By admin 
The Davis City Council will decide early next month whether a housing developer’s plan to conserve local farmland meets city standards. The decision will come one day after ballots are sent to voters, whose approval is required for the development to proceed.
Read more Read McClatchy Media’s endorsement on California’s Proposition 1 | Opinion
The Davis Open Space and Habitat Commission voted unanimously last week to support the agricultural land mitigation plan submitted by the developers behind Willowgrove, a 1,250-unit housing project appearing as Measure W on Davis’ November ballot.
The City Council is scheduled to consider the plan Oct. 6.
The Willowgrove project is the largest development in Davis’ housing pipeline. Planned for 234 acres north of Covell Boulevard, it includes a mix of detached homes, townhomes and apartments and a community park featuring sports fields, a garden and retail space for a cafe or coffee shop. The proposal was approved by the Davis City Council in May and scheduled for the November election.
A Davis ordinance requires developers to find and permanently preserve two acres of agricultural land for every acre of agricultural land near the city that is developed for urban use.
The developers proposed 374 acres owned by Bullseye Farms. If accepted by the City Council, the land will be placed in a conservation easement requiring it to remain farmland. The Yolo Land Trust will be listed as a co-owner of the property and will be responsible for enforcing the easement.
The land meets all the requirements of Davis’ agricultural mitigation plan, according to a staff report. It is classified as prime farmland and sits less than a mile from Davis’ northwest city limit. It is similar to the Willowgrove project site in value, water availability and soil quality, according to an appraisal funded by the developers and obtained by the city.
Read more Witness describes barbershop shootout of gang rivals in Fresno that killed 44YO bystander
The land also meets a requirement that its owners ensure it remains in agricultural use. Bullseye Farms is owned by the Beeman family, who have farmed in Yolo County for more than 150 years. The company currently grows sunflowers, cucumbers, tomatoes and alfalfa on the land. Bullseye Farms regularly supports conservation efforts from local organizations including the Yolo Land Trust, the Center for Land-Based Learning, the Community Alliance for Family Farmers, the California Climate and Agricultural Network and UC Davis.
» Davis/Yolo news in your inbox: Get our free Davis/Yolo email newsletter here
In addition to approving the plan, the commission passed a motion to recommend that, if possible, the portion of the Bullseye Farms property closest to existing protected lands be included in the easement. The southeast portion of the property should be excluded because it is farthest from other protected acreage, according to the commission’s recommendation.
The commission also passed a motion recommending the easement allow habitat restoration in the northwestern portion of the property due to its proximity to Dry Slough.
Under Davis’ Measure J-R-D, any development that transforms open or agricultural land to urban space requires voter approval. Such proposals have often failed at the ballot box. One such vote appeared on the June primary ballot as Measure V, asking voters to approve Village Farms, a 1,800-unit, 498-acre development. Measure V had support from city leaders and a $760,000 campaign behind it, but it failed by 276 votes.
Read more When should I get my flu shot in California? How to protect yourself this fall