for Public Facilities be adopted?

City Attorney’s Impartial Analysis of Measure L

This Measure concerns approximately 815 acres (the Area) located on Brentwood’s western border, bounded by Balfour Road, Deer Valley Road, the City of Antioch, and the Shadow Lakes development. The Measure qualified for the ballot by a petition signed by the requisite number of voters and which would require majority voter approval to become law. It would:

• modify the City’s Urban Limit Line, which marks the City’s development limits, to include the Area;
• amend the City’s General Plan, the framework for City development, to reflect the Measure’s provisions;
• adopt a specific plan to govern Area development; and
• amend the Brentwood Municipal Code, containing City laws, to establish Area development and use standards.

In the Area’s residential portion (approximately 555 acres), up to 2,400 housing units could be constructed, of which at least 80% would be age-restricted (generally, 55 and over). No more than 20% of the residential units could be developed with non-age-restricted housing. Housing would range from single family homes (1-18 units per acre) to multifamily development (up to 30 units per acre). Overall Area density could not exceed 3 units per acre. All multifamily development would be age-restricted, and would be prohibited on hilltops, ridges, and within 100 feet of the Area’s eastern boundary.

Community recreation uses (approximately 15 acres) could include gathering areas and recreational features.

No less than 225 acres would be permanently designated open space and could include agriculture and associated facilities.

Commercial/civic development would generally be limited to approximately 20 acres at the Area’s southwestern corner, and could include agricultural and farm-to-table uses, outdoor amphitheater, wineries, hotel uses, and nurseries. Residential development could also be located here. Senior care facilities would be permitted by right as a commercial use in the Area’s commercial and residential portions, and would not be included in the housing cap.

American Avenue would be extended to intersect Balfour Road at a second location. Portions of Balfour Road would be improved and widened, in phases. Area development would generate transportation impact fees. While the Measure proposes such fees be spent on Deer Valley Road safety improvements, the City does not exercise control over that roadway and could not require such expenditures. Other fees would be imposed on Area development for such purposes as schools; parks; and fire, drainage, flood control, water, and sewer facilities.

A report ordered by the City Council to study the Measure’s impacts found that, over time, it could:

• provide the City with impact fees to address municipal services necessitated by Area development, plus an annual surplus of $2.6-$3.1 million;
• provide the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District with $2-$2.5 million in new operating revenues annually, while also necessitating additional fire services;
• generate approximately 300 additional students, thus contributing to capacity issues at local schools; and
• potentially positively impact the local economy through increased local spending.

Area development would require approval of other agencies. Amending the Measure would require voter approval for 20 years, following its effective date; thereafter, the City Council could approve modifications as allowed by law.

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure L. If you desire a copy of the Measure, please call the City Clerk’s office at (925) 516-5440 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you or go to http://www.brentwoodca.gov for a complete copy of the Measure.

Argument Against Measure L

Influential developers who crafted Measure L are trying to sell their plan to Brentwood – don’t buy it. It breaks Brentwood’s voter-approved Urban Limit Line to construct 2,400 houses we don’t need on 815 acres of dry-farmed agricultural land. That’s why thousands of Brentwood residents and groups like Greenbelt Alliance, the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, Carpenters Local Union 152, and other organizations oppose Measure L.

Measure L is a LOSING PROPOSITION because:

• Worsens Fire/EMS deficits. Our services are severely underfunded. Emergency response can take 8 minutes in Brentwood instead of the 3-5 stipulated in our General Plan. Insurance rates are up 198.2% since 2014. This development adds 11.6% service territory putting even more residents and homes at risk.
• Increases traffic. This project adds 14,970 daily car trips without sufficient road safety improvements, especially to Deer Valley Road. Seven Brentwood intersections become worse, and the CHP is concerned this development will increase accidents and impede their ability to respond to emergencies.
• Impacts Schools. This project puts both districts further over capacity, currently 1,313 students for high schools and 790 for K-5. Superintendents say extending American Avenue will not help the school traffic as there is no reduction in the number of daily vehicles to the schools.
• Measure L adds thousands of houses, while 88% of Brentwood residents already commute out of town to major job centers creating untenable traffic on Vasco Road and Highway 4. We need to concentrate on bringing viable jobs to Brentwood before further expansion.
• Removes Local Control. Measure L overrides Brentwood’s General Plan and stifles the ability of residents and City government to require changes to their project.
• Creates irreversible environmental damage. Acres of farmland will be lost forever; construction will lead to 20 years of constant noise and diminished air quality.

Our Urban Limit Line is our DEFENSE against unjustified sprawl, additional traffic, lost farmland and developer control. VOTE NO ON MEASURE L! www.AllianceforaBetterBrentwood.org

Kathy Griffin, Principal Officer, Brentwood Alliance for Smart Growth, Traffic Abatement, Jobs Creation and Land Protection
Rod Flohr, Brentwood Resident
John R. Pock, Lead Field Representative, Carpenters Local Union 152 and Brentwood Resident
Jovita Mendoza, Brentwood Resident
John Fink, Former Brentwood Planning Commissioner

Rebuttal to the Argument in Favor of Measure L

Before you believe promises from developers eager to build another housing project in Brentwood, remember these are the same promises they always make. Are roads less crowded because of the improvements? No. Has fire and emergency funding kept up? No. Have schools become less crowded? No. Have enough local jobs been created to keep our 88% who commute off the freeways? No. Is there more open space? Of course not.

The proponents claim millions in benefits not paid by taxpayers, but they would be paid for by the new residents, all taxpayers, who will pay for all the developer fees in the price of their homes, and who will pay new taxes as well. Yes, that includes taxes for fire and emergency service, but not enough to cover the added burden.

Senior housing contributes only a sixth of conventional developer fees for schools. Brentwood’s state-mandated LCFF funding formula is based on school attendance. Homes without students won’t help with that.

Save Mount Diablo wants to trade away 815 acres here that doesn’t belong to them for 1,500 acres near Clayton. They offered this trade with no thought of our increased traffic, slow fire/EMS response, and school crowding. Greenbelt Alliance and Sierra Club agree this is a bad deal for Brentwood and the environment. Brentwood and 10,000 Antioch voters will continue, and are united in upholding our ULL’s and preserving open space.

If building more houses could fix our problems, Brentwood would have no problems.

Please vote NO on Measure L.

Kathy Griffin, Principal Officer, Brentwood Alliance for Smart Growth, Traffic Abatement, Jobs Creation and Land Protection
Rod Flohr, Brentwood Resident
John R. Pock, Lead Organizer, Carpenters Local Union 152 and Brentwood Resident
Sinziana Todor, Brentwood Resident
John Sierra, Environmental Science Teacher, Freedom High School, Sierra Club Representative and Brentwood Resident