Area map showing the land for the planned development highlighted in gold that the passage of Measure L would annex to Brentwood. From the planning documents for the proposed Vineyards at Deer Creek development.
In November, Brentwood voters will have the opportunity to do what Antioch voters did in 2005 and that was to approve a new housing development and undo what the five members of the Board of Supervisors did to a few landowners and the plans by Antioch and Brentwood. On the ballot is Measure L, which will annex about 800 acres and approve 2,400 new, upscale homes, 80% of which will be for seniors.
The land in the Measure L plan has been inside both the City of Antioch’s and City of Brentwood’s planning areas for decades. However, it’s not been in either city’s sphere of influence or city limits. It was also inside the voter-approved Urban Limit Line, until the County Supervisors played political games and moved it out, in 2003. That included the land that was planned for the Roddy Ranch housing development surrounding the former Roddy Ranch golf course, as well as all the land north of the ridge line that runs on the south side of the former golf course and continues into Brentwood behind Heritage High School and Adams Middle School. So, it makes sense the land is moved back inside the Urban Limit Line and the homes built.
1998 was my final of four years serving on the Antioch City Council, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and the State Route 4 Bypass Authority. That year, while serving as chairman of the Bypass Authority, we bought the right-of-way for the extension to Highway 4 from Lone Tree Way to Balfour Road for four lanes of traffic and two lines of transit, down the center.
The plans and funding for the Highway 4 widening and bypass/extension, as well as the major roadways in Antioch, included those homes. In fact, a total of 12,000 homes were included in the planning for the regional roads in East County. Now, the plans in Antioch include only 4,000 homes, and the 700 homes at Roddy will never be built because that land was sold to the East Bay Regional Park District and is permanent open space.
The homes in Measure L will not create urban sprawl as some opponents are claiming. I laugh when I hear that about growth in Contra Costa County. I grew up in Southern California and was a chauffeur while attending college in Riverside, driving clients into Orange County and Los Angeles where I saw the results of urban sprawl. But, in our county, the Urban Limit Line protects about 65% of the land in the county from subdivision development. This land is inside the 35% of the land that the voters said could be built on. That’s why the land was purchased by developers years ago – before the Supervisors arbitrarily moved the line in.
It’s time either Brentwood or Antioch voters corrected their action.
If Brentwood doesn’t want them, those are the kind of homes Antioch wants and needs for our housing mix, especially now that Roddy Ranch is permanent open space and the homes planned for the western Sand Creek area might never be built.
Yes on L !!!!!
BN doesn’t want their name on an Antioch project LOL
Decades now, Allan Payton has been about nothing but money. 20 years ago he was laughed out of a HIGH SCHOOL government class after a student called him on his BS plan to transform the bridges on 4 near Discovery Bay to tell bridges. He’s never changed.
Adam,
What are you talking about? This development does nothing for my pocketbook. I have no idea what you’re referring to regarding the bridges near Discovery Bay or me being laughed out of a high school government class, ever. I think you have me confused with someone else.
The only idea that I spoke about regarding tolls in East County was a possible toll road between Brentwood and Tracy, where the four-lane Route 239 has been proposed. Even that wasn’t my proposal, it was a private company’s proposal, like the toll roads in Southern California. The entire plan included a route from Livermore to Brentwood as an extension to Hwy 84, as well, and another one from Antioch across the river to Suisun City. But, there was too many environmentally sensitive areas for that last section to ever get approved. But, without it, the toll road company said the project wouldn’t pencil out. So, it was dropped.
The reason I supported it was because it would help get the road built sooner. Notice, it’s still not built, even though it’s been on the books for over 60 years, and East County still doesn’t have a four-lane connection to the east or south.
However, the effort to get Route 239 continues and there is now money for plans and studies, and I support it, even if it means two of the lanes will be toll lanes for truckers, which is one of the latest ideas.
I’m about the money? What a ridiculous comment. But, it does take money to pay for things, such as highways and other infrastructure. What I’m about are solutions to problems, supporting growth where it makes sense, and following the will of the voters. Again, this land was inside the voter-approved Urban Limit Line where new home development can occur, until the five members of the Board of Supervisors moved the line in and excluded this land.
