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The Davis City Council approved a plan Tuesday to permanently protect 374 acres of Yolo County farmland, clearing another hurdle for the proposed 1,250-home Willowgrove development as voters decide its fate next month.
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The move comes as Davis voters begin casting ballots on Measure W, which seeks approval for Willowgrove, a 1,250-unit development on 234 acres north of Covell Boulevard. The council voted in May to place the measure on the November ballot.
The development is the largest in Davis’ housing pipeline and includes a mix of single-family homes, apartments and townhomes, a community park and retail space. It also includes housing set aside for low- and moderate-income families and units reserved for people with developmental disabilities.
Under a city ordinance, developers must propose an agricultural land mitigation plan that preserves more local farmland than they plan to build on. Developers must arrange conservation easements with landowners near the city to ensure the land remains in agricultural use permanently. The mitigation plan must be approved by the City Council before construction can begin.
The Davis Open Space and Habitat Commission approved Willowgrove’s agricultural land mitigation plan last month, and the City Council approved it Tuesday as part of its consent calendar.
“In addition to its approved Subdivision Map, 1,250 homes with 43% of them affordable and attainable, Willowgrove now adds permanent protection of 374 acres of high-quality, local farmland to its list,” Austin Heyworth, co-campaign manager for Measure W, said in a news release. “We hope voters are proud of the standard this sets.”
The plan would permanently preserve 374 acres of farmland owned by Bullseye Farms, which currently grows sunflowers, cucumbers, tomatoes and alfalfa. The land is owned by the Beeman family, which has farmed in Yolo County for more than 150 years and has worked on conservation efforts with 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.
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The Open Space and Habitat Commission determined that the land meets the city’s agricultural land mitigation requirements because it is considered prime farmland and is within a mile of the city limits. An appraisal obtained by the city found the land comparable to the Willowgrove development site in value, water availability and soil quality. The land is also adjacent to three other parcels of protected farmland and is in an area where officials have encouraged additional conservation, according to a city staff report.
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The easement will be donated to the city and the Yolo Land Trust, which will be responsible for managing and enforcing its protections.
Measure W faces no organized opposition. Supporters say the development would provide much-needed housing, boost enrollment in local schools and generate additional revenue for the city. The measure has drawn endorsements from the Davis City Council, Davis School Board President Hiram Jackson, Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguilar-Curry, D-Winters.
“As a second generation family farmer, I want to protect our open space. But Yolo County’s future also depends on giving our young families a real chance to put down roots here,” Aguilar-Curry said in a news release. “Measure W shows we don’t have to choose. By approving Willowgrove with Measure W, we can provide much-needed family housing while offsetting twice as much prime farmland. I’m proud to endorse this Measure.”
This story was originally published October 8, 2026 at 2:07 PM with the headline “Davis approves preservation plan for Willowgrove project ahead of Measure W vote.”
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