Page 21 - Sonoma County Gazette 12-2019

Rohnert Park Voters Renew
Open Space Protections
Measure B Passed by 90 % to Renew Rohnert Park’s Urban Growth Boundary for 20 more years
By Teri Shore, Greenbelt Alliance
An unprecedented 90 percent of voters in the City of Rohnert Park
passed Measure B to protect open space and focus growth inside the city’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) for the next 20 years -- until the end of 2040. The UGB can only be changed by a vote of the people, with few exceptions.
“The overwhelming 90 percent vote for Rohnert Park’s UGB shows more support than ever for open space and focused growth,” said Teri Shore of Greenbelt Alliance, Regional Director for the North Bay. “The public’s commitment to greenbelts and communities without sprawl is only growing stronger in the face of climate change and even the housing crunch.”
Rohnert Park’s Measure B was endorsed by Federated Tribes of Graton Rancheria, Greenbelt Alliance, Rohnert Park Democratic Club, Sierra Club, Sonoma County Conservation Action and Sonoma County Democratic Party. Greenbelt Alliance led the campaign to pass Measure B.
Greenbelt Alliance also won a strong show of support for greenbelts and focused growth in Contra Costa County where voters defeated Measure L in Brentwood by 70 percent that would have opened up 815
acres of open space to development. In the South Bay, the open space lands
of Coyote Valley in San Jose are on track to be acquired for permanent protection from development after 35 years of controversy.
The UGB is a line around a city that contains development. It protects surrounding open space and farmland from unhealthy sprawl. It has safeguarded Rohnert Park for 20 years and was originally passed by the voters in 2000 with a 71 percent “yes” vote.
What the Urban Growth Boundaries accomplish
• Protects Rohnert Park’s open space and rural lands
• Protects the environment
• Preserves Rohnert Park’s family-oriented community
• Prevents sprawl
• Costs taxpayers nothing
where the natural and agricultural lands that provide so much to our region are protected and where everyone can live in a thriving neighborhood that they are proud to call home. For more than 60 years, we have been protecting the amazing places of the Bay Area by engaging residents, community-based organizations, and decision-makers to shape visionary plans for how Bay Area cities and neighborhoods will become more climate resilient.
Greenbelt Alliance envisions a climate-healthy Bay Area
To learn more about our work to protect Open Space for present and future generations, visit:
www.greenbelt.org
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