I assume you’re against Measure L. But, notice how instead of debating the issue you stoop to the lowest form of debate which is ad hominem attacks against the person with whom you disagree. That’s unfortunate.
How about instead, you stick to the issues, offer a valid argument to support your position and quit making things personal.
Allen Payton, Publisher
Who needs more streetlights and more light pollution?
This publisher is high!! Adding 2400 home and Vasco toward Livermore is still one line most of the way is like grabbing a large soda and drinking it through a coffee straw idiot! Have them expand Vasco first to 580 toward Livermore then build not everyone travels to San Fran area
Common Sense,
Haha. Yes, high on life! Besides, the cannabis businesses haven’t opened in Antioch, yet. But, I don’t partake, anyway! 🙂
Seriously, 80% of the homes will be for seniors. So, the impact on the regional roads won’t be as great as you’re assuming, because they won’t be commuting to work.
Less than 500 homes will be for other buyers, most of which probably will commute to work, for now.
What we really need are more local, well-paying jobs. The land for that is along the Highway 4 Bypass.
Ultimately, what we need is Route 239 to be built, the four-lane highway between Brentwood/Byron and Tracy, opening up East County to I-5 trucks to bring goods in and out of are region. That will secure us for economic development for the long term.
Allen Payton, Publisher
Sorry bud add it up at a min there is 2400 more autos that’s if the house hold have one car per home on average there is two that’s 4800 more cars 1 lane most of the way in to Brentwood and two lanes maybe 1/2 way out. Like I said you are high on not on life on the money they probably dumbing in your pocket for help to sit here and bullshit home owners tell them build that 2400 homes in Modesto problem solved! You can move there Allen they probably have weed delivery there enjoy……
Robert Medeiros,
You called me bud. Had to laugh at that after Common Sense’s comment, above and my response. 🙂
Oh, wait. You’re “Common Sense”! OK. So, you’ve chosen to use your real name. That’s cool.
Actually, if you read more about the plan, the developer will be widening Balfour Road all the way to Deer Valley Road. So, it won’t be one lane in each direction any longer.
Again, let me repeat – for the third team – my editorial in which I shared some background facts and history behind this property, as well as surrounding and nearby properties, has nothing to do with money in my pocket. I’m not part of the development team, or a landowner, nor was I paid to write it. In fact, if you’ll reread it, I don’t take a position for or against Measure L. So, you really need to stick to debating the issue of Measure L instead of making more, baseless ad hominem attacks against someone with whom you disagree. It’s really the lowest form of debate and is indicative of not having a good argument or being able to make one to back up your position.
Also, you might want to get the facts before writing any more of your comments or opinions. I’ve done what I can to provide some of those for you and others who choose to read.
Modesto? Building more homes there, in the prime ag land of the Central Valley which feeds not only California, but the nation and world, is foolish and has been part of the problem, causing people to drive further to their jobs and blow smoke out of their tailpipes longer, further polluting the environment.
The development of more homes should happen closer to job centers and inside the voter approved Urban Limit Line in Contra Costa County, which the land in Measure L was, until the county supervisors arbitrarily moved the line in and this land out of the 35% of the land in the county where the voters said new homes and commercial development can be built.
Feel free to vote how you choose. That’s your decision. But, at least make your comments about the issue and based on facts, as well as common sense.
I’ll leave the weed smoking to others, as I always have.
I must say thanks for reading the Herald and being willing to take the time to make your comments, even though part of it is unnecessary and baseless attacks against me, and this time, at least you used your real name, unlike others who are afraid to for some reason.
Allen Payton, Publisher.
I hope Antioch takes over and builds houses for low income people who have disabilities my sister has a disability which will stay with her for the rest of her life why not make it easier for people in that situation instead of helping people who have money NO on L yes on low income
Is this the same Allen Payton that was on the Antioch City Council(1998).?
Antioch has a ULL in force along the North border of Ginochio property(until 12/2020). Supposed to be until 2026, but a developer has sued the City of Antioch so they have to put it on a ballot measure next year.
