Measure F would add 740 acres to the city’s southwest border, allow up to 1,300 homes, 35 acres of commercial development and 200 acres of parks and open space. It would provide money for additional roads, job creation, recreation and public safety as well, items touted by proponents as needed benefits but decried by opponents as inadequate.
One thing both sides have stated is their love of Brentwood as it is, and indeed, the city is seen far and wide as a desirable place to live. The high development standards, attractive neighborhoods and famous charm are supplemented by its solid financial footing and family-oriented focus. Measure F’s opponents say they want to keep things that way; those in favor say they want to make things better.
It wasn’t luck, accident or magic that made Brentwood the city both sides love. It was the stewardship of its elected leaders over many years, representatives who contributed blood, sweat and tears – in addition to countless hours of unpaid public service – that made Brentwood the place everyone cares so much about today.
And those leaders, whose terms date back more than three decades, overwhelmingly believe that Measure F is good for Brentwood.
The list is long: There are six mayors with a total of 15 years of service at the city’s helm. There are 11 city council members combining 66 years of service on the list as well, and 56 years of service from a trio of supporters who have been elected to school boards. Total it up and you get 128 years of dedication to making and keeping Brentwood great. The love of Brentwood that went into all those years of decision making has not changed. These leaders have not suddenly changed their mind about what they want for their home town, abandoning long-held beliefs in favor of the promise of development fees. They are a part of Brentwood’s proud history, a history that should not be tossed aside.
Another, more recent, part of history that has been forgotten in the argument is the fervor with which the community came together once the roadway debacle on American Avenue came to light. It was not Brentwood planning that caused the problem, it was the action of the county tightening the urban limit line and making proper access to the schools located there impossible.
The entire city was in an uproar in 2008, igniting a series of meetings between city, county and school officials as well as residents and students. There was much hue and cry over the fact that the situation was critically dangerous, and that fixing it must be given the highest possible priority.
After careful consideration of all the options, the conclusion was that the area now covered by Measure F must be annexed and developed to fix the problem. That history, especially the passion that rent the city at the time over concern for our children’s safety, must not be forgotten either.
Unfortunately, in the atmosphere of contentious politics that now exists, a clear-cut answer as to whether Measure F is the right fix is elusive. In light of that fact, it’s good to look to the city’s leaders for guidance. Not just those currently in office, but those who brought the city to where it is today, and who firmly believe, in overwhelming numbers, that Measure F is good for Brentwood. Trust not only them, but the residents who came before us and who voted them into office.
Go to the polls on June 8. Remember Brentwood’s proud history, take charge of its future, and vote Yes on Measure F.
The Yes side always resorts to name calling when they can't counter our arguments against Measure F.
I guess I should refute his baseless arguments but they are so inane that I'm laughing to hard to type a longer letter.
Vote NO on Measure F on June 8th.
Sure, annexing a small portion of the land to fix American Ave might work. So, why didn't they put that on the ballot as a counter-proposal? Why? Because they really don't want ANY growth, including a road. Their answer is to have nothing built at all.
I think I'll trust the vast reservoir of experience our present and past leaders of our community demonstrate, rather than those who whine and cry foul all the while doing absolutely NOTHING to give us in Brentwood any kind of choice. Their answer is status quo. No choice. That's a pretty stupid proposition if you ask me. Just a bunch of Nimby EcoFreaks imposing their whacked ideology on the rest of us.
VOTE YES ON F IF YOU VALUE OUR COMMUNITY!!!
Bad ideas have been endorsed by city leaders down through history. But if that is what matters to you: Greenbelt Alliance, Save Mount Diablo, Contra Costa Times and the League of Women Voters all urge a NO vote on Measure F on June 8th. Non of these groups have anything to gain from the failure of Measure F except for promoting smart growth in Brentwood.
The supporters of Measure F have thrown everything at the People Opposed to Measure F. We have been told we are naive about growth, that long time Brentwoodians know better than the rest of us "newbies." More houses, more retail, build, baby, build.
We have been threatened with Antioch. Sean McCauley loves Brentwood, but when Measure F fails he wants to bolt to Antioch. Good luck with that. It would takes years, environmental studies, city wide votes and money to make that happen.
We have been called liars because we keep stating the facts of Developer Measure F: up to 1,300 more houses equals 4,000 plus more people on the roads in at least 2,000 more cars. We have been called carpetbaggers because we have not lived here our entire lives. So, we don't get a vote? Is that how this election works?
The pie-in-the-sky promises of Measure F are just that: pie-in-the-sky promises. Sports fields are promised but the Flood District has the final say. Ask Deer Ridge Golf Course how that worked out; they had to redesign the golf course because the Flood District wouldn't approve for part of the course to be built in a flood basin.
Money to fix American Avenue is promised but will not materialize until the houses are built. 5 to 6 years down the road, if ever.
Developer Measure F benefits the few landowners that support it. Once their land is inside the ULL the value goes up automatically. How many of us would like our property to go up automatically?
A bunch of promises with little or no financing of the promises.
Vote NO on Measure F on June 8.
The reality is, the City could fix the mess in the area of American Avenue by annexing just a little more land and issuing a bond or creating another CFD (which they do all the time (e.g. the Civic Center bonds) and fix the mess out there. Really, it's not rocket science just planning, engineering and financing which Brentwood used to be able to do!
Allowing a few landowners and developers a 20-year development agreement that will freeze fees for this development for those 20 years is a travesty. Why hasn't the Press done a study to see how much future revenue will be lost by this measure and Development Agreement? Don't you have a RESPONSIBILITY to provide those pertinent facts to the public as well? Or, will that tell a story that the current city administration doesn't want out in the public? If your editorial premise is followed, the the City Council should be supporting all those who came before and make sure the owners/developers of these 740 acres adhere to the General Plan IN PLACE and follow the planning process. They should have to apply for annexation, go through the LAFCO process, process a General Plan amendment, go through public hearings, prepare an EIR and go through those public hearings and pay any and all fees and all requirements of the city at the rate payable in the year of the development process and building permits and abide by the requirements of the Regional Growth Management Plan! That's how the city will generate revenue! Thats's how all of the city services will be paid for and accommodated.
Those council members who suppport this should be ashamed of themselves for not thinking of Brentwood residents and the necessary revenues and services for the future and hopefully will be ushered out of office in November, for you have awoken a sleeping giant---that is-- the residents of Brentwood are very, very tired of playing second fiddle to the development community. If fees and therefore revenues are so important to the city to garner the support of council members and former mayors (who will financially benefit from F's approval) then there is no excuse for allowing this development not to pay ITS share of fees as the years go by. Measure F is a gift of public funds and is funded on the backs of the residents of Brentwood for the benefit of a very few of the "good ol' boys" network in Brentwood. Sorry, old boys but there are new kids in town that you can't fool and won't be fooled. You sought us to move here with your promises of good planning and a bright future---but now we can't wait to vote you all out of office and once again have capable management and staff who know and understand planning, environmental impacts, respect CEQA, and most importantly respect the needs and desires of residents over the greed of developers. Too bad, the Press just doesn't get it--Rick L., you really have to get out of city hall and out in to the community if you want your paper to be a viable "third rail" and taken seriously.