Do you like living in Vacaville? Lots of people do. Ask them why and they regularly raise certain points: They like the small-town feel and the big-town conveniences; the proximity to popular California destinations and the parks and recreation opportunities that make staying at home a pleasure; the feeling of safety and the sense of community. It’s a great place to raise children, they say, and a nice place to retire.
None of this is an accident. Those of us who like living here today can thank those who lived here 20 or 40 years ago. They had a vision of what they wanted this city to become and planned accordingly. Now it’s our turn.
Three years ago, the city embarked on an update of the general plan, the document that serves as the blueprint for how Vacaville will evolve in the coming decades — just as previous plans have guided growth until now. During numerous hearings and meetings, residents, business operators, developers and other interested parties have worked with city officials to craft their vision for the future.
Now it’s in writing — but it’s not set in stone. And if it doesn’t jibe with your vision, it’s time to speak up.
The draft general plan, as well as a draft Environmental Impact Report and a new document –the Energy and Conservation Action Strategy — are being circulated so that residents can see what’s being proposed and weigh in.
It’s not light reading, but it is the public’s chance to voice an opinion before that new subdivision springs up or residents find themselves stuck in rush-hour traffic at a light they used to drive through easily.
Previous general plans have focused on development, looking at where new subdivisions might be located and how many residents they might be expected to bring. That’s still an important factor in this plan, but perhaps less so since voters drew an urban limit line around Vacaville a few years ago.
Still, the draft plan would permit housing east of Leisure Town Road, which could add about 5,000 residents to the city if it were built out. That’s significant — but perhaps not for the reasons one might think.
The problem, as the draft EIR notes, is that Vacaville has already given permission for 4,900 housing units to be built here and that already exceeds the number that the Association of Bay Area Governments says the city should expect to create in the next 20 years. Exceeding ABAG limits could make Vacaville ineligible for state and federal money tied to transportation and land-use grants.
On the other hand, the city’s Energy and Conservation Action Strategy might provide a counterbalance because it proposes doing more than is actually required to meet the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gases — the very reason that ABAG is limiting growth in the suburbs.
As Vacaville’s energy plan makes clear, “transportation” — cars, trucks, etc. — is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases, accounting for 63 percent of emissions here. ABAG is encouraging growth in urban areas, where public transportation and jobs are plentiful, thus reducing people’s need to drive.
Vacaville’s plan suggests a number of strategies to reduce driving, four of which could account for the most drastic reduction in emissions: helping employers set up car pools, van pools and ride-sharing; encouraging employers to institute flexible work schedules and allow people to work from home; supporting the Solano Transportation Authority’s efforts in establishing ridesharing for children to school and activities; and reducing the number of parking spaces to discourage driving, while increasing bike and walking opportunities.
This raises some questions Vacaville residents might want to ask themselves: Are we willing to walk, bike and carpool more in order to accommodate more housing? Given that the population is aging, do these ideas meet the needs of seniors? And how does the goal of encouraging more businesses to locate here square with imposing new rules about parking or carpooling?
There are other aspects of the plan residents should pay attention to, such as a proposal to initiate a ballot measure in hopes of implementing a citywide Lighting and Landscaping Maintenance Assessment District “to more evenly fund maintenance of neighborhood parks.” Or the way the city proposes to mitigate rush-hour traffic jams that are likely to result when homes are added.
There’s a lot here to digest, and the city could help by holding a series of public meetings to focus on specific aspects of the plan — especially the Energy and Conservation Action Strategy, which is new to all of us.
Let’s face it, city employees have put in their time developing these documents, and they aren’t likely to raise issues that would require them to re-do their work. That’s why residents should take time to peruse the plan, the EIR and the energy strategy, all of which are available online at www.vacavillegeneralplan.org and at the libraries and City Hall. Then share your thoughts with the Planning Commission and City Council members before or during the hearings in upcoming months.
As City Council member Curtis Hunt observed last week at an open house to unveil the documents, these are “drafts,” not done deals. “Making these decisions,” he said, “is a lot harder without your input.”
It’s time to provide that input.
Speak Your Mind