SOLANO COUNTY — The Solano Land Trust said it has carefully weighed for months how it would respond to California Forever and its billionaire-backed effort to build a new city on Solano County farmland.
The board wanted to ensure that they all carefully examined their position and considered any potential impact on the environment. Ultimately, the Trust publicly announced its opposition to the East Solano Plan on Thursday.
“This community was very clearly built with the plan in mind to develop in our cities and protect the space between our cities for working farms and natural areas. That’s part of the quality of life here and the charm here,” Nicole said. Braddock, executive director of Solano Land Trust.
The trust permanently protects more than 25,000 hectares of nature reserves and agricultural land; including Jepson Prairie Preserve, King-Swett Ranches, Lynch Canyon, Rush Ranch and Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park.
Jepson Prairie Preserve borders land purchased by California Forever, where Braddock said part of the preserve’s ecosystem extends.
The trust believes that the environmental impact would be detrimental to the surrounding area.
“When you look at this area’s ability to grow food without water, it is one of the most water-efficient places to grow food in the state. You see this incredible habitat so close and part of the greater Jepson Prairie ecosystem and the fact that the Delta is so close. Right behind me is the Barker Slough pumping station where we pump water for the residents of Solano County. This is our drinking water,” Braddock said.
California Forever’s ballot measure, the East Solano Plan, needs support from local voters in November to rezone the 17,500 acres of Solano County farmland where they want to build a new city. The push is backed by a team of Silicon Valley tech billionaires.
Related | California Forever promises new investments in Solano County, a pushback on proposed urban growth
“Their strategy is to mislead voters into thinking this is a wasteland, but the land functions with such incredible value, from habitat to water replenishment to growing food,” Braddock said.
California Forever said in a statement to CBS13 about the Trust’s opposition:
“The East Solano plan will serve all of Solano County and is intentionally located on just 17,500 acres, safely away from the Jepson Prairie, Delta and Suisun Marsh. We envision a compact, sustainable community where there is no ecological habitat, on resource-poor areas. soils, at low fire risk, according to official state and county maps. Due to poor soils, the entire 17,500 acres produce only $6 million in agricultural production per year – just 1.6% of Solano County’s total of $385 million.”
Braddock disagrees that the Jepson Prairie Preserve and Suisun Marsh are “safe away” since they border land owned by California Forever. She also refuted the claim that there is no ecological habitat, saying the indicator that the soil is “poor” is skewed by state statistics that score the soil lower because it is not irrigated.
“The impact on our agricultural economy cannot be overstated. It is our second largest economy in Solano County. When you take that much land out of that farming system, it impacts all the other farms in the province because they all depend on each other,” Braddock said.
California Forever told CBS13 in its response that it takes the management of more than 60,000 acres of land very seriously and has expressed its desire to spur new economic development and build what would be the largest solar farm in the state.
“The East Solano Plan will create thousands of jobs, homes and economic opportunities that can benefit all of Solano County’s diverse communities, not just the wealthy who inherited millions of dollars in land from previous generations and are now seeking to withdraw their land. the ladder behind them,” a California Forever spokesperson said.
The Solano Land Trust said given that the land now owned by California Forever is larger than the cities of Fairfield and Vallejo combined, they believe the new development for up to 400,000 people would cause irreparable damage to water and air quality of the province. traffic, agricultural land and natural environment.
“Water quality affects all of us. In particular, increased traffic and associated pollution from traffic and increased development will directly impact our water quality,” Braddock said. “It really goes against our mission to protect working farms, natural areas, land and water in Solano County for current and future generations.”
Braddock also snapped back at what she viewed as an insulting insinuation by California Forever that the trust’s opposition to the plan was purely political.
California Forever’s statement reads:
“We are disappointed by Solano Land Trust’s actions, but not surprised. Their top donor is the Orderly Growth Committee, funded by a tax on every garbage bill in Solano County. We hope those funds will be put to better use by focusing on homes and jobs for Solano County residents.”
Braddock said it is factually incorrect that the OGC taxes every waste bill in the county and therefore would have an incentive to lobby the trust to oppose California Forever.
“That’s not true. The funding for the Orderly Growth Committee comes from the people of San Francisco because they ship their waste here to Solano County and that’s where that money comes from,” Braddock said.
CBS13 confirmed this Thursday evening with an OGC leader.
Braddock said the Solano Land Trust’s conclusion that California Forever is inherently wrong for Solano County is based on the fact that it sees “no path forward” for the group, raising concerns about water resources, traffic congestion, the preservation of wants to tackle nature. open space land to grow food, protection of wildlife and plants, and support for Solano County’s agricultural economy.
California Forever said it wants to respect Solano’s agricultural heritage while providing growth and opportunity for future generations.
“The decision ahead is how opportunity for all can uplift our collective communities, from Vallejo to Dixon and Fairfield to Rio Vista. We believe in the future of Solano County and want its people to have the opportunity to build a better future for their families,” a spokesperson told CBS13.
The East Solano Plan is expected to go to a vote in the November general election. In its opposition, the Solano Land Trust is encouraging neighboring countries to vote ‘no’.
