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Please see link for City discussion regarding use of Measure WW funds:
http://unioncity.patch.com/articles/city-council-to-review-parks-and-rec-recommendations-recognize-arbor-day
Union City Council to consider an Agricultural Preserve using Measure WW Park Bond funds - Meeting this Tuesday, 7 PM
Dear Friends,
The Union City Parks & Recreation Commission has made recommendations to City Council for consideration of using Measure WW funds to establish an agricultural preserve which would require purchasing 5 to10 acres of prime farm land fronting Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park and Dry Creek Cottage and Gardens along Mission Boulevard. Upon approval by City Council, this proposal would require negotiations with the owner, the Masonic Homes of California.
Approximately $1M of City's Measure WW funds potentially is available for land acquisition leaving approximately $2M for other park improvements city-wide. The City's bond funds could also be used as leverage to create a larger project using funds available from the East Bay Regional Park District. Annual maintenance costs are not inlcuded in the estimates but costs could be covered by a local farmer as it is now.
The agricultural preserve over the long-term would create an open space gateway into the growing regional park system, provide opportunities for growing organic, local produce, provide opportunities for education and a farm to school program, and help create a buffer in front of the historic Dry Creek Cottage and Gardens located along Union City's scenic hillside.
The Union City City Council will discuss the project and opportunities this Tuesday as noted below:
MAY 24, 2011 at 7:00 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
34009 ALVARADO NILES ROAD
http://www.ci.union-city.ca.us/agendas/CityCouncil/2011ccagendas/ccpacket05242011.pdf
For more information, go to the link above, pages 101 to 110, to review the staff report.
Please ask your neighbors, family & friends to attend the Council Meeting this Tuesday night and show your support to create a unique project and preserve our agricultural land!
Best Regards,
Elizabeth Ames
Chair, Save Our Hills
Tri-City Ecology Center (TCEC) supports No Masonic Home Development!
Founded in 1971, the Tri-City Ecology center (TCEC) is our local leader in advocating sound environmental policies that preserve and maintain unique natural resources, clean air, clean water, and a high quality of life.
From the Tri-City Ecology Center
http://www.tricityecology.org
Vol. 39 Number 6 June 2009
TCEC Votes to Oppose Development Proposal...
Union City Hill Initiative under Attack
From the Editor: The Masonic Homes of California wants to build on the flatlands along Mission Blvd. from Whipple Road to O’Connell Lane. This area was included in the 1996 Hill Initiative that was approved by the voters. The proposed plan is a mix of rental and for-sale housing, retail space and community facilities. In order to develop this site, Masonic Homes will have to qualify and place an initiative on the ballot. Union City citizens are concerned and fighting back. TCEC joins them. Below are some of their concerns.
“The 60 acres of hillside area IS ADJACENT TO THE HAYWARD FAULT AND should not be developed into high-density residential and commercial buildings in an area of extreme EARTHQUAKE hazards. If homes and infrastructure are built in this area, the residents will be subjected to potentially life threatening hazards during a significant earthquake and THE RESULTING potential landslides that would threaten the proposed homes on Parcel B. In addition, the development creates a higher potential of flooding of the new homes between the Bart Station and Mission Boulevard due to inadequately sized storm drain infrastructure as many of these homes currently are within a flood zone. These hazards create great potential damage to property that puts the burden on the taxpayer long after the developer has made profits from selling the homes.
This land is best suited for agricultural, recreational and open space uses as supported by voters in 1996. A U-pick orchard, an agricultural park, an educational center, soccer and baseball fields, a BMX park, an animal sanctuary, botanical garden, an outdoor amphitheatre and a farm to support Farm to School programs among other ideas should be pursued. The City will be receiving approximately $3.3 Million in Measure WW grant funds and could leverage these funds with other grant funds from Proposition 84 and funds from the East Bay Regional Park District to purchase and develop the land. If the voters decide to approve this proposed housing and commercial project and change the current zoning for this site from agricultural to residential and commercial use, the City or other developer will never be able to purchase the property at agricultural market rates and will lose the opportunity to do something unique in our City. We encourage the Masonic Homes of California to not pursue residential and commercial development but to deliver something more beneficial to our community.” Written by Elizabeth Ames, Union City resident
The Friends to Save the Union City Hills are asking for Union City (and Tri-City) residents to show their support for a sustainable and compatible development in our hillsides that the citizens asked for when voting to protect this area from future development such as the one proposed by the Masonic Homes of California.
Please see their website at www.saveunioncityhills.com for further information and this link http://www.ci.union-city.ca.us/general/contact_us.htm for meeting address and City Hall contact information.
Contact: unioncityhills@gmail.com or friends@saveunioncityhills.com.
From Argus
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus
UNION CITY — Conceptual designs for a 64-acre mixed-use development project backing up to the hills have changed, in part to reflect suggestions from the public gathered at three community meetings during the past few months, project team members announced this week.
The proposed Masonic Homes project, which would stretch a mile along Mission Boulevard, from Whipple Road to O'Connell Lane, now calls for more housing for seniors, 50 percent less retail space, a garden designed to teach local students about agriculture, sustainability and healthy living, and a trail linking the development to adjacent East Bay Regional Park District trails.
Other details that emerged this week about the proposed project indicate plans to build:
- Up to 1,390 housing units on nearly 50 acres. About 330 units would be for-sale townhouses, and the rest would be one- to three-bedroom housing units rented to families and seniors.
- 5.5 acres (50,000 square feet) of "neighborhood-serving" retail or office space.
- 2.5 acres of community use. Possibilities include a youth or aquatic center or a garden used for educational purposes.
- At least 1.16 acres of dedicated open space.
Project team members also presented their own economic analysis that indicated the project would create an estimated 3,000 jobs and $580 million in economic activity during the construction phase.
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