Is this the same Allen Payton that “voluntarily” paid a $72,000 fine for misrepresenting a health product claim that it could help you lose weight!?
IIf it is the same Allen Payton,He made millions of dollars on this “pyramid scheme”. But it is not about the money????!!!
RP,
Wow. You bring up something – and incorrectly – that I had to deal with in one of my businesses from about 20 years ago that is completely unrelated to what I wrote about in my editorial? SMH Just like Adam Bunch, instead of debating and discussing the issue – probably because you have a weak argument to support your position – you stoop to the lowest form of debate and make ad hominem attacks against me? Classy.
If you had read my editorial, you would know that yes, I am the Allen Payton who served on the Antioch City Council from 1994-98.
As for the fine you wrote about, my wife, at the time, and I did voluntarily agree to pay the fine for what was said by some of the distributors in our network and customers who shared their own testimonials and experiences taking the natural weight loss products we sold, that was claimed to be false, in the radio advertising for which we and a group of our distributors pooled our money to pay for. Why did we do that? To protect our distributors from being fined, having their businesses negatively affected, and because the manufacturer, which taught us all what we could and couldn’t say about the products – in effect, hiding behind us and keeping us from, in turn suing them – agreed to reimburse us for most of the fine, and to avoid a long, drawn out legal battle that would have cost us more in attorneys’ fees than our share of the fine. It had to do with the federal DSHEA – the Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act of 1994 and what you can and can’t say about natural products – even if it’s true! We were caught between two organizations that had much deeper pockets than we had. I wanted to fight it, but it wasn’t worth it, financially. So, we had to make the tough decision in the interest of everyone involved, knowing that some people would attempt to use it against me in the future, as you have done, based on rumor and not getting the whole story. So, that’s one thing you got wrong.
As for being in business to make money? Of course! I don’t know anyone who starts a business who doesn’t have a profit motive, as if that’s a bad thing. You probably never have owned a business, or at least not a successful one, and had to deal with a challenge that was out of your control and over something in which you did nothing knowingly wrong. But, I bet you have had a job at least once in your life and you probably got paid for doing it. If you didn’t work there for free, then it was “about the money” for you, too! By the way, if you think network marketing businesses are pyramid schemes, you don’t understand that multi-billion dollar industry, which has been around since the 1950’s.
Second, your information on the lawsuits being about the Urban Limit Line in Antioch is incorrect, as well. The two are not connected. Neither of the two initiatives included moving Antioch’s Urban Limit Line, or else the City Council could not have adopted both of them. The land owned by the two developers who have brought suit against the City of Antioch is all still inside the U.L.L. Read here to understand what the lawsuits are about. (http://antiochherald.com/2019/07/15ah-02coa/) The one thing you did get correct was that Antioch’s U.L.L. on the east side of Deer Valley Road ends on the north side of the Ginochio property which is the subject of Measure L.
I wrote my editorial because I believe voters should be informed with the facts, before they go to the polls. I also believe in following the will of the voters, who in our county, voted for the original Urban Limit Line which included this land. The Board of Supervisors arbitrarily moved the line in and cut out some property owners, including foolishly excluding the land where the extension of American Way was supposed to go to help with the traffic flow for Adams Middle and Heritage High Schools. They played politics with people’s land. That’s wrong. Antioch voters corrected that just two years later. Now, Brentwood has the opportunity, as well, for, I believe the second time, if I remember correctly, as a previous attempt failed.
So, it’s not “about the money” for me, as I have no financial stake in the project, I’m not one of the property owners or part of the development team, nor did they pay me to write my opinion. You’re wrong, again.
Finally, how about you stick to debating and discussing the issue, which is Measure L? And in the future, don’t be so cowardly and immature by hiding behind your initials instead of providing your real name if you’re going to take a shot at someone, and be sure it’s based on facts, and provide your real email address, (which the public can’t see) as I assume that’s probably fake, too.
Allen Payton, Publisher
Antioch is a cancer,. High crime, poor police response, Not a place you want to live. They should not expand, they should contract and are in need of some chemo.