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Voters Split On Local Growth Measures By
Elizabeth Pollock
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Voters in the three counties were forced to decide between rival measures aimed at halting or slowing growth of houses and commercial development from the gritty Mission District of San Francisco to the range land of eastern Alameda County. With more than three quarters of precincts reporting in Alameda County, 55 percent supported growth-limiting Measure D, compared with 45 percent for rival Measure C. With final results from Contra Costa County, 74 percent of voters approved the status quo by approving Measure S. Growth-limiting Measure R was defeated after being approved by only 52.9 percent of voters because it received fewer votes than S. With nearly all precincts reporting in San Francisco, Measure L holds its slim margin with 51 percent, compared with 39 percent of votes counted in support of Measure K. Measure K was backed by Mayor Willie Brown and the business community, and Measure L was placed on the ballot by neighborhood anti-growth groups. Both propositions would limit the dot-com infusion into residential neighborhoods by redefining dot-coms as "office space" subject to the same restrictions as more traditional offices, which means dot-coms will be counted within the existing, city-wide annual limit of 950,000 square feet of new office development. Dotcoms are currently defined as "business services" without strict limits on expansion, a definition that will stand if neither K or L are passed. But Measure L would halt all new office development in parts of the Mission, South of Market, and Potrero Hill districts, while Measure K would impose a two-year moratorium on big office development in these areas. "Our ban in those areas protects those areas for housing construction," said Debra Walker, co-chair of the Yes on L campaign, before the election. Developers, realtors and construction vigorously opposed Measure L, pouring more than $2 million into a campaign focused more on defeating Measure L than promoting Measure K. "Nothing less than the future of San Francisco is at stake. Proposition L would absolutely cut the economy off at the knees...it is an across-the-board ban on development. K is a step back, a chance to look at where and how we need to regulate growth," said Frank Gallagher, spokesman for the Yes on K campaign, before the election. In Alameda, Measure D was backed by environmentalists, while Measure C was supported by the business community. Measure C would maintain most of the county's growth policies, while Measure D would strictly limit future development in the area, primarily in Livermore. Both measures claim to defend open space and agriculture in Alameda County. Measure C would establish permanent boundaries for agricultural land and require voter approval to change boundaries. "Measure D will end agriculture in Alameda County," Alameda County Farm Bureau Manager Sue Russo said. "(Measure D) is too restrictive for farming." Measure D would strictly limit urban development in eastern Alameda County to protect agricultural lands and has the support of several environmental groups. "We want to preserve (farms) for the future, whereas Measure C will allow farmers to sell their land for development," Measure D campaign coordinator Dwight Cocke said. In Danville in Contra Costa County, the choice was between the environmentalist-backed Measure R and the less-strict Measure S, placed on the ballot by the town council. Under Measure R, if the Danville town council voted for a major residential development or for a significant change in zoning laws, those decisions would have to be ratified by voters. Supporters of the measure said housing developments in Danville are creating traffic problems, water shortages, noise and pollution. They also argued that more development will overwhelm the school system and deplete the local job market. Supporters say Measure R, which was put on the ballot after 4,000 residents signed petitions supporting it, would ensure residents are directly involved in decisions on major growth issues. Danville Mayor Millie Greenberg and Vice Mayor Mike Doyle oppose the measure, along with Council members Newell Arnerich and Richard Waldo. They countered with Measure S, which would reaffirms the town's general plan for development. They said the town's recently adopted general plan will adequately regulate growth.
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