Supes OK valley area subdivision

Supes OK valley area subdivision
By Danny Bernardini/ DBernardini@TheReporter.com
Article Launched: 10/15/2008

After decades of discussions and several identities, the Rockville Trails Estates was approved Tuesday by county supervisors.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to amend the general plan to allow several elements of the subdivision in the hills between Green Valley and Suisun Valley. Supervisors Barbara Kondylis and Jim Spering voted against the project.

Supervisors voted 3-2 a week ago to approve the environmental documents surrounding the project. Tuesday's vote signaled final approval for the subdivision that has been floated since the late 1970s -- under several different names -- and had been before the board and Solano County Planning Commission several times in the last two years.

Concerns about water supply have been stressed by both the planning commissioners and supervisors each time it has gone before them.

The project includes nearly 1,600 acres, including 370 homes along with 800 acres of open space and a 7-acre neighborhood park. The developers also plan to include an on-site water supply system, a wastewater treatment plant and a fire station.

Similar to the meeting a week ago, the chamber was filled with Green Valley residents who spoke for more than an hour about concerns involving water and other environmental issues.

Many in the crowd urged the board to delay a decision until after November's election. Linda Seifert, former president of the Green Valley Landowners Association, will be on the board and Supervisor Mike Reagan is up for re-election.

Seifert, who had remained quiet on the issue leading up to Tuesday's meeting, broke her silence and addressed the board.

"I've decided I have a few things to say," she said. "We seem to be getting bogged down in several details. The real issue is water, water, water. Overall, this is all about water. It's about a bad project, in a bad location, at a bad time."

Supervisors agreed there is some issue with water supply and added a provision regarding the topic before voting. The provision states that prior to approval of the final map, the applicant must provide $500,000 to help the Solano Irrigation District and Vallejo Lakes Water System create a back-up water delivery system in case of an emergency.

Spering, who declined to comment on why he voted against the environmental impact reports a week ago, spoke publicly about his concerns over water supply. He said he couldn't vote for the project without the creation of an off-site back-up water supply.

He also had some words for those in the crowd. He said many of the reasons folks gave for protesting the development were disingenuous.

"I don't agree with a lot of the testimony given here today," Spering said. "It almost comes across that 'I've got mine and I don't want anyone else to get theirs.